Nature Appreciation: Small Displays & Habitats

Post Contributed by Jocelyne Adkins, Program Director/Educator:

A significant component of our program is nature appreciation, with the hope that students will embrace the natural world and work to protect it throughout their lives. On Tuesday, we participated in a nature walk, looking for small, fallen items from nature to take back to the classroom for display. Students collected bark, twigs, small stones, leaves, pine needles, seed pods, expired insects (a beetle and a cicada) and cicada exoskeletons.

Ms. Jenkins with Norah and Daysha

What is so enchanting about these walks is the excitement and reverence that the students have for the items they find. They are also quite eager to share what they have found with the teachers and with each other. 

Jackson, Maurice and Benjamin

Jackson and Benjamin

To create our displays, we used a variety of re-purposed container forms, from mushroom and toy packaging to ice cream container lids and cardboard boxes. Some students chose to create a miniature display, highlighting a special object or two. Others preferred to create habitats with the items they found and decorated the habitats using a variety of collage papers.

Leila

Emory with twig rolled in a leaf

Joseph and Donald collaborating

Pine needles on bark!

Mikel

Daysha

Emily

Cassandra

Maurice

Laila

Joel's cicada exoskeleton

Daysha's habitat in progress

Norah's display, part 1

Maurice's habitat in progress

Benjamin's habitat in progress

Andrew's display

Joel's cicada nursery

detail of Joel's cicada nursery with cicada exoskeletons

Norah's completed display

Daysha's habitat, completed

A look inside Daysha's habitat

A view of the top of Daysha's habitat

Laila's habitat

Cassandra's completed habitat

A number of these displays and habitats are on view in the display case on the 2nd floor landing above the auditorium.  Because of their organic nature, they may not "last" for more than a week. However, it gives us the opportunity to discuss with our students the process of decay and how organic material "gives back to the earth" by providing important nutrients and nurturing new growth. Do take a peek at the display on your way to Beye Discovery this week. I promise you will experience some of the same pleasures that we had in collecting and displaying these small and modest treasures.

Personally, I am drawn to bark and often stop to collect interesting specimens. From thick to papery and everything in between, I love the subtle hues found in each, as well as their shapes and textures. I cannot pass a tree without examining it's bark! On walks with your child/children, what is it that catches their eye and their heart? What catches your eye and your heart? Do share it with them, because they will be intrigued by your interest as much as you are intrigued by theirs : )