Photos and Story By The Fourth Grade Teaching Team
Last week, our fourth-grade students loaded a bus for their first MICDS science overnight at the Dana Brown Center at Shaw Nature Reserve. We have been counting down the days for this trip and were thrilled when our day finally arrived! This overnight experience, which was paused for several years due to the pandemic, is such an excellent opportunity for students to explore their natural surroundings, develop deeper connections with their classmates and teachers, and further their understanding of concepts introduced in the Lower School Science curriculum.
Students got to participate in two classes: Aquatic Ecology and Art in Nature. The Aquatic Ecology class involved a walk to the lake, which provided the opportunity to hike through woodlands, prairies, and forests and marvel at the rapidly-changing springtime flora.
At the lake, students used nets and buckets to explore the aquatic macroinvertebrates present. Students found water scorpions, minnows, tadpoles, and a variety of macroinvertebrates. This was an excellent primer for the upcoming Missouri Stream Experience, in which we’ll sample macroinvertebrates in our own MICDS stream. It will be interesting to see the similarities and differences between the lake and the stream.
Our afternoon involved a final class in which we connected math and science. Learning about the artist Andy Goldsworthy, students explored the idea of using nature to make art. Situated in the woodland area surrounding the cabins, students formed their own unique pieces for a gallery walk. What a great way to check out the spring ephemerals while searching for the best “ephemeral” materials.
The moments between direct instruction afforded equal opportunities for memorable experiential learning. Plenty of choice time allowed students to safely explore the area around their cabins, learn the sport of cricket in an open field, enjoy board games and puzzles with friends, or simply curl up with a book on the Assembly building’s wrap-around porch. Roasting their own hot dogs over a fire for dinner, followed by making s’mores, was also definitely a favorite activity.
The optional night hike for those eager to catch crepuscular critters on the move set the stage for sleeping in cabins. Many of the students had not spent the night away from home prior to the trip, which led to some initial trepidation but ultimately resulted in a memorable experience for their fourth-grade year. As the students shared, “Although many of us felt nervous about Shaw Nature Reserve, there were plenty of teachers and friends. The experience was so special. We got to be with friends, run around, own our cabins, and make lifetime memories.» How great it was to finally return to this capstone experience.
