“Look!” one of the second graders called, without putting down his binoculars. A flock of Canadian geese flying in "V" formation passed overhead. The chorus of honks quickly disappeared along with the birds.
The students excitedly documented the moment in their nature journals.
The PARP Literacy Hike combines fresh air and sunshine with scavenger hunt fun and surprises. The class-by-class nature walk, led by parent volunteers Christine McCabe and Deanna Novak, is only one of the ways that Meadow Pond Elementary’s PARP theme—Hit the Trail Reading—is unfolding.
Students are discovering that reading applies to a lot more than books.
Along the path, students find packets of nature information hanging on branches. They also discover six little logs tucked under trees. When the students open each log’s hatch, they pull out palm-sized, handmade books featuring excerpts of favorites including "The Giving Tree," "Seed to Sunflower"and "Skunk and Badger."
The week prior, the students were introduced to seed libraries. They gathered in the school’s warm and sunny greenhouse to talk about seeds, which led to spirited share about birds, bugs, frogs and other aspects of the natural world.
McCabe showed them an oversized book that she created to store little labeled envelopes of seeds. Students took to the idea that just as friends recommend books to each other, they can also share plants.
They selected stems of mountain mint, flat topped golden rod and monarda that had gone to seed and pressed them into pots placed by the playground. “In two years, we’ll move the plants to the meadow,” said McCabe.
The PARP Literacy Hike passed right by the nursery of plants.
McCabe directed the students’ attention up.
“We are in a flyway,” said McCabe, meaning that it was a common path for migratory birds. “Let’s see if we can see any birds.”
