🌳B1, R1, P5, YK, and B2 on 11/12, 13,14, & 21

What makes acorns so fascinating to children? I still remember a beautiful autumn day from my elementary school years in Japan. We walked to the forest and spent the entire day there, discovering countless acorns. It was a wonderful experience.

I want our learners to become familiar with the nature that surrounds them. Fortunately, our school grounds have many native Texas trees and plants, where we can also encounter various creatures. Our learners love visiting the eco pond to observe the fish and plants there. I hope that connecting with nature during childhood has a positive impact on their lives and our environment.

It was a perfect week for a nature walk, and I appreciated that each class could spend 45 to 60 minutes outside. The kindergarteners, first graders, second graders, and even the fifth graders were all excited to find acorns. We took a class picture in front of the oak tree at the back entrance. Along the way, the learners discovered many natural items, such as wasp nests, caterpillars, dragonflies, and birds, and they enthusiastically took pictures for the photo competition. Even at school, nature offers endless wonders for children.

🔍Can We Find Bluebonnets in the Fall?

Did you know that bluebonnets begin to sprout at this time of year? We explored the field next to the garden in search of them. During the week of 11/11, we mostly found baby leaves. However, after just one week, on 11/21, the B2 learners discovered that true leaves had started to grow. Compared to last year, this year's growth seems to be a little delayed. We will continue to observe the bluebonnets at our school throughout the year!

The Blue 1 learners asked various questions about the plants and animals in the garden. They tried a seed-plant matching quiz and looked through pamphlets about Texas butterflies, dragonflies, and spiders.

The Red 1 learners were excited to find acorns, colorful Swiss chard, flowers, and various bugs in the garden. They also enjoyed observing the fish and dragonflies at the eco pond. Additionally, they touched the leaves of autumn sage to enjoy the refreshing fragrance.

Purple 5 learners discovered a large wasp nest on the oak tree. Some learners spotted a yellow butterfly and attempted to identify it using a butterfly pamphlet. They were also enthusiastic photographers, excited to capture a picture of the rainbow created by the water from the sprinklers!

The Yellow K learners were excited to discover sprouting bluebonnets. They also found a large black caterpillar on the back of a Chinese cabbage leaf. The caterpillar was big and hairy, which caught the attention of many learners. They took some great pictures!

After one week, the oak tree leaves were turning a bit red, and we noticed the true leaves of the bluebonnets emerging. One of the Blue 2 learners said, "I found eggs in the water" near the eco pond. After we observed them closely, Ms. Mohite discovered that they were actually bird droppings!

Some learners may not enjoy competitions, but it is helpful to view them as opportunities to grow your skills rather than a win-lose scenario. You can learn a great deal from others' work, regardless of whether you win or lose.

Before the Blue 4 learners took pictures in the garden, I showed them a photo taken by Esha from B5 last year. It was a unique close-up photo captured from a low angle. Her photo inspired B4 learners and they took beautiful pictures in the garden. Below are the examples of their images.

Instructions

I showcased the B4 learners' photos on the big screen in the classroom before the K-2 grade classes went on a Nature Walk. The learners were amazed, exclaiming, "Wow!" and "So beautiful!" For the P5 learners, I only displayed Esha's photo because I thought that too many examples would limit their creativity. I encouraged them to take beautiful, unique, and interesting pictures for the photo competition.

Competition Procedure

During the walk, the learners eagerly took pictures and uploaded their favorite shots to the media album on Schoology afterward. I selected 4 to 6 photos from the album to create a Google Form for each class, allowing the learners to vote on their favorites. Depending on their grade level, they chose the best photo, as well as the most interesting, most unique, or most artistic ones. The votes from each class determined the winners, and their work is now displayed at the Garden Museum.

Learners' Work on Schoology

There were so many incredible photos that it was challenging to narrow them down to a limited number. You can access all the images uploaded on Schoology by following these steps:

1. Go to Schoology Courses

2. Select Lee Elementary: All Students (Yellow Icon)

3. Open the Lee Garden Folder (scroll down slightly)

4. Click on the Photo Competition Folder

5. Choose each class's Media Album

*B2 recently went on the walk, so their work is currently in progress.

Reflections on This Competition

It was inspiring to see how our learners' work motivated others to enhance their photography skills and find joy in taking photographs. I hope this competition encouraged the learners to unlock their potential and helped them view the world from new perspectives.

🏆 Garden Photo Competition - Class Winners

An Example of a Voting Google Form

Thank you to everyone who brought gallon jugs for our garden! We used them to protect our plants from animals and will continue collecting more jugs. We are experimenting with different ways to use them. Additionally, I am considering making a mini greenhouse for the winter. Without your help, we couldn't grow and harvest our crops! Thank you so much for your support of our garden!

Continues to #4-2. Garden Museum @NetZeroLee: Garden Time, Real-World Problem Solving & More!

Thank you to the teachers for bringing your learners to the outdoor learning and for supporting the photo competition!