Myross Bush School Get Inspired - 19 October 2020
It was great to welcome big groups back, with two classes from Myross Bush School visiting to be inspired by the Southland Community Nursery environments and education centre. Following visits I made to each classroom at the school during September, we continued on our learning journey being inspired by all that was around us. We followed the pond track through the restored forest and trekked through the boggy swampy kahikatea swamp forest meeting the taonga native tree species that these students are learning about. We noticed the blue pollen of the kotukutuku flower, the distinguishing leaf features of many of our natives, learnt that most (but not all) NZ natives are evergreen (not deciduous) and hugged some trees. We smelt the tarata and horopito leaves. We learnt to identify native manu (birds) using photos and paintings and in the forest heard and saw bellbird, tui and piwakawaka. We learnt the meaning of terms like juvenile, heteroblastic, endemic, native, introduced, canopy and colonising, and wondered about all we saw. The kahikatea tree was spotted and we learnt and experienced the kind of habitat it likes to live in – swamp! Pests were met and discussions started about why we manage these species in our native forests. I’m sure the students and teachers left with some creative ideas and lots of more thinking will happen regarding what they can be inspired to do at their place.
Bronwyn
Posted: 20 October 2020