Spring 2012 Schedule
Week 1-Moon Stick
We will learn about the history of our modern calendar in contrast to understanding time from a Native American perspective. We will create our own calendar, renaming the months according to what is happening in our physical environment. We will make our own Moon Sticks to keep count of the months for the year.
Week 2-Seasons
We will explore why we experience the different seasons and what life on earth would be like without them. We will hike and choose a 'plant for all seasons'. A plant that we will watch over the course of one year both in class and on our own to observe the changes it undergoes in one full yearly cycle.
We will also start collecting plants to press for our Native Plant Book.
Week 3-Pictographs
We will gather different plants and make ink and paint out of them. We will learn about pictographs and the way pictographs were used for story telling. The children will create their own legend of pictures (using the paints we make) and create a story using their legend to share with the group.
Week 4-Native Plants
This class will focus on building our connection and relationship with our native plants. Learning about plant communities, where plants are growing and why, how they can be used for practical things, medicine and food. We will continue collecting plants for our Native Plant Book.
Week 5-Ecosystems/Interconnection
We will begin to explore what ecosystems are and gain a better understanding of how things are interconnected. We will explore these themes through games, improvisational theatre and direct observation of the natural world.
Week 6-Natural Rope Making
We will harvest, soften and pound Yucca leaves and learn how to separate the fibers to make into cordage or rope. This is an essential survival skill and an easy one to learn.
Week 7- Tracking
We will make plaster casts of the mountain lion, bob cat, mule deer, grey fox and other tracks. We will learn the basic art of tracking and other signs to look for to better understand more about the animals in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Week 8-Plant Books
We will create a native plant book using all of the plants we have pressed throughout the session. End of session celebration.
We will learn about the history of our modern calendar in contrast to understanding time from a Native American perspective. We will create our own calendar, renaming the months according to what is happening in our physical environment. We will make our own Moon Sticks to keep count of the months for the year.
Week 2-Seasons
We will explore why we experience the different seasons and what life on earth would be like without them. We will hike and choose a 'plant for all seasons'. A plant that we will watch over the course of one year both in class and on our own to observe the changes it undergoes in one full yearly cycle.
We will also start collecting plants to press for our Native Plant Book.
Week 3-Pictographs
We will gather different plants and make ink and paint out of them. We will learn about pictographs and the way pictographs were used for story telling. The children will create their own legend of pictures (using the paints we make) and create a story using their legend to share with the group.
Week 4-Native Plants
This class will focus on building our connection and relationship with our native plants. Learning about plant communities, where plants are growing and why, how they can be used for practical things, medicine and food. We will continue collecting plants for our Native Plant Book.
Week 5-Ecosystems/Interconnection
We will begin to explore what ecosystems are and gain a better understanding of how things are interconnected. We will explore these themes through games, improvisational theatre and direct observation of the natural world.
Week 6-Natural Rope Making
We will harvest, soften and pound Yucca leaves and learn how to separate the fibers to make into cordage or rope. This is an essential survival skill and an easy one to learn.
Week 7- Tracking
We will make plaster casts of the mountain lion, bob cat, mule deer, grey fox and other tracks. We will learn the basic art of tracking and other signs to look for to better understand more about the animals in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Week 8-Plant Books
We will create a native plant book using all of the plants we have pressed throughout the session. End of session celebration.
