Spring Gardening

Our garden is getting some new color from our first plantings this spring! We have just begun to plant some flowers, herbs and vegetables in our outdoor classroom garden. Many selections reflect the house colors of our four house tables - red geraniums for Firedrake House, blue lobelia for Slatebeard House, yellow cleome for Maia House, and rosemary for our green Shimmertail house.

It was all hands on deck as we dug holes for new plants, added compost, gently coaxed the plants out of their pots and gave them a good drink to help them adjust to their new space. At recess, many students enthusiastically volunteer to do daily watering to keep our garden well hydrated.

We have also used one of our large white planters to create a 3 sisters mound to complement our Native American Study. These three "sisters" (corn, squash and beans) were traditionally planted together as they grew so well collectively. The tall corn stalks support the growing vines of green beans and the large leaves of the squash shade the base of the other vegetable plants.

We are looking forward to our upcoming walk to Tilly's to choose even more plants to add different colors, scents and shapes to our outdoor space!

Native American Study

This week we launched Native American Study! This is our second Multiple Intelligences Study giving students multiple opportunities to learn through stations geared to different kids of smarts. In our first round, students will produce a play from a Native American legend, weave a pot holder on a loom, choreograph and perform a dance, construct and play a musical instrument, create a Kachina doll, and try out some traditional Native American games.

Through these experiences, kids develop a deeper understanding of the culture of Native American customs, skills and traditions.  Legends of the oral storytelling tradition were not only to entertain, but to explain natural phenomena (like the origin of the Lady Slipper orchid) as well as reinforce the importance of behaving in way that supports the success and survival of the larger community.

Weaving was an important skill in Native American life whether it was the weaving of wool fibers (as in the rug making of the southwest) or of grass fibers (as in the reed mats of the eastern woodlands).

Dances were done as part of many ceremonies to encourage the growing of crops, encourage desired weather, celebrate victories, good harvests, new life, and to prepare for hunts or battle.

Kachina dolls embodied the spirits of deities in the Hopi culture. Men would dress up and dance as Kachinas in full regalia for different ceremonial dances throughout the year.

Check out the pictures below capturing some of the great work the kids did today.

Play of the Legend of the Lady Slipper:

Weaving:

Eagle Dance:

Drums and shaker instruments:

Kachina Dolls: