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What a great week in Story Time!
Some Wild Grapes harvested wild grapes this week! The grapes were used to make grape juice and some other treats. Did you know you can use wild grapes as a natural dye? The Wild Grapes and Dragonflies both did a grand apple test with nine different kinds of apples! Thanks to the Yates family who donated the apples to the our school.
Working together to carry some wild grapes!
Sally, what kind of apple is that? Gala?
Nari's class spent their FFF field day in the kitchen.
We were so lucky to have our new chef, Zach DeFranco hanging out in the kitchen with us this week! We are still riding the apple train in the kitchen and spent the morning making apple sauce and apple scrap vinegar. We used a medley of apples left over from our awesome taste testing sessions last week and apples from our very own tree at the Schoolhouse. We split up into three groups, one group to harvest apples, one group to wash apples and slice and juice lemons, and one group to peel and core apples. After our applesauce was on the stove cooking up, we combined our apple scraps with sugar and water to leave in the kitchen and turn into apple scrap vinegar. Check it out in the kitchen if you happen to be passing through!
Danielle's class spent the day on the farm.
We started out with introductions, names, a favorite fruit or veggie and a fruit or veggie we had never tried. We moved to chores first, making sure the pigs and cats had food and water and stocking the farm store.
After chores, we all gathered around the pigs. We fed them extra tomatoes, grass, clover, dandelions, and some of us went into the pen to visit with them.
After pigs, we journeyed into the greenhouse to taste test! We tried chives, scallions and chard.
The chickens were our next stop! We found a huge snapping turtle trying to get out of the chicken area, but its head was stuck in the chicken fence! Corie and Sally managed to free the turtle to the other side of the fence. Hopefully it finds its destination without too many more obstacles! After our turtle adventure, we went into the chicken area and handled different chickens, watched their behavior (dust bathing, eating, exploring, hidings from the humans) checked out their claws, feet, feathers, combs and wings.
After our time with the chickens, we had some free time for hay bale exploration.
We finished off our day with fresh bread!
Mark's class was in the forest this week!
As soon as Omega Sage exited the Schoolhouse bus, ENERGY was high! Right upon arriving, we gathered on the grass to sit in our Welcome Circle. To the beat of Tippy Tap, the drum, we gathered together and each shared our name and “forest name”. This year there are names such as Woollybeard, 8-Bit, Fox Trot, Ravenclaw and many more!
It was hard to sit outside the forest for too long, so after reflecting on our forest presence and definitions of respect for the land and one another, we made our way to Turkey Field! On the way we all saw brand new scat from the same character that, only by way of scat, the whole Schoolhouse has been seeing! We saw a range from brand new scat, moderatly old scat to decomposing scat all in one small area. There’s one creature around here that is big enough and bold enough to mark in such an open and exposed spot….the coyote!
Upon arriving to Turkey Field, five of the Omega-Sages were blindfolded becoming geese….while the rest were skiddish turkeys trying to run away and not be caught. The game was tricky and definitely honed in on the geese’s other senses beyond sight. We then transitioned to a game of the well-loved Fish and Otter!
With the more eastern (high, bright, new) energy out of us, we walked in to base camp to the beat of Tippy Tap. Eating snack at Fallen Oak and listening to the story, “Aida Returns”, most of us remembered aida and her best friend The Sundance Kid from last year’s stories. We took plenty of time to explore Fallen Oak, scout for special mushrooms, peel birch bark and wood to gather for kindling and fire wood, and some of us got to wittle with the help of Woollybeard (Mark ). Many Omega-Sages made tools to help them in their tasks, such as small spears and hammers. We intend to bring in more rope and tools for next time!
Gathering once again at the fire pit, we learned about Medicine Bundles. These bundles are small pouches/bags that contain a few important items which represent one’s spirit and particularly in past ancient cultures, could act as medicine physically. We are going to be slowly putting together our own medicine bundles full of a few precious objects, drawings, items from nature, that best represent us. Stay tuned!
Finally we took turns speaking during our gratitude circle (it’s a huge privilege to work with these kiddos) and made our way out back to the entrance.
Starting up with introductions.
Journeying along!
The whole circle in one frame.
Exploring the forest- fungus??
Some awesome free time to climb and adventure!
We read a New York Times article about whether or not schools should teach students to cook. We took a poll and the Deltas agreed that is in an important skill that all students should learn. We did a brainstorm about all of the things we want to cook as well as places we want to check out. At the farm, we spent lots of time with the chickens and collected soil with an auger. We talked with Corie about potential sites for the garden plot and the considerations in choosing a site. We also did some pig study sketches and observations in our journals.
Getting to know our friends...
Checking in on the coop...
Collecting soil with an auger...
Checking out the state of the soil on the farm.
Our food brainstorm!!
Thanks for another great week of FFF here at the Schoolhouse Learning Center!
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