Excitement of Discovery
Children often get excited when they discover something new in the garden. They may find ladybugs, bees, worms, or vegetables of unusual sizes. For example, second-graders found a big carrot in their garden and were thrilled to share their discovery with their STEAM teacher, Mrs. Shaner, a month ago.
Another exciting learning experience occurred during last week’s Nature Walk when Kindergarten and 2nd-grade students identified bluebonnet plants in the grass. It wasn’t easy to spot bluebonnets in January because they didn’t have flowers yet. So, the learners used a picture to help them find bluebonnet leaves, and even though it took them some time, they eventually discovered over 100 bluebonnets on the 100th day of school.
While screaming is usually not allowed in classrooms, it is acceptable in the garden as long as it does not disturb others. We should differentiate between good and bad excitement. Seeing learners excited about finding cool or unexpected things outdoors is lovely.
Emotion-involved Learning
Exploring the garden and discovering new things can be a thrilling experience for students. It is one of the unique benefits of garden education, where excitement can flow freely without disturbing others. Involving emotions in learning can improve our memory and make the learning experience more meaningful. All the Kindergarteners and 2nd graders who participated in the bluebonnet hunt now know what it looks like and can identify it.
However, things can get challenging when many learners come to me at once with questions or to share their discoveries. I often think, ” I’m just one person! I can’t hear you all!”. It can be overwhelming to handle them all day. Unfortunately, this is why emotions are not always welcomed in school.
Despite the challenges, I fondly remember these moments with a smile. Therefore, I aim to create a sustainable educational environment that embraces emotion-involved learning and inspires children to learn with their minds and hearts.
