Copy of Making Friends with Nature: 2024 Natural Literacy Program Annual Report

Natural Literacy Educator Jenni Judkins

This word has taken center stage this year in the Natural Literacy classes taught by Jenni Judkins, BBWC’s talented natural literacy educator. Students learned that the remarkable process of photosynthesis is fueled by the sun’s energy, which fixes the carbon from CO2 into sugar releasing oxygen. Through games, songs and exciting discoveries in the fields, forests and ponds that surround their school, students grew to appreciate the complex and important role of photosynthesis in the marvels of evolution.

The verdant, flower-filled September days at the start of the school year provided a wonderful introduction to biodiversity. While getting to know each other, students welcomed two new mascots into their circle, a cuddly sheep named Baaa-tony (Botany) and Chlorophyll (who began as a solar powered green groundhog but, due to a breaking fall from the backpack, became a green frog puppet). Chlorophyll led the students in singing her name and learning her talents. Students learned some organic chemistry through numerous rounds of Photosynthesis Tag in which the “animal tagger” converted O2 to CO2.while another “plant tagger” converted CO2 to O2.

Summer became Autumn and, with the change in seasons, pollination and seed dispersal made way for lessons focusing on the changing leaf colors. Students learned about xanthophyll (yellow pigments) and anthocyanin (bright red pigments). As the leaves fell to the ground, students became acquainted with their deciduous neighbors - Ash Tree, Quaking Aspen Tree, Big Tooth Aspen Tree, Oak Tree, Beech Tree and, finally, White Birch Tree and Gray Birch Tree.

When all the deciduous trees were bare, the students shook the boughs of their conifer friends—Hemlock Tree, Balsam Fir Tree, White Pine Tree and the three native Spruce Trees – Black, Red and White. They collected their cones and imagined the time when the conifers ruled the land.

Students learned how trees support hundreds of lives of animals (including us!) and plants by providing food, homes, building and nesting materials, refuge, and perches for mammals, birds, insects, fungi, lichens, mosses, and many others.

As the winter solstice drew nigh, classes celebrated with a Forest Tea. The first little paper cup with tea – red from passion flower, sweet with honey and fragrant with mint and needles from balsam fir – passed from hand to hand as each student shared the joy they found in the forest. The last to share poured the liquid out to share with the forest that provided this joy. Once each student had a filled cup, hands were raised in a CHEER TO OUR FOREST!