Learning in Nature, Learning By Exploration
在漫长的演化过程中，人类一直在自然中学习。山川湖海、草木虫鱼，我们时刻观察着世界，从中找寻规律、探索知识，感受地球的脉动。如今，钢筋水泥铸成的城市里，我们似乎患上了“自然缺失症”，不熟悉一蔬一果的生长，不辨花鸟虫鱼的栖居，与自然的距离逐渐疏远。但其实，奇妙的大自然恰恰是孩子最特别的一位老师。无论是看天看云，聆听风声呼啸，还是触摸一朵花的柔软，目睹植物从抽芽到凋零，自然总能调动起孩子们的各种感官，激发他们的好奇心与求知欲。而我们要做的就是把他们带进自然，或是把自然带到他们面前。
Human beings have been learning in nature in the long process of evolution. Mountains, rivers, plants, insects... we always observe the world, look for knowledge behind, and sense the pulsation of the earth. Nowadays, in the cities made of steel and concrete, we seem to suffer from a "nature deficit disorder" - unfamiliar with the growth of a vegetable and a fruit, do not recognize the habitat of flowers and birds, and gradually drift away from nature. But in fact, the wonderful nature world is one of the most special teachers for children. Whether they are looking at the sky and clouds, listening to the wind whistling, or touching the softness of a flower, nature can always arise their curiosity. All we need to do is to bring them into nature or bring nature to them.
最近，在不同学科的课堂里，不少孩子们就充分感受了在自然中学习的乐趣。在一年级的STEM课堂里，孩子们刚刚结束了“植物”单元的学习。老师们教孩子们认识了许多常见的植物，想学习了植物不同器官的功能，以及季节对叶片、开花植物和果实的影响等知识。更令孩子们兴奋的是，老师带着他们前往幼儿园的花园，亲自进行植物观察实践——它看起来如何？摸上去如何？闻起来如何？
Recently, many children have experienced the joy of "learning in nature" in different subjects. In G1 STEM class, the children had just completed the unit "Plants".They learned names of many common plants, how to describe parts of plants and their functions, the influence of seasons on leaves, flowering plants, and fruit. What was even more exciting for the children was that the teachers took them to the ELC garden to observe plants and draw their observations together - how does the plant look, feel, and smell?
老师们精心准备的植物单元练习手册，包含了各种词汇、课堂活动和练习。A wonderful Unit 1 Plants workbook containing all the vocabulary, activities, and space for self-reflection.
孩子们在校园内观察植物。The children started observing plants in the campus.
我们看到孩子们主动围绕在感兴趣的植物旁边，边观察边讨论，再把自己的观察以文字或者图画的方式记录下来。为了更直观地感受到环境因素对于植物生长的影响，孩子们还种植了猫草种子，撰写植物生长日记。在这个过程中，孩子们都非常积极地参与其中，并主动思考到底什么样的环境才更适合植物的生长。
The children gathered around the plants they interested in and discussed what they observed with excitement. Then, they recorded their observations in words or drawings. To get a better understanding on the growth of plant, the children planted cat grass seeds and maintained a plant growth journal. Measuring if their plant needs water and thinking about the ideal conditions to grow. All children are very actively involved in this process.
为了分享他们通过在这一系列“自然课堂”中的所学，孩子们每个人都创作了一本“植物立体书”并进行展示。在这本小书里，孩子们精心画下了空气、水和阳光的存在，不同的植物繁茂生长着。他们仔细讲解着自然里这些密不可分的“好朋友”如何互相帮助，从而让世界更加生机勃勃。从孩子们的展示中，我们可以发现关于植物的知识，已经不知不觉间被他们牢记于心。
To share what they had learned in the nature about plants, created a plant pop-up book and presented that. In this little book, different plants are bathed in sunlight and rain. During the presentation, the children explained their creation and answered questions. Through the children's presentation, we found that they had learned a lot of knowledge about plants and the growth of a plant!
一年级孩子们绘制的植物立体书 The plant pop-up books made by G1 students
在四年级的语文课堂，“自然”则被老师们“种”在了教室里。为了帮助孩子们更好地开展“观察日记”单元里连续细致的观察，老师们精心准备了各种水培植物与蘑菇培育盒：小白菜、秋葵、红萝卜，红平菇、黑姬菇……化身小农夫的孩子们，以小组为单位投入到种植行动当中。
In the G4 Chinese class, on the other hand, the nature was "planted" in the classroom by the teachers. To help the children start their continuous and detailed observations in the "Observation Diary" unit, the teachers prepared a variety of hydroponic plants and mushroom cultivation boxes: cabbage, okra, carrots, red flat mushrooms… Our little farmers worked in groups to plant the plants and mushrooms.
从种子萌芽到叶片发育，植物成长的每一步都牵动着孩子们的心情。老师们看到不少孩子到学校的第一件事就是去看看植物有没有长大，他们“不仅会给予植物真诚的鼓励，还会在植物努力生长时为它唱一首优美的歌谣，讲一个有趣的故事……”
From seed to leaf, the children keep an eye on every step of the growth of plants everyday. The teachers said that the first thing many children did when they arrived at school was to see if the plants had grown, and they "not only gave sincere encouragement to the plants, but also sang a beautiful song and told an interesting story to the plants when they were trying to grow …".
在种植过程中，孩子们难免会经历失败，种子逐渐枯萎、死去。为此，大家还特别策划了一场小型的种子“葬礼”，让来自自然的植物重新回归尘土。在进行葬礼的过程中，孩子们还在腐烂的种子中间，惊喜发现了一些依然坚强生长的幼苗，更让他们赞叹生命的顽强。在日记里，大家不仅记录着对于植物成长的观察，也记录着自己内心的想法。他们笔下这些生动的语言，正是源于对自然真实的感悟。
In the process of planting, there are inevitably seeds that fail to grow and gradually died. Therefore, some children have planned a small "funeral" for the seeds. In the children's diary, they not only recorded their observations of the plants, but also their inner thoughts. There is no doubt that the vivid sentences in the writings stems from their perception of the truth of nature.
一场小型的种子“葬礼”A small "funeral" for the seeds
点击图片查阅孩子们的观察日记▲
让孩子们在与自然的相处中，真正了解自然、理解自然的规律，与自然建立亲密的关系，那么，自然背后所隐藏的智慧，也会自然而然地从书本里流向孩子们的脑海中。未来，我们的老师也将继续开展各种教学实践，让孩子对自然好奇、对生命热爱，真正理解人类与自然间万事万物的相互依存和连结。
By allowing children to spend time with nature, truly understand nature, and build an intimate relationship with nature, the wisdom hidden behind nature will naturally flow from books to children's minds. Our teachers will continue to carry out various teaching practices to make children curious about the nature and have passion to their life, and finally, truly understand the interdependence and connection between human beings and all things in nature.