Listening to the Birds: A Mindful Encounter with Nature

Our encounter with the blue jay continues. After day of greyness, the blue sky has returned, bright and open above us. And with it comes a familiar sound. The unmistakable cawing of the blue jay in the morning.

Almost as if it has been waiting for the sky to clear, the bird calls out again, reminding us of its presence. Its voice carries through the quiet morning, and somehow the sound feels familiar now. We listen for it, and when we hear that first call, it feels like a little greeting.

The blue jay has become part of our mornings. We may not always see it, but we hear it calling from our nearby tree, as though inviting us to pause and notice the day beginning. Fia, being especially observant, catches the sound almost immediately. She pauses, listens, and then points it out to us, as if to say, "There it is again!" 

To get a little closer to the blue jay, we make an effort to climb onto the rooftop of our little house. As Fia watches Rebecca being helped up, she immediately wants to do the same. The determination in her eyes is unmistakable.

The moment she sees Rebecca sitting on to of the little house, Fia points her out to us, making it perfectly clear that she wants to be up there, too. She doesn't wait long. Before we know it, she pushes herself up and, without the slightest hesitation, climbs right up the door!

Rebecca and Fia enjoy mimicking the blue jay's movements and sounds, using their imagination to connect with the birds they observe in nature. This playful experience encourages curiosity, observation, and a sense of wonder about the world around us. 

The next day, this exploration becomes an invitation to return to the rooftop of our little house. This time round, Anthony joins Rebecca. They revisit their playful experience of inviting the blue jay to come back. Their return to the rooftop shows how we can build on familiar experiences, deepen our ideas, and continue discovering the natural world through play.

We think of different ways to create an invitation for our little rooftop exploration. Rebecca shares her idea with excitement, saying, "Let us have a nest!" Her suggestion opens up a new possibility for us to imagine what may happen on the rooftop and how a blue jay may use the space. This moment encourages us to share our ideas, listen to one another, and extend our exploration through imaginative play.

When a tree branch is introduced, Anthony comes up with another idea. He carefully places a handful of grass clippings on the branch, imagining that they can become another nest. His idea extends our exploration of how birds create their homes, while encouraging creativity, observation, and imaginative play. 

Anthony also adds a home for the bee, creating a new part of the story. When the bird comes near it, he excitedly shares, "The bird got stung!" Through this imaginative play, we continue to build our own ideas and make connections between different creatures and their habitats.

As we come to the letter "T" for "Thankfulness," we think about the many things we can be thankful for. This learning experience encourages us to notice the people, moments, and little things that bring joy to our lives and to express our gratitude. Anthony shares his thankfulness for the bird and the tree.

Luka demonstrates an increasing awareness of his surroundings as he notices the returning clouds and the blue sky. He extends his observation by including birds and trees, showing his ability to notice and describe different elements of nature. Through this experience, Luka is encouraged to observe closely, express his ideas, and recognized that the natural world is constantly changing.

Referring to the blue sky, Rebecca demonstrates an awareness of the wildfire situation and notices the positive change in her surroundings. As the fires begin to subside, she expresses relief and gratitude, saying, "It is less now." Her observation shows her growing ability to connect changes in the environment with her own experiences and feelings.

The sun shines brightly, filling the day with warmth and light. It is the perfect weather for a walk, so we decide to go together. As we stroll along, we talk, laugh, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. The simple walk brings us closer and reminds us how special it is to spend time together. With every step, we feel the joy of companionship and the true spirit of togetherness.

Before we begin drawing, we take a moment to move our bodies. We stretch, sway, and gently shake out our hands, allowing the movement to loosen our fingers and awaken our creativity. As our bodies become more relaxed, our hands begin to feel ready to create.

With our hands warm up and our bodies settle, we turn our attention to what we are thankful for. We let those feelings guide our drawings, using lines, shapes, and colours to express gratitude in our own unique ways. What begins as simple movement becomes a pathway into expression, helping us connect our bodies, our hands, and our hearts.

Luka describes his circular motion as a "storm cloud," sharing that this is something he is thankful for. His drawing transforms the movement of his hand into an expression of gratitude, giving meaning to the marks he makes.

Rebecca thoughtfully shares that she is thankful for "friends and nature." As she creates her drawing, she uses her marks and movements to express the appreciation she feels for the people she cares about and the beauty of the natural world around her.

Emily shares that she is thankful for blackberry trees and bird nests. These meaningful parts of nature are captured visibly in her illustrations, where her drawings reflect her appreciation for the natural world around her.

Our work-in-progress captures the journey of an idea becoming a firsthand experience. What begins as a thought gradually takes shape through our hands as we explore, create, and make meaning from the process. Our work reflects how an initial idea can evolve into something tangible through active participation and discovery.

As we walk through this beautiful spot, the ground is covered with fallen leaves. With each step, we listen to the gentle crunch beneath our feet. The ocean of leaves invites us to pause and feel them with our hands. We notice how fragile and dry they are as we carefully collect them, holding them close as if we are embracing a piece of nature.

The lightness of the leaves inspires us to gather them into a pile and toss them into the air. Emily reaches out to catch the falling leaves, while Luka joyfully chases after them as they drift to the ground. Soon, it feels as though we are standing beneath a rain of leaves, with them landing softly on our heads and arms. We laugh together, sharing a joyful moment of connection with nature and with one another.

Kindest,
Children & Friends.