Sparks and Embers

  • Urban Ecology: A Natural Way to Transform Kids, Parks, Cities, and the World

    Book Review

    Urban Ecology: A Natural Way to Transform Kids, Parks, Cities, and the World

    The next time you gather for a campfire, watch to see what happens. You may see friends and strangers pull up chairs, make the circle wider, and slide over a bit to make room for more to join. Notice how each camper begins to relax, smile, and lean closer to the heat and to each other.

    Read More

  • Finding Comfort in the Rhythms of Nature

    As I write, in April 2020, the whole world is living through uncertain, disheartening times. The COVID-19 pandemic has schools shutdown indefinitely in my home state of Wisconsin, and through the end of the school year in many others. Many businesses are closed, and the majority of the United States is living under “Safer at Home” orders that restrict our travel.

    Read More

  • Risk and Play

    The Kickapoo Valley Forest School Leadership Team and Governance Council members recently attended a professional development training on risk and play in early childhood with Ross Thompson, M.Ed., an early childhood educator and teaching specialist

    Read More

Articles

Finding Comfort in the Rhythms of Nature
Simply put, phenology is the study of seasonal changes. At home, the easiest way to get started with phenology is to simply begin paying attention to what’s happening outside your window. It doesn’t matter how small or large your spot is, as long as you are able to observe it consistentl...
Read More

Risk and Play
Creating an environment where children can safely explore is essential to building strong bodies and critical thinkers. When the environment is controlled to eliminate any or all risks, children may lose some of their ability to weigh, ponder, and consider their actions and decisions. ...
Read More

Honoring Questions for an Inquiry Mindset
How can we invite student questioning into our lessons without being overwhelmed? How do we honor questions and still get through all we need to cover? How do we engage students in questioning when their questions may not have been honored in the past? How do we respond to questions we t...
Read More