Awakening AWE! Trees & Plants

                                   
                                    The Major Oak Tree, Sherwood Forrest, Nottinghamshire, UK.
We live on an AWESOME planet. So, I want to explore some ways in which we can awaken awe for the natural world in children. As I've probably said before, getting them outside is for me the number one most effective way. However, I know that's not always possible. Still, we can be a guide. We can take a hand, open a door, lead the way to something extraordinary. Something that might be the catalyst, the moment that ignites a lifelong passion for the natural world. I was privileged; I grew up in the magical Sherwood Forest in England. The Major Oak Tree was my playground, my mentor, my sacred space in which to imagine and dream. The hollow interior of the tree was rumored to have been the favorite hiding place for Robin Hood. I spent hours inside that tree. Needless to say, I have never forgotten it, and wherever I am, I look to the trees for comfort and inspiration.  
            Whether it is the song of the White Pine, the shimmer of the Trembling Aspen leaves, the shade of a mighty Maple or the glorious greenness of new Ferns unfolding, trees and plants are a constant reminder of the beauty and grace residing on this planet. Not only that, they truly are phenomenal. On a recent trip to Archbold Biological Station in Florida, the Curious Kids discovered that some plants have been around for ten thousand years. Ten thousand years!

I challenge you to find some awesome examples of plant magnificence to share with your kids. Here are a few ideas to get your started:

1. Do trees Communicate with each other?

        2. The story of the Fig Tree and the Fig wasp

3. Trees as Habitats

4. Top Ten Amazing Plants

Song: Did You Ever Imagine That You Were A Tree

What would the world be without trees, plants and flowers! Well we know... there would be no life!

Let me know what you find to inspire AWE in your kids!

Kids & Careers!

Marine Biology

Planting seeds to help young people choose a career, can be done at an early age. The world is changing fast and opportunities and modes of employment along with it. Fostering curiosity in children in regard to future career opportunities can help instill in them an ability to think outside of the box, encourage them to become innovators and visionaries. Something we will need as our planet faces extraordinary changes. Yes, there are the time-honored career paths such as doctor, teacher, dentist etc.; they will always be there, and also open to innovative ways of thinking. Within this new age lies the potential for exciting possibilities. I have a feeling that jobs in science, ecology and the environment will be in great demand. In addition, our approaches to all forms and methods of 'work' will increasingly incorporate lessons learned from the earth. Take biomimicry for example - this short video demonstrates how nature can guide us in creating for the future.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand." 

Albert Einstein

Seeking to present kids with some interesting ideas for career choices spurred me to produce an entire Curious Kids Show on just that!

Let's ignite our children's imaginations; plant the seeds of curiosity in their fertile minds that will generate enthusiasm for the immense possibilities that lie ahead! 

Here are some interesting examples you can share, to begin the conversation:

Want to be an architect? How about constructing Homes with plastic bottles.

Become a Sustainable Chef

Maybe you'd like to be become part of the new wave of Chic Sustainable Clothing Designers

Have fun.

Plastic!

                                          
I read an article this week about how microplastics are killing juvenile fish before they even reach maturity. The implications of this are pretty scary. In case you don't know, microplastics are the tiny particles of plastic that find their way into the ocean from waste such as plastic bags and plastic bottles, as well as from plastic microbeads - these are tiny beads included in some modern cosmetics such as skin cleaners.
My immediate thought on all this is how can we raise children to reject as much plastic as they can?
For sure, there are times when plastic is convenient, but can we try to raise a generation of kids who simply avoid plastic? Learning about ocean life is a good place to start. Few kids want to hurt animals anywhere and when they learn about how plastic is killing marine life, then they are more likely to avoid the root cause of so much destruction. In this video, the Curious Kids learn about marine life in the Gulf of Mexico:

Here are a few more resources to help you plan a fun and engaging class for your students:

• Sing the Recycling Boogie 
• Check out this List of products that contain microbeads - invite the kids to check out products at home and see what they find.
• The Story of Stuff has a good video to learn about microbeads.
• The Article in the Guardian about how the plastic beads are killing the fish.
• 100 Ways to a Plastic Free Life 

Check out more Earth and Rosie programs like the  Little Earth Charter (see top of the page)  - or the Footprint Game (on the right side of this page).