Is it real?

Our nature research space is filled with items.  Most of these curiosities have been collected by the children.  Some, however, have been collected and saved by teachers.  Right now three pinecones are displayed prominently in the space.  One pinecone from South Africa and one from California stand alongside one collected on the front playground. 

These are definitely not real, cuz they are so big.

This looks real, but doesn’t feel real.

This is the size we have outside.  It’s much smaller and the scales are not opened up.

If you buy something at the store, it’s not real.

This one feels real, soft.

This one is hard.

This one has glue on it.

I don’t think any of these are real now!

This one is too big!

So you aren’t sure which is real?

Too big, too hard and glue on it!  

A conversation between VIOLET and PARKER

It feels not real.

They’re hard and they feel like they’re fragile.

  MARKY

AS TEACHER RESEARCHERS, WE SEE CHILDREN. . .

. . . using all of their senses to understand and to question.

. . . showing a willingness to express uncertainty, to not know.

. . . compartmentalizing to make sense – comparing and constrasting the unfamiliar and the familiar.

 . . . applying reasoning and logic.

. . . exhibiting a willingness to work by oneself or with another.  

. . . using self-speak or sharing a peer’s knowledge and understanding to co-create a new idea.

. . . clearly and joyfully expressing their thinking through conversation.

. . . showing comfort with a peer and/or an adult.