Summer learning in nature

(QNO) - Amidst the suffocating pace of urban life, experiential learning classes with nature are becoming a meaningful summer option for children.

Teacher Pham Cam Van (in red shirt) introduces the children to the different types of leaves used for the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and their distinctive fragrance. Photo: MY LINH

"Green" classrooms

Last weekend, 16 children from Tam Ky City and surrounding areas gathered in the small garden of Ms. Pham Cam Van (An My Ward, Tam Ky City) to explore a fun activity – making fragrant sachets from the leaves of the fifth lunar month, a traditional leaf used during the Dragon Boat Festival in Quang Nam province. These charming little sachets, made from various leaves such as sandalwood, broom leaves, tea leaves, gardenia flowers, cinnamon bark, star anise, etc., carried a distinctive fragrance, a result of the children's curiosity, skill, and enthusiasm.

“I didn’t expect the leaves to be so fragrant. I didn’t even know that my grandparents brewed this herbal tea to drink on the Dragon Boat Festival; it’s so interesting. Especially, I made a fragrant sachet with these ingredients to give to my mother, and I’m so happy!” - Linh San (10 years old) excitedly said.

For teacher Van, these experiential classes are not just about fun, but also an opportunity for children to better understand traditional culture, about things that seem familiar but are gradually fading away in modern life. "Children's world now is mainly air conditioning, phones, and social media. They lack green spaces and real-life experiences," said teacher Van.

These scented sachets made with leaves for the fifth day of the fifth lunar month were created by the students in Ms. Vân's class. Photo: MY LINH

Since 2019, every summer, Ms. Van has opened a "village school classroom," a "classroom without walls," right in her garden or other cool, green spaces. There, children learn how to sow seeds, grow bean sprouts, tend vegetable beds, listen to stories from books, conduct experiments about rain, sew, bake, and more. These seemingly simple activities help children develop life skills, learn teamwork, and cope with failure.

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These special classes – where children don't sit at desks or hold pens, but learn with their hands, eyes, and through vivid experiences in nature – have given them exciting summers.

Many parents today often lament the "restrictiveness" of modern summer holidays. Children are either attending extra classes or glued to technology devices, rarely having the opportunity for real-world experiences. "We just want our children to live their childhood authentically, to play, get dirty, fall and get back up. We want them to learn essential life skills, not just theoretical knowledge," one parent shared.

Recognizing this need, in recent years, youth organizations, skill -building centers, and community groups have organized experiential learning sessions in the ancient village of Loc Yen, the vegetable village of Tra Que, the pottery village of Thanh Ha, and the ecological village of Huong Tra… These open spaces help children escape the confines of their homes, immerse themselves in nature, and connect with rural culture.

Such classes not only "teach through play" but also "teach life." Children are assigned tasks, observe, take notes, and solve unexpected situations. In these classes, children also learn to accept failure, a crucial element in their journey to adulthood.

However, according to teacher Pham Cam Van, regardless of the format, the prerequisite is always ensuring the safety of children. "Children are very active, so the learning and play areas need to be safe. Even with open learning experiences, adults must closely supervise to create a safe but not restrictive environment," Ms. Van said.

As summer approaches, experiential learning classes in green spaces, like the model implemented by teacher Pham Cam Van, could be a practical solution in modern education, where children learn skills, appreciate life values, develop a greater love for nature, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/hoc-he-giua-thien-nhien-3155863.html