Kindergarten students of DPS-Modern Indian School taking lesson on nature during the activity.
Doha: To nurture appreciation of importance of nature among youngsters since childhood, DPS-Modern Indian School organised a ‘nature walk’ for its students of Kindergarten on the first week of January within the school premises.
This year everything was so different due to pandemic. The children were waiting to come out of their homes. It was a very good thing to plan such an activity where the children got to learn as well as explore nature.
The emphasis is not on finding out names or identifying things as one might do on a nature walk. Sometimes children are accustomed to the fast-paced changes and excitement that nature shows on television. But they soon learn that nature really has its own rhythm and takes time to unfold its movement; it is not entertainment but more the reward of diligent observation and sustained interest.
Early in the morning, all the kids were briefed about the nature walk in their respective classes. One day the first group of children was taken, and the second group was taken on the next day. Teachers encouraged them to observe the plants and surroundings.
The students were also instructed to maintain social distance and not to touch anything for safety reasons.
Children were full of queries during this time. They were amazed to see the beautiful flowers in the garden.
The main aim of the nature walk was to stimulate children’s appreciation for the natural world. Nature enhances emotional change, promotes socialisation and physical fitness. Overall, it was a refreshing experience for the little ones.
Spending time in nature can lead to some of the most enjoyable and profound learning experiences. Nature-based learning touches on and connects every academic discipline imaginable while enlivening the senses and invigorating the body.
It encourages curiosity and inquiry, exploration and experimentation, while the mind catalogues, analyzes, and compares.
Teaching children about the natural world should be one of the important events in their lives.
