Fourth-grade students recently spent the day at Hidden Valley Nature Center. While the day was soggy, the students' mood was bright. They had access to gear to keep them comfortable, thanks to mini grants from the Maine Environmental Education Association. The students mentioned being chilly, but their excitement kept them warm. They were busy gathering lichen, moss, and fungi to examine.
The students learned about the symbiotic relationship between mushrooms and trees as they acted out mycelium sending messages and sharing resources with trees. They learned that lichen forms from a combination of fungus and algae. They found examples of the three main types of lichen and used field guides to identify specific types. They recorded all this work in nature journals. Nature journals are a critical component of these field trips. Students learn to look closely, record with precision, and ask questions. These skills transfer into the work they do across the content areas at school.
The kids also visited the trees they adopted in September. As the rain poured down, they gleefully found lichen, moss, and fungi growing all over the trees. They examined the bark and leaves closely and shared their discoveries.
We are fortunate to work with the same naturalist every year, Cami Wilbert. She is collaborative and adapts her lessons to students' needs. The kids love seeing her every month. Midcoast Conservancy provides us with these trips with Cami free of charge, but they are priceless.
