School of the Woods (Yesterday's Classics)
#2 in Ways of Wood Folk Series
What’s inside...
The book provides insight into how mother animals and birds train their young, complementing their natural instincts with learned behaviors. Featuring a variety of animals including deer, black bears, fishhawks, herons, porcupines, and moose, the author uses vivid depictions to illustrate these parental teachings. Additionally, this work is recognized as culturally important and has been preserved as a historical artifact. It has been selected by scholars for its significance and is part of the public domain in the United States, making it freely accessible for distribution and reproduction.
Discussion points
What do you think the animals might be feeling in their natural habitats? How would you feel in their place?
How do the changing seasons affect the animals' behaviors in the woods?
Why do you think it's important for us to learn about animals and their environments?
What lessons can we learn from the way animals live and interact in the woods?
Which animal's story was your favorite and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine the setting by asking them to describe what the woods might look, sound, and smell like. This helps them connect more deeply with the book’s environment. Discuss the interconnectedness of nature and the importance of empathy towards all living beings. Highlight facts and insights that can be related to your child’s daily experiences to make the content more relatable.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Observation and Inquiry
Explanation: Throughout 'School of the Woods,' children are encouraged to observe nature and ask questions about the world around them. The book details various wildlife behaviors and interactions, providing a basis for curiosity-driven learning.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these skills in their daily lives by exploring their local environment, observing plants, animals, and weather patterns, and developing questions that lead to discovery and learning.
Example Lesson: Respect for Nature
Explanation: The narrative promotes a deep respect for the natural world. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and preserving the habitats of various wildlife species.
Real-World Application: Kids can practice this lesson by participating in local clean-up efforts, being mindful of their environment, and learning about the impact of human activities on ecosystems.
Example Lesson: Patience and Perseverance
Explanation: The author highlights the virtue of patience through the careful observation of animal behaviors and the changing seasons. Learning from nature requires waiting and watching diligently.
Real-World Application: This lesson is vital in teaching children the value of patience in achieving long-term goals. Whether it's waiting for a planted seed to sprout or mastering a new skill, the virtues of patience and perseverance are universally applicable.
Example Lesson: Interconnectedness of Ecosystems
Explanation: The book sheds light on how different creatures and elements within an ecosystem are interdependent. It helps children understand the symbiotic relationships that sustain the balance of nature.
Real-World Application: This understanding can lead children to become more conscientious citizens who appreciate the importance of all organisms in the ecological web, fostering a sense of responsibility towards maintaining biodiversity.