Category: The Great Outdoors (Page 2 of 2)

I went for a walk in the neighbour hood surrounding Stride School looking for a particular plant.  This plant has been growing around me my whole life, but I never knew much about it until I went for a walk with Lori Snyder.  Lori is Métis and a herbalist.  She is teaching me about the plants that grow on Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh territories and can help take care of us.

Pineapple Weed is edible (they’re in the same family as chamomile!)  The little flowers smell like pineapples!  (Hint: Rub one between your finger tips and smell your fingers 🙂   The little flower buds can be harvested and put in a sachet to help us fall asleep at night.  There are lots of plants that can help us in our day to day lives, if we know how to invite them.

On my walk I found only one pineapple weed growing in Poplar Park, but I knew where to find more.   There are some growing in the Kindergarten Playground at Stride, but they are in the middle of the space where we run and play.  I decided I would ask the children to help me move them where they will be safe and hopefully bloom and grow even more.

They obliged and we got to work!

These little plants grow in sidewalk cracks in urban areas and like dry soil.  So, we’ll water them a little, make sure they get lots of sunshine and wait until spring for them to grow some more.  The plants will wither into the soil for the winter, and with them, their seeds.  The seeds will sleep until it warms up again and they start to grow into new plants.  In June, we’ll harvest some of the flowers and make sweet smelling sachets that will help us get a good night’s sleep.  Taking care of each other, people and plants alike!

Hych’ka, Pineapple Weeds!

Ms. Jenny

P.S. I left the little one I found just inside the gate of Poplar Park if you want to go on Pineapple Weed hunt?!  Poplar Park is  on 18th Ave. and Leeside St., about a 10 minute walk from Stride (with current construction detours).

Just wondering…has your child ever found items while on a walk and brought them home?  Perhaps a whole pocketful of rocks, flowers, pinecones, leaves and/or other treasures?  I once reached into a child’s pocket to find they had filled it with live worms!  You never know what a child’s play will be about!  This is one way to play with them once you get home that even adults find engaging 🙂  It is also a great way for very young children to safely interact and manipulate items that are too small for them to play with otherwise.  This activity still requires adult supervision, be safe!

To make a “Squishy Bag” (as my daughter calls them!), you’ll need:

a ziplock bag, found items, and tape

Place all the items into the bag and add some water (not much!)

Look!  Science is happening already!

Some objects sink, some float, some look different when they are wet!

This rock releases bubbles!

Seal the bag, pushing most of the air out.  Lay the bag on the floor or table.  You could seal the bag with the tape.  You could tape all four edges of the bag to the floor or table so that it stays in one place.

You could add a figure to play with on top, like this snail…now it had become an different sort of exploration:

A child at StrongStart used a Squishy Bag as a “look and find”toy.  It was great for developing his fine motor skills and language!

He also used a frog to try to catch the fly.  That was fun!

This child, when they were in grade 3 at Stride Ave. Community School, explains the science behind their play:

Have fun…squishing!

Hych’ka!

Ms. Jenny

Breathing clearly these days?  Take a walk on over to Stride Ave. Community School and visit our Scented Garden!  You’ll find it near the South side of the building facing Griffiths Dr.  Tucked in a corner under a pink Dogwood Tree, there are 4 barrels that all contain herbs.  There are (in no particular order):

Peppermint, Thyme, Curry, Oregano, Rosemary, Lemon Balm

So, the next time you pass by, fill your senses and breathe deeply!   Can you guess which is which?

***Special note!  A big thank you to the members of the community who help keep the Scented Garden healthy!  Gwen, Cathy, Karen, Ms. Spence and Ms. Chan are some of the women who I know who keep an eye on the plants, often giving them water when they need it.   The water barrel is there if anyone wants to bring a container to help with this.  You are more than welcome!

Hych’ka!

Ms. Jenny