All About Big Backyard

By Janet Lane, June Hsiao, and Anne Khudari

 

 

Did you know that:

•  there are a handful of foxholes in the woods near the
    schoolyard;

•  a woodchuck breathes once every six minutes when
    hibernating;

•  you can tell a tree just by looking at its buds;

•  the funny blob that grows on trees and plants is
    called a “gall”;

•  some butterflies taste with their feet.

 

Sound interesting? These are just a few things children and volunteers learn through Big Backyard.

 

What is Big Backyard?

Big Backyard (BBY) is the town-wide elementary science enrichment program run by parent volunteers that utilizes the outdoors as an alternative classroom. The BBY walks for each grade are designed to complement the classroom science by taking the concepts outdoors and allowing children to learn through experiential education. Your first grader looks for animal tracks in the snow to learn what animals live in the schoolyard in winter. Your 3rd grader gets to measure the foundation of a typical colonial home and compare it to the size of his/her bedroom. Your 4th grader is introduced to taxonomy and classification by looking at tree buds and using keys to identify them.

 Big backyard utilizes inquiry science: children are asked to solve problems by asking questions and observing what is in front of them. Children learn by seeing context, seeing changes and making connections; they think like and practice being scientists in a natural environment.

One third grade class went out to observe insects and instead came upon a snapping turtle doing something odd. As the children and volunteers watched, it laid 23 eggs near the baseball field, covered them up with its hind legs, and slowly returned to the woods. During a recent second grade walk on “States of Matter” (looking at snow and ice, and their relationship to water) quite a bit of time was spent climbing on a snow fort while talking about differences in types of snow. The teacher had the class write thank you notes to the volunteers, many of whom were amazed at how much the students absorbed while seeming to play!

The Big Backyard experience varies from child to child. For some, BBY takes the fear out of the woods. They learn to identify poison ivy and the importance of returning a log to its original place after examining the habitat of creatures living under it. Others may learn to not step on living things. Part of the BBY philosophy is that children to see themselves as caretakers of the earth.

 

So You aren’t a Scientist

It’s OK to not know every answer—naming is not knowing. For example, everyone can identify a ladybug, but have you seen it open its wings? Do you know it gives off a bad smell when you catch it? Have you watched it drop and pull in its legs as if dead? Have you found it on a plant covered with aphids? Is that what they eat? Have you wondered why they come into your house in winter? These questions lead to learning. Some kids ask them naturally, but adults can teach kids to ask key questions and teach them critical observation skills.

Before each walk, trainings are scheduled to go over the content of the walk. Walk leaders are given printed guides to follow. Just add enthusiasm! Interested? Feel free to tag along on an upcoming walk or come to one of the “spring trainings” and check us out! Come join the corps of Big Backyard volunteers...we need you! H

 

Big Backyard Resources for Volunteers, Teachers and Families

A little known resource is the Big Backyard webpage on the Hastings website, http://hastings.lexingtonma.org/pta/bby/index.html. The resources pages provide information for volunteers, families and teachers on selected topics relating to BBY walks. Included are links to websites of relevant community organizations, lesson plans and further details of the BBY program. 

In addition, the Hastings library has collection of relevant field guides known as the “BBY kit”. You can go to the library and peruse them or access the list of guides from home by visiting the BBY webpage.

Working with our librarian, Margarite Bradley, we are also in the process of compiling a list of BBY-relevant read-aloud books for teachers and volunteers—organized by grade and topic. Check with Margarite (and your classroom teacher) if you would like to read a story to your class.

Finally, teachers and volunteers can take advantage of our Nature Collection, a handful of materials (nests, insects, bones, plant samples) used in classroom talks and parent trainings. A few Big Backyard volunteers are prepared to make classroom presentations. (See the BBY resources page for the itemized list). We are also happy to accept new donations of clean items that relate to our New England habitat!

 

Meet Fran Ludwig

Fran Ludwig, the school system’s K–5 Science Specialist, is the advisor for the Big Backyard Program at all six Lexington elementary schools. Fran says, “The Big Backyard Program is a wonderful collaboration between parents, teachers and kids for sharing the knowledge and wonder of the natural world.” As founder of the program Bev Morrison says, “Twenty-five children can’t fit around a dandelion flower and really appreciate it.” Small groups are needed, with an adult to affirm each child’s observations and discoveries. The children learn a lot more than just science and social studies. They find out that they can answer some of their own questions, just by observing closely and thinking logically about what they see—a very empowering experience. They “catch” the enthusiasm and respect for nature shown by the volunteer leader. In the future, difficult environmental problems like global warming will challenge our children. They will need to understand how natural systems work, realize that they are a part of these systems, and care about preserving them. The seeds of such knowledge and attitudes are sown now in the outdoor experiences our children have in Hastings’ Big Backyard. I really appreciate the dedication of the many Hastings’ Big Backyard volunteers who make this possible.”