Connecting to nature through poetry and prose
We have entered the micro-season of “Bamboo Shoots Appear”. This is the third micro-season of the mini-season of First Summer. To honor this season, we are learning all about Bamboo and reading haiku by Basho, Issa, and Buson.
We have entered the micro-season of “The First Frog Calls”, which is the first micro-season of the mini-season of First Summer. In this season we investigate why frogs call and who are the first frogs to call. We also look at Basho’s famous Frog Pond haiku and the haiku responses from Issa and Buson.
We have entered the mini-season of Clear and Bright, which is the fifth mini-season of the year. To honor this season we are exploring the Qingming Festival, Taqing, Kite Flying, and poetry by Du Mu, Wu Weixin, and Issa.
We have entered the micro-season of “Thunder Raises its Voice”. To honor this season, we explore the life stages of a thunderstorm and read poetry by John Hall Wheelock, Kerouac, Issa, and Basho.
We have entered the micro-season of “The First Cherry Blossoms”. This is the second micro-season of the mini season of Spring Equinox. To honor this season, we are investigating hanami, cherry blossom festivals, folk music, and a few haiku.
We have entered the mini Season of Awakening of Insects. This season is all about animals emerging from hibernation. As a way to honor this season, we will investigate the calls of the spring peeper and wood frog. We will also read some spring haiku by Issa, Buson, and Sookan.
It is the micro-season of “Plants Show Their First Buds''. This is the last micro-season of the mini season of Rain Water. To honor this season we are looking at maple syrup and reading "Evening in the Sugar Orchard" by Robert Frost.
We have entered the micro-season of “The Earth Becomes Damp''. This is the first micro-season of the mini season of Rain Water. To honor this season we investigate ice jams and read poems by Marks, Buson, Basho, and Issa.
We are at the end of the micro-season, “The Chicken Lays Her First Eggs”. Although, Chickens may not be laying very many eggs in New England right now, we do have traditions like Groundhog's Day and poetry by Hickler, Issa, and Kerouac to remind us that spring is coming.
We are at the end of the micro-season, “The Mountain Stream Freezes Over”. This micro-season is the second part of the mini season Major Cold. We celebrate this season with poetry and an investigation into the importance of the earth’s fresh water system.
Naturalist Weekly 