Poetry Week: Nature Museum

Today's Poetry Tea Time was preceded by an Exploration Station in the form of a Nature Musuem.

Mr. M and I sent the big kids to play for a bit while we set up The Museum. We rearranged and brought more tables into one room (you could also do this outdoors in good weather). We left plenty of space to move easily around the tables to take a look at the nature specimens.

We inlcuded jewelers loupes and magnifying glasses for closer examination. Mr. M happily did a test tour.

When we invited the big kids back, their only instructions were 'Please Touch'.
The fact that this was a Hands-On Exhibit, made Description Poetry come naturally.
We collect all kinds of fossils, rocks, gems, minerals, bones, teeth, cocoons, insect galls, antlers, dried mushrooms, wasps nests and shells that are totally touch-worthy.

Once the kids selected some of their favourite items, a table was set up by the window with paper, pencils and coloured pencils. They were asked to draw and/or write down idea's about their items.
As they were perusing, they came up with clever poem titles like: 'The Childs Trumpet', 'The Fan of the Sea',
'The Water Childs Bonnet', all of which were seriously inspiring!!

 'The Fan of the Water'

Although we kept to collected items, a Living Musuem outdoors would be another option for a Hands-On Exhibit. If your kids are anything like mine, they create one of their own exhibits every time we head outside!