Observing Avian Life at Cornell's Children's Island
The Eutin Kindergarten, nestled amidst the picturesque castle garden, recently concluded an enchanting project week that saw the inauguration of a new bird observatory. This educational initiative, known as the Eutin Kindergarten Bird Observatory Project, aims to introduce young children to the fascinating world of birdwatching and nature observation.
Project Highlights
The project week was filled with a series of engaging activities designed to pique the curiosity of the children. Highlights included a captivating bird of prey show at Trappenkamp, where large birds soared majestically over the audience, leaving the children in awe. Milan Rehfeld, one of the children, recalls the trip to Trappenkamp as the highlight of the project week.
The project children are particularly proud of the self-built birdhouse in the kindergarten's outdoor area. Made from natural materials, the birdhouse serves as a haven for local birds and is filled with homemade, species-appropriate bird food daily.
Enhancing Learning Through Experience
The Eutin Kindergarten Bird Observatory Project offers a unique learning experience for the children. The project involves practical observations using various media such as books, tablets, and binoculars provided at the bird observatory. The children have learned to identify many local birds, understand their needs, and how they live based on pictures and direct observations.
Storytelling was another integral part of the project week, used to captivate the imagination of other children. The project week aimed to awaken the children's interest in nature, fostering a lifelong appreciation for the environment.
Community Collaboration
The project was made possible by a generous donation from the Cornils Foundation. It also includes collaboration with local birdwatching groups and environmental educators, providing expert guidance and resources. The children have the opportunity to learn about the habits of local birds using the bird observatory at their leisure anytime.
Benefits for Children’s Learning
The project offers numerous benefits for the children's learning. It encourages hands-on learning, multisensory engagement, language development, creativity, and imagination. The project also fosters scientific thinking skills, social and emotional development, and physical activity.
In conclusion, the Eutin Kindergarten Bird Observatory Project serves as a valuable educational tool that nurtures children’s natural curiosity, environmental responsibility, and learning skills through immersive experiences in nature. By providing a unique learning environment, the project aims to instill a lifelong love for nature in the children, fostering responsible citizens who care for the environment.
The Eutin Kindergarten's birdhouse, constructed from natural materials in the home-and-garden setting, serves as a dwelling for local birds and stimulates lifelong learning about gardening and nature observation through hands-on experience. The children's lifelong learning continued with the introduction to various aspects of education-and-self-development, such as identifying local birds, understanding their needs, and observing their habits, all supported by the bird observatory's resources. Furthermore, the project's collaboration with local birdwatching groups and environmental educators broadened the children's learning horizons in the realm of lifestyle, promoting a lifelong appreciation of nature and the environment.
