Creating our picturebook

 

Lympia Kindergarten, Cyprus, initially -  since September -  chose and studies two places .
The first place is the small garden located at the school’s front yard. The study of the small garden in which there is a variety of herbs, trees and plants will give our young students the opportunity to monitor and enjoy the changes of nature due to the weather conditions and  climate changes prevailing in Cyprus per season. Our children, with their physical presence and movement between the different plants and the use of their senses will become conscious receivers of messages that nature offers to human.   

The second place was the salt lake, named Aliki, at Larnaca. Larnaca is a city nearly to our village, but is a different province of ours.  

 

We were sure that monitoring and studying this particular wetland would be very interesting for children, because in this lake the changes that can happen from one month to the next are exciting. In summer the water evaporates and salt is the only element of the lake. This happens until early  Autumn. When the gradual drop in temperature begins, the center of the lake begins to return to its liquid form, which expands and gradually covers the entire lake. Then many migratory birds flood the lake, with the presence of thousands of flamingos creating a fascinating picture.

 

 

All this and combining the subjects that we could study in depth with the study of the lake made us choose to photograph and study it, even if this would be visual since according to the original health protocol for the corovirus group movements and excursions of students are not allowed. The photo shoot would be done by us and the study would be iconic.  In order to achieve the acquaintance and study of the second reference point we would certainly need the help and contribution of the parents. We have asked the parents to visit the lake along with their children in their free time and photograph it if they wish. Parents were willing and children were excited, when returning to school presented us and their classmates with their observations and surveys.
Unfortunately, however, since the beginning of this year, Cyprus has been in lockdown again and this does not allow movement between different provinces. Teachers and students, we discussed and decided to ask our coordinator to give us the opportunity to change the second place to another which is located in our village and can be seen from our school. 

The answer was YES! 

 

And so, from now on, we proceed with the observation, study and photography of the monthly changes of the natural environment that develops on the hill of the Holy Cross at the top of which is a small chapel which has great emotional and historical value for us. While it is so close to us - as part of our village - we can not visit it since it is occupied. This hill is visible from our school (from the windows of all the classrooms) but also from the children's homes so it will be easier to observe.

 

 

 

Then many migratory birds flood the lake, with the presence of thousands of flamingos creating a fascinating picture.

Στη συνέχεια, πολλά αποδημητικά πουλιά πλημμυρίζουν τη λίμνη, με την παρουσία χιλιάδων φλαμίνγκο δημιουργώντας μια συναρπαστική εικόνα.

Then, many migratory birds flooded the lake, in the presence of thousands of flamingos to create an exciting picture

Στη συνέχεια, πολλά μεταναστευτικά πουλιά πλημμύρισαν τη λίμνη, παρουσία χιλιάδων φλαμίνγκο για να δουν μια μαγευτική εικόνα

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Our places to photograph!

 In Pirita kindergarten we asked all 6 groups to choose a place to take picture of every month!

So each place represents a little piece of  our hometown!

The youngest in our kidergarten are 2-3 years old children in group Kannike (viola). They chose to photograph an apple tree that is on our kindergarten yard!

The group Meelespea (forget-me-not; children 3-4 years old) chose a place in forest near of our kindergarten. It is a good place to go for a walks with young children.

The group Sinilill (hepatica; children 4-5 years) walked about 30 minutes learned road crossing, wandering in suburban area and finally found a Mähe park with little stream. 

The group Rukkilill (cornflower; children 4-6 years) chose a little hill near our kindergarten. It is a good place to roll down in autumn and sledge down in winter!

The group Karikakar (daisy; children 5-7 years) chose a place that represents Pirita. Here you can see Pirita river, the bridge between Pirita and the city centre and over the river is Pirita district government building.

The group Kullerkupp (globeflower; children age 6-7 years) have chosen two places to photograph. These three rowan trees (we call them Three sisters) are in our kindergarten yard. So easy to visit them because next year in this group will be children age 2-3 years and they can continue with photographing.

The second place is Merivälja pier. It is a 40 minutes walk from our kindergarten. They take pictures with the tree and without the tree. The teachers chose this place because they have a plan to make bicycle trip there with children in the end of their kindergarten time. To send them off to school with lots of good memories from the kindergarten.

So as you can see there is lots of nature around us and that what we want the children to see and experience!

So lets go out side and See - Our Nature!

We chose to photograph two very favorite places for us.

    This is a magical place in our town of Pomorie. A rock overhanging the sea. A poet, Yavorov is his name, who often came to the rocks, staring out to sea to draw inspiration for his poems.

    Everyone loves this place, which combines the fury of the waves and the tenderness of the sunset.

    Around the monument and the rocks there is a nice small park for rest and walk. Children love to spend time there.

    Lake Pomorie, within which there are salt pans and a museum, is a protected area. More than 200 species of birds have been found in the lake, and part of the Via Pontica bird migration route passes over it.

    Children often visit this place, which is very close to our kindergarten, watch the birds, play games or just walk.

 

TREES AROUND OUR KINDERGARTEN

 We would like to introduce to you the trees we chose for our project and which are in the near surroundings of our kindergarten.

This tree is called "The Japanese Cherry" (lat.Prunus Serrulata) and the reason we chose this tree was because its leaves turn into red,yellow and magenta colours in autumn and when its spring time, the leaves turn into bright pink with white flowers. 

We decided to take our group for a walk to the bank of our river Sava. On the way there children saw a tree that had red berries and they were interested to find out what kind of tree has that kind of berries. We took a picture of the tree and then discussed with the children what they think the name would be. They were surprised to find out it is a rosehip tree, the same tea that we often drink in the cold winter night.

After a 20 minute walk we ended up at the bank of our river Sava. The bank  spreads across the west and the east part of our city Zagreb. The children chose one particular tree that sticks out from the rest of the trees because it was alone and surrounded with tall grass. They loved playing underneath the tree because it gave a big shade across the bank The children rolled down the bank and played hide and seek.It was such a fun time.

 Dear partners!

We're happy to introduce you with the places which our children have become attached with during their daily walks. Here are our September photos.

This is a small river named Rītupīte (Morning river), which flows along the school and far away on. At one spot, it looks a bit like a pond and there's a house for ducks. Children love this place, because it is possible to observe ducks and their behaviour here.

Here, in the distance, you can see a little corner of our school, to which every our child dreams to go one day. But the main characters in this picture are the birch trees which change their look as seasons go by.

 A sight of a brook in our park from a little bridge.

 Apple tree in the orchard of our kindergarten.

 Maple tree under which children adore to play especially in autumns when its leaves have turned yellow, red, orange, brown.... 

 A big stone, near Rītupīte.

 A pond with an island in the middle. Children go there to swim in summer with their parents.