Teaching the Big Field

www.seasons-south-and-north.co.uk

We have had such an enthusiastic response to The Big Field : a Child’s Year Under the Southern Cross, and the accompanying Teachers’ Guide, that we have launched our new website, "Seasons South and North". It is for parents, teachers, librarians and all others working to teach young children about the seasons and nature. The website will cover all aspects of the seasons and nature in both the southern and northern hemispheres, from recommended books to lessons to links and videos, and including requests from all for information and ideas. We have many themes and ideas planned and are eager to receive readers’ submissions as well. Our aim is to serve as a central point on the subject for those seeking to know more about and communicate with counterparts in the opposite hemisphere.

Please visit "Seasons South and North" and leave your comments and ideas!

www.seasons-south-and-north.co.uk

AUTHOR VISITS

The author, Anne Morddel, has worked in children’s literature and as a children’s librarian, usually in bi-lingual schools, for over twenty-five years. A native of northern California, she has lived and worked in London, Kampala, Istanbul, Curitiba, and São Paulo. She now lives in Paris and travels frequently to London. She is available for author visits to schools and home educating groups throughout Europe. (Travel can be from Paris or London.)

Visits can be geared toward the pre-school or the primary age groups, with readings from the book, listening to recordings of some of the more remarkable bird calls, discussion of seasons in the different hemispheres, examination of some seeds of trees, and crafts and activities based on those in the book. For older children, there is a writing workshop combined with nature observation and sketching, discussion of the research involved for The Big Field, and more discussion of the Atlantic Rainforest and the organisations working to restore it. There can also be a more intensive art and poetry workshop with a discussion of medieval illuminated manuscripts, how they were made, and how they were the inspiration for the pattern of the artwork in the book. Sessions last approximately one half-hour for very young children to one and a half hours for older children.

In all cases, there is a handout about conservation and reforestation of the Atlantic Rainforest, and of forests generally, for those who might be interested.

BOOK FAIRS

Copies of The Big Field, the Teachers’ Guide and posters can be available for sale at a 10% discount at book fairs or during Reading Week.

Trees

Ear Tree
Golden Medallion Tree
Ipê
Kapok
Lenten Tree
Paranã Pine
Pumpwood
St. John’s Bread Tree
Tiger’s Claw Tree

Vines

Bindweed
Coastal morning glory
Creeping Fig
Morning Glory
Viscum

Flowers

Air Plant
Bougainvillea
Bromeliads
Cestrum
Dayflower
Heliconia
Psychotria
Red Tasselflower
Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow

Birds

Azure Jay
Bare-throated bell-bird
Black Jacobin
Blue-and-white swallow
Blue Dacnis
Fork-tailed flycatcher
Great Kiskadee
Green-headed tanager
Plain Parakeet
Red-breasted toucan
Rufus-bellied Thrush
Rufus Hornero
Southern Lapwing
Swallow-tailed hummingbird
Trogon
Tropical Kingbird
Violaceous Euphonia

Butterflies

Blue Night Butterfly
Blue Silk Butterfly
Brazilian Skipper
Flame
Grecian Shoemaker
Helicon
Lacewing
Mandana Metalmark
Morpho
Mother-of-Pearl Morpho
Mourning Rose
Orange-barred Giant Sulphur
Orsis Bluewing
Swallowtail
White Peacock