Tag: nature

Earth Day 2013

In the week leading up to Earth Day on April 22, 2013, the students read an article and some books that I put on display for them. I also gave each science group a big piece of chart paper for them to draw what Earth Day is all about, and here are their amazing ideas.

We then read “Just a Dream” by Chis van Allsberg and then I gave the students cut out circles to draw what they hope their future Earth will look like. They drew beautiful pictures of animals and plants and they included incredible details of what we learned in our science classes! I can’t wait to post them on our spring bulletin. They also traced green handprints all around the globe to frame their drawing.

Here’s a sample:

Every handprint is printed a promise to make Earth Day every day!

Three cheers for a thoughtful Earth Day in our class.

Tags children, Earth Day, education, elementary, future, hope, nature, primary, science, visioning

College Personal Self Discovery

Trees, mountains, water.

This morning I woke up to a gold full moon, lying low on the horizon. Took the ferry across from Langdale to Horseshoe bay, and the got onto the bus as the sun rose. So peaceful. Last evening we hiked up Soames Hill and watched the sun set. On our right was a brilliant golden sun dipping behind the trees and mountains; on our left was a pale, almost translucent moon coming up. The forest trail down felt so safe. Comfortable. Familiar, though it was my first visit.

I’m going to miss the daily routine of the teacher’s life, which I got to experience the past few days. It felt so right. Stef and I went with her mom to work every day, and I got the opportunity to drop in on several different grades in the school. I felt exhausted at the end of each day, but wonderfully so. I know I definitely will love working in the field of education, with others who share my passion. I guess it’s something I’m really looking forward to, anyway. Two days ago we got to attend a teacher’s workshop, and there we had many insightful conversations with experienced teachers all over the coast. Right now, I get to look forward to my B.Ed program. Stef and I were talking about our (near?) future when we can attend teacher’s workshops together. It’s so meaningful to share our passion, especially since we were with each other in Uganda.

I love living in BC. Growing up in the city, I never got to experience the comforts of “BC Living”: surrounded by trees, mountainscapes, ocean bodies. I guess I get glimpses of the North Shore from various beaches and points in the city. It’s totally different being away from the city. I love it.

It was still really comforting to bus into downtown this morning– I am a city girl at heart. Pulling into UBC made me feel proud; I love this community of students, I feel at home here.

Tags BC Ferries, British Columbia, education, experience, future, Home, life, nature, present, Teacher, travel, Uganda

Personal Self Discovery

and the past, it knocks on your door

Post author By Natasha Chiang
Post date October 23, 2011
No Comments on and the past, it knocks on your door

(2009)–
beautifully, gently, gracefully the sun
shines on the dew drenched droplets of petals
of air brushed, pastel delicacies of nature’s painting
an answer that must never be wrong
this is what life is, a never-lasting moment of beauty

grey, tarred pot-holed pavements of urine and spit
dried gum in the gutters of the bustling, greasy streets
he reminds me of a grandfather, once proud and arrogant,
him who now sits in that corner, which i pass by every day
“please spare some change, dear stranger”

thoughts that are interlinked, weaved, tormenting and
yet a beautiful depiction of life as it is, as we know it,
as we all fear to accept it. The same rainbow paints the skies,
the difference is the ignorance of its beauty, in the rich, busy, city.
Tall skyscrapers pierce the poster of nature. Slums cry out.

of the things we can’t do, and haven’t finished, and will not do
others aspire towards, wish they could do, long to be given a chance.
one in a thousand rainbows are appreciated, its many shades and nuances
of colour, from when happiness was (to be) simple. nobody knows it,
happiness, who remembers it any more than a really good dream?

but it’s right there. the potential is as wide as the rainbow
the infinite depth to hold the achievements of love, kindness
and acts of consideration, attentiveness, peace.
it doesn’t exist, the sun either comes out full, or the rain washes
the rainbow has long been captured, stuck, as if black and white.

(2008)–

Tags happiness, life, nature, thoughts, writing