St. Patrick's Day 4-leaf clover hunt
If you're looking for something to do in class for the last 10 minutes of class, then I have a great and worthwhile activity.
Send them outside to search through the newly grown clover all around our building. Here's why this is not a waste of time. First, of all, kids need to get outside more than they do. This is also a great way to talk about the change of the seasons and discuss why it is broadly accepted that finding a 4 leaf clover equates to being lucky. Also, I had 6 classes do this and before 2 classes I did very little explanation or preparation through questioning. Those were actually my 1st and last classes. All my classes have around 25-30 students. Those classes found less than 10 four-leaf clovers as a whole class. Three other classes I explained what we were doing and told a story of myself finding my first one at camp and making a wish that came true. These all found about 20 four-leaf clovers. Then something really weird happened. I asked my second-to-last class if any of them believe in anything that they cannot see or haven't seen or if they have ever gained strength through belief in something. The entire class except one student raised their hands. In this class of 27, every single student who raised their hands found at least one and some found as many as 5 four-leaf clovers! The one student who did not raise her hand searched and searched but did not find one. Several students gave her one of theirs though. Still, isn't that a bizarre??!!
Now, to the WHY.
The level of excitement when the first student finds one and shows it off is so exhilarating and contagious, it is awe inspiring. Just think about how we could make educating our students about grammar or math this exciting and designed for discovery in the midst of doubt. Wow, this is duplicable and meaningful. Brainstorming time :) Also, the determination and competition that is generated in students once they see that someone else has achieved the goal and found a four-leaf clover is palpable. Watching the faces of students who were frustrated, doubtful, and about give up change when someone else finds one and proves that they exist, and that they can do it too, makes this activity well worth it. For the student, when they realize that they can find a renewed dedication to a cause and learn that just because something is hard to do or find does not mean is in undoable or can never be found. This is a life lesson that will be used so much, hopefully, that it will become second nature. The practice of "Keep On Keeping On" and the precedent this establishes can now transform into other areas of their life and schooling.
Also, one more neat find I gleaned from this experience. Watching the students walk around the grass is just downright humorous. This is the same plot of grass that they have run all over, slid and chased each other over and yet on this day, they are avoiding crushing any clover and tip toeing around the school-yard. All of a sudden certain plots of green are off limits and are now shielded and protected from all others. I heard kids say, "You Shall not PASS." quoting Gandalf and other warnings to watch where they are walking. I realized that by simply placing a value on something often overlooked changes students' approach, behavior, and thoughts about that newly valued something. That is insightful and fun to watch. I think that is where the Project Based Learning garners its strength. Once an assignment has real world implications and once they know that community members and experts are going to be reviewing their work, that work becomes really valuable and the learning process becomes much more connected to each of the learners. They have genuine buy-in and will have experiences in school that they will never forget.
In review, here are a couple metaphors tied to real-life lessons that hunting a four-leaf clover aligns with.
1. Just because something is hard to do, does not make it impossible.
2. Even if you don't see what you need at first doesn't mean it's not already there.
3. Seek and you shall find. It just might take longer than you wish.
4. You can't find what you don't look for.
5. If someone else can do it, so can you.
6. Success takes effort and time.
7. If you think you have found your answer, investigate first, then make your claim.
8. If at first you don't succeed, Try and Try again.
9. Finding the answers to some of life's challenges may require you getting on your knees.
10. Encouragement to keep trying often leads to success.
11. Placing value on something or someone changes everything even the way you walk.
Here is a fun read about the topic that shows you can also enhance math and science standard by hunting for four-leaf clovers.
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