Originally published in TEACH Magazine, January/February 2014 Issue
By Martha Beach
The mid-winter sun is peeking from behind the clouds and a cold breeze is blowing across the open soccer field. A line of grade two students, dressed in puffy coats, colourful hats and mitts, and carrying clipboards, skip along behind their teacher. They are heading to the back corner of the schoolyard, where a carefully formed semi-circle of large, white, flat stones sits surrounded by a half-dozen young trees, leafless for the approaching winter months.
The teacher stops, facing the rocks. Students take a seat on the stones and hold their clipboards on their laps. The teacher has come prepared with a sack of supplies for a science experiment, some discussion questions, and of course his own set of warm mitts, hat, and coat.
Martha Beach lives and works in Toronto as a freelance fact-checker, editor, and writer for a wide variety of publications. When she’s not working, you’ll find Martha on her yoga mat or hanging out with her daughter and husband.
