Exploring Nature and Blooming with Vitality:
Orienteering Activity in the Botanical Garden for Year 1 Students of the WFL International Division
在春意盎然的四月，世外小学国际部活力节期间，一年级的同学们开启了一场别具一格的学习之旅。他们将活力节的主题与UOI探究单元的植物主题紧密结合，深入上海植物园，通过定向越野的方式，开启了探索自然奥秘的奇妙篇章。
In the vibrant spring of April, during the Vitality Festival of WFL International Division, the year one students embarked on a unique learning journey. They closely integrated the theme of the Vitality Festival with the plant theme of the UOI (Unit of Inquiry) exploration unit. They visited and explored the Shanghai Botanical Garden. This initiated a wonderful chapter of exploring the mysteries of nature through the way of orienteering.
在本单元的UOI主题中，学生们以“植物是我们和其他生物赖以生存的资源”为主题，结合“植物为我们和其他生物提供了什么？”“植物的结构和生命周期”为内容进行探究。
In this UOI theme unit, students took "Plants are the resources on which we and other living organisms depend for survival" as the theme, and carried out exploration with the contents of "What do plants provide for us and other living organisms?" AS a part of the unit they investigated How to take care of plants and the structure and life cycle of plants.
而定向越野是一项起源于瑞典的户外运动。参赛者利用地图和指北针，按照既定顺序访问地图上标记的各个点标，以最短时间完成所有点标的挑战。这项运动不仅考验体力，还锻炼了智力和方向感。
Orienteering is an outdoor sport that originated in Sweden. Participants use maps and compasses to visit various checkpoints marked on the map in an established order. THe aim is to complete the challenge of visiting all of the checkpoints in the shortest time. This sport not only tests physical strength but also exercises the students intelligence and sense of direction.
活动当天，一年级的同学们在老师的引导下，有序地分组。他们带着对自然的好奇和期待，穿梭于植物园的各个角落。每到一个打卡点，同学们都聚精会神地聆听老师讲解相关植物知识。站在高耸的杉树旁，孩子们仰头惊叹，通过老师的介绍，对植物的高大挺拔有了直观的认识；在鸟类栖息地，大家安静地观察，认识到植物为鸟类提供了栖息和觅食的环境，初步理解了生物间的相互依存。
On the day of the activity, under the guidance of their teachers, the year one students were grouped in an orderly manner. With curiosity and anticipation, they shuttled through every corner of the botanical garden. At each check-in point, the students listened attentively as the teacher explained the relevant plant knowledge. Standing beside the towering fir trees, the children looked up in amazement and gained an intuitive understanding of the tall and straight posture of plants through the teacher's introduction. At the bird habitat, everyone observed quietly and realized that plants provide a living and foraging environment for birds. They gained an understanding of the interdependence among living organisms.
接着，同学们参观了植物园内的四个温室。踏入温室，仿佛置身于不同的植物世界。在热带植物温室中，形态各异的热带植物让孩子们大开眼界，巨大的芭蕉叶、缠绕的藤蔓、娇艳的兰花，每一种植物都吸引着孩子们的目光；在沙生植物温室，形态多样的仙人掌和多肉植物，让他们见识到了植物在干旱环境下的生存智慧。同学们仔细观察植物的根茎叶，有的还轻轻触摸，感受不同植物的质感，在老师的讲解下，深入了解植物的生长习性和特点。
Subsequently, the students visited the four greenhouses in the botanical garden. Stepping into the greenhouses, it was as if they were in different plant worlds. In the tropical plant greenhouse, the various tropical plants opened the children's eyes wide. The huge banana leaves, winding vines, and delicate orchidsattracted the children's attention. In the succulent and xerophytic plant greenhouse, the diverse cacti and succulent plants enabled them to witness the survival wisdom of plants in arid environments. The students carefully observed the roots, stems, and leaves of the plants, and some even gently touched them to feel the textures of different plants. Under the teacher's explanation, they understood the growth habits and characteristics of the plants.
整个活动过程中，同学们既锻炼了身体，又在趣味十足的定向越野中收获了丰富的植物知识，真正实现了“在玩中学，在学中玩”的教育理念。
Throughout the activity, the students not only exercised their bodies but also gained rich plant knowledge in the interesting orienteering activity, truly realizing the educational concept of "learning while playing and playing while learning".
此次将体育与植物知识学习相结合的定向越野活动，不仅让学生们亲近自然、增长知识，还培养了学生的团队协作能力和探索精神，为学生的全面发展奠定了坚实基础，也为校园活力节增添了一抹自然的色彩。
This orienteering activity that combines physical education with the study of plant knowledge. This also allows students to get close to nature and increase their knowledge and cultivate their teamwork ability and spirit of exploration. This lays a solid foundation for the all-round development of students. It also adds a touch of natural color to the campus Vitality Festival.
