All Modules 48-Talking with Nature - Module 3 | Page 4

4 Talking with Nature - Plants The term “nature” refers to the phenomenon in the physical world, and also to life in general. Normally it does not include artificial objects or human intervention. The Word “nature” comes from the Germanic Word naturist that means “the course of animals, natural character” Natura is the Latin translation of the Greek Word physis that in the original meaning referred to the innate form in which plants and animals spontaneously grow. Amongst the different current uses of the word, “nature” can refer to the general domain of several types of living beings, such as plants and animals, and in some cases to the processes associated with inanimate objects – the way in which several particular types of things exist with their spontaneous changes, such as the atmospheric time, geology of the Earth, and the matter and energy that all these entities possess. Often we consider that it means “natural surroundings”: wild animals, rocks, forests, beaches, and in general, everything that has not been substantially altered by human beings or that persist despite human intervention. This more traditional concept of natural things implies a distinction between what’s natural and what’s artificial (understanding this last one as something done by a human mind or conscience). The topic of nature, just as with the 4 elements that we worked on last month, is a provocation by itself. It allows the imagination to fly towards an infinity of possible projects; it is a topic that can be connected to any context. It can be transferred to the home, the community, and the schools’ park. It is a topic that has been studied and represented by multiple cultures both ancient and contemporary. A topic that connects with all the other topics covered during the year and that without a doubt can be enjoyed and explored with children of all ages.