On 25 August 2026, an ordinary school garden became a space for curiosity, creativity and discovery.
Green Pencil Foundation organised eight Nature Education Classes at Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Dhakka, Delhi, led by Mr. Sandy Khanda, Founder of Green Pencil Foundation, under his Teach For Nature Fellowship.
Instead of learning about nature only through books, students stepped outdoors to observe the living world around them.
Near the school’s kitchen garden, they spotted butterflies, a dragonfly, an earthworm and a slug. The slug quickly became the centre of attention.
“Does it have eyes?”
“Does it have legs?”
“How does it move?”
“Why do we see it mostly during the monsoon?”
What began as a simple observation turned into a moment of genuine curiosity. The children stopped, looked closely and started asking questions.
That is where meaningful nature education often begins not with answers, but with curiosity.
Creating Art from Nature
The students also took part in a nature-based art activity, using naturally fallen leaves and other specimens collected from the school surroundings.
With imagination and creativity, these simple materials were transformed into butterflies, trees, flowers, mosquitoes and earthworms.
A fallen leaf was no longer just something lying on the ground. In the hands of a child, it became part of a story.
The activity encouraged students to observe shapes, textures and patterns in nature while expressing their own creativity.
From Observation to Reflection
After exploring nature and creating artwork, students reflected on their experiences through journaling.
They wrote about: What they created, what surprised them, what they enjoyed the most during the outdoor class.
Every child experienced the day differently. For some, the butterflies were the highlight. For others, it was creating art from fallen leaves. And for many, the small slug near the kitchen garden became an unforgettable discovery.
The learning journey was simple: Observe. Wonder. Create. Reflect.
Young Volunteers Supporting Nature Education
The session was supported by volunteers from the Green Pencil Foundation Delhi Chapter.
Mahima Tiwari, a third-year Botany student at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, volunteered during the outdoor sessions and supported the children in their exploration.
Nitin, a Mass Communication student at Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, University of Delhi, volunteered to document the Nature Education Classes and capture the learning journey of the students.
Their involvement reflects Green Pencil Foundation’s belief in bringing together students, young volunteers and educators to create meaningful experiences around nature and environmental learning.
Nature Was Already There
One of the most beautiful parts of the day was that nothing extraordinary had to be brought into the school.
The butterflies were already there, the earthworm was already in the soil, the dragonfly was part of the garden, the slug appeared with the monsoon, the fallen leaves were already lying on the ground.
The children simply needed an opportunity to step outside and notice them.
Through its Nature Education initiatives, Green Pencil Foundation continues to encourage children to build a deeper connection with the environment through outdoor learning, biodiversity observation, nature-based art and reflection.
Because sometimes, the most powerful lesson does not begin with a textbook. Sometimes, it begins with a child stopping in a garden and asking:
“Does this slug have eyes?”
And in that moment, nature becomes the teacher.
