气温骤降、一夜入秋次日，福州西湖国际学校四年级学子来到将乐，再度置身这座深呼吸小城的青山绿水之中，展开为期一周的研学之旅。本次研学，结合当地环境，他们将要学习探索与跨学科主题"How the World Works/Sharing the Planet（世界如何运转/共享地球）"相关的种种概念。

The day after temperatures plummeted and autumn arrived overnight, fourth-grade students from Fuzhou Lakeside International School arrived in Jiangle. Once again immersed in the lush mountains and clear waters of this small city known for its fresh air, they embarked on a week-long field study trip. This trip, designed around the local environment, explores different concepts connected to the Transdisciplinary Themes “How the World Works/Sharing the Planet.”

目前，地球是人类赖以生存的唯一家园，但地球不能只有人类——生物链上的每一环、每一种生灵，不论高大或弱小，在自然界均有其重要位置。有"The First Great Nature Writer（世上第一位伟大的自然写作者）"之称的吉尔伯特·怀特几个世纪之前便有洞见：“最卑微的昆虫和爬虫，却能对自然造成巨大影响，起到极大作用……比如蚯蚓虽然只是自然链条上微不足道的一环，但如果没有这一环，便会产生可悲的缺口。”

At present, Earth is humanity's sole home for survival, yet it cannot belong solely to humans—every link in the food chain, every living creature, whether mighty or fragile, holds an essential place in nature. Centuries ago, Gilbert White, hailed as “The First Great Nature Writer,” offered this profound insight: “The most insignificant insects and reptiles are of much more consequence, and have much more influence in the economy of Nature... Earth-worms, though in appearance a small and despicable link in the chain of Nature, yet, if lost, would make a lamentable chasm.”

漫长演化过程中，生物为了在当地生态系统中生存下来，采取了哪些适应机制？将乐丰富的动植物种群为自然观察创造了绝佳条件。课上，四年级外教Laurent先生便领着学子来到户外，绘制、记录沿途偶遇的各种生物。

Throughout the long course of evolution, what adaptive mechanisms have plants and animals developed to survive within their local ecosystems? Jiangle's rich diversity of flora and fauna provides ideal conditions for nature observation. During class, fourth-grade foreign teacher Mr. Laurent led students outdoors to sketch and document the various creatures they encountered along the way.

Laurent老师向学子示范了自然笔记的记录要点。首先画出观察到的动物外形，接着，顺着几个问题（它们吃什么？如何保护自己？在哪儿睡觉？移动方式？）思考，记录、推理该生物的外观特征与生活习性。以绿色蚱蜢为例，这种昆虫最鲜明的特点是拥有极长的强壮后腿，可以高高跃起、躲避捕食者；往往出没于草丛间、以植物叶片为食。通体绿色几乎与草丛融为一体，有助于隐藏其间——这些特性，恰恰反映了蚱蜢在长期进化中形成的生存适应。探索动物如何在漫长岁月中适应环境让我们得以窥见塑造周围世界的种种力量，以及动物为生存所采取的诸多策略。

Mr. Laurent demonstrated key points for keeping nature journals to the students. First, sketch the observed animal's outline. Then, guided by several questions (How do they eat? How do they fight/protect themselves? Where do they sleep? How do they move?), record and deduce the creature's physical traits and habits. Take the grasshopper as an example. This insect's most striking feature is its exceptionally long, powerful hind legs which allow it to jump very high to escape predators. Grasshoppers often live in grass, feeding on plant leaves. Its green body blends almost seamlessly with the surrounding grass which helps it hide—these traits precisely reflect the survival adaptations developed by grasshoppers through long-term evolution. Exploring how these animals have adapted over time gives us an insight into the forces that shape the world around us and the things animals do to survive.

这段Village walk沿着山脚下的步道展开，学子在几位老师带领下，从山中民宿周围开始探索，逐渐深入距离山林更近的路段。石板上的蚂蚁、树上的青苔、天空中的飞鸟都成了学子们细心观察的对象。一路上，Laurent老师请学子尽可能保持安静，不要惊扰了周围生物；来到山林茂密、远离民居的步道中段，他突然比出噤声手势，几十秒内，师生们逐渐安静下来。

This village walk unfolds along the trails at the foot of the mountains. Led by several teachers, the students began exploring around the mountain guesthouse before gradually venturing deeper into sections closer to the forest. Ants on stone slabs, moss on trees, and birds in the sky all became subjects of their careful observation. Along the way, Mr. Laurent asked the students to remain as quiet as possible to avoid disturbing the surrounding wildlife. Upon reaching the densely forested, remote section of the trail far from residential areas, he suddenly made a shushing gesture. Within mere seconds, both teachers and students gradually fell silent.

在这师生逐渐安静下来的几十秒内，山林间各种人类目之所及——或远不能及——的动静一波波抵达耳际：如残影般晃动的竹海随风倏倏摇摆，某处深藏山中的水塘边青蛙低鸣，各类完全不见身影的飞鸟啁啾……这些质地、高低、长短各异的声音和谐地组成交响，渐强、渐丰富、渐清晰，而在场不少师生显然同时进入了着迷状态，有学子放下放大镜，不再聚焦某处，只是侧头微笑聆听；也有学子举起望远镜，试图捕捉林间鸟儿飞掠的身姿。

In the few seconds as teacher and students gradually fell silent, waves of sounds—both within and beyond human reach—washed over them from the mountain forest: the bamboo sea swaying like flickering shadows in the wind, the low croaking of frogs by a hidden mountain pond, the chirping of birds entirely out of sight... These sounds—varying in texture, pitch, and duration—harmoniously blended into a symphony that grew louder, richer, and clearer. Many in the group were clearly captivated. Some students set down their magnifying glasses, no longer fixated on a single spot, instead tilting their heads with smiles to listen. Others raised their binoculars, trying to catch glimpses of birds darting through the forest canopy.

直到两只有着长长尾羽的鸟儿冲破密林，突然出现在所有人的视野之中，大家才如梦方醒。

It wasn't until two birds with long tail feathers burst through the dense forest and suddenly appeared in everyone's field of vision that they snapped out of their daze.

草蜢可以一跃跳过远长于身体数倍的距离，鸟类自由自在翱翔空中。人类的肉身或许不具备一些动物所特有的移动能力，但有时，我们在身体完全静止的情况下，心灵与视野依然可以去往遥远而幽深的地方——这个既安静又喧嚣的美妙时刻便是绝佳证明。

Grasshoppers can leap distances several times their body length, while birds soar freely through the skies. Though the human body may lack certain animals' unique mobility, there are moments when, even as our physical selves remain utterly still, our minds and vision can journey to distant, profound places—this wondrous moment, both serene and tumultuous, stands as perfect proof.

在真正的自然环境中，静静欣赏鸟兽虫鱼的鸣叫，是生长于城市的孩子少有的体验。开放感官去感受、去观察、去记录，就是走出校园的意义之一。

Quietly appreciating the songs of birds and the calls of animals, insects, and fish in a genuine natural setting is a rare experience for children raised in cities. Opening one's senses to feel, observe, and record is precisely one of the meanings of stepping outside the campus.

继五年级、四年级后，11月初，三年级学子也将展开研学之旅。提前预祝他们一切顺利，希望大家也能迎来许许多多美妙的“将乐moments”！

Following the fifth and fourth graders, third-grade students will embark on their field study journey in early November. We wish them all the best in advance and hope everyone will experience many wonderful “Jiangle moments”!