Exploring Nature and Beliefs: Reflections on “Sweet Spring” My Godd School Session- Lotus Petal Foundation

Today’s session was very educational and engaging. We read Chapter 6, “Sweet Spring”, from Gerald Durrell’s book, focusing on the meeting of Theodore Stefanides, his second important teacher after George.

Today’s session mainly focused on the following:

1. We discovered the fascinating trapdoor spider (Teniza) and learned how it creates silk-lined burrows with camouflage doors to catch its prey.

2. We understood that Theodore’s character is calm, patient, and knowledgeable. He treated young Gerald with respect and spoke to him as an equal despite the age difference.

Also, Bindra Ma’am asked us all to collect some superstitions:

1. Sneezing twice before leaving the house is considered bad luck.

2. An itchy left palm signifies losing money, while an itchy right palm means you will receive money.

3. Crows cawing near a house is believed to indicate that guests will arrive soon.

Special thanks go to all the teachers who gave us their precious time. I am grateful for today’s session and am looking forward to the next one.
Yuvraj Negi – Grade 5

Today’s session was very engaging. Today we dived into Chapter 6, “Sweet Spring”, from Gerald Durrell’s book and met Theodore Stefanides, Gerald’s teacher.

Highlights:

1. We discovered the interesting trapdoor spider (Teniza) and its amazing silk-lined burrows.

2. Theodore’s calm, patient, and knowledgeable nature was inspiring. He treated Gerald like an equal.

Bindra Ma’am also asked us to collect some superstitions, which made the session more interesting.

Examples include:

• Sneezing twice before leaving the house is considered bad luck.

• An itchy left palm means losing money, while an itchy right palm means gaining money.

• Crows cawing near the house means guests may arrive.

A big thank you to all the teachers for organising the session. I am grateful for today’s class and look forward to the next one.
Thank you.
Disha, 5A

Today’s session was truly amazing and full of excitement. We explored Chapter 6, “Sweet Spring”, from the book My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. In this chapter, we met the wonderful teacher Theodore Stefanides, who guided Gerald with patience and kindness. His calm nature and deep knowledge were truly inspiring. What made him special was the way he treated Gerald like an equal and encouraged his curiosity about nature.

One of the most fascinating things we learned about was the trapdoor spider (Teniza). It was incredible to discover how it builds a silk-lined burrow with a hidden trapdoor and patiently waits for its prey. Nature is truly full of wonders.

Another interesting part of the session was when Bindra Ma’am asked us to share different superstitions we know. That made the discussion enjoyable. Some examples were:

• Sneezing twice means bad luck.

• An itchy left palm means losing money, while an itchy right palm means getting money.

• When crows start cawing, it means guests might be arriving.

Overall, the session was engaging, fun, and full of learning. A big thank you to all our teachers for making the class lively and enjoyable. I am truly grateful for today’s session and already excited for the next one.
Thank you.
Aditya Yadav – 5/C