Kids on the Qinghe Campus of Tongxin Primary School welcomed the new semester by harvesting cornstalks. Sun-dried cornstalks were stacked next to blooming flowers of legumes before being made into fertilizer for the soil they grew out of. Surrounded by high-rise buildings, the campus was built into an oasis in the urban area for kids to live in nature.

A fourth grader picks cornstalks in the field. [Photo by Guo Shuyu]

More than three acres of farm fields are scattered throughout the campus, where seasonal crops and vegetables grow throughout the year. "Instead of having fixed slots in the school timetable, we follow nature's course and let kids participate in farmwork as it happens," said Qin Bo, principal of Tongxin Education Group.

"Letting nature take its course" is the campus's most important educational philosophy. Qin said nature has its own way, and when we respect that, we can live more fully. "Also, nature is a great teacher for love, confidence, and enthusiasm for life, and that is what we hope our kids learn in primary school, laying a solid foundation for their future development," he added.

There are around 30 multipurpose venues on campus for kids to learn, handcraft, and exhibit their works. [Photo by Guo Shuyu]

A mini ecosystem is taking shape on the campus after years of cultivation. The roof-top farm field has become a popular spot for wild birds. When the season comes, teachers will take kids to the field for a bird-observation class. "Sometimes the kids wait for a long time but don't see a single bird. That's how nature works, but the waiting is also a beautiful natural experience," Qin said.

Wild birds in the farm field on campus. [Photo by Qin Bo]

Bird-shaped pottery made by children. [Photo by Guo Shuyu]

Zou Haoting, a fourth grader, enjoys spending time in the farm field, especially during canola season. "We observe the plant with a magnifier, and I draw the canola field in my painting class. I also found dandelions at a corner of the campus, they are my favorite. Dandelions look beautiful and have an interesting way of spreading seeds. With just one puff, the seeds flutter away and grow. It's like a toy sent by nature," he said.

Kids study in the canola field [Photo by Qin Bo]

A widely acknowledged theory in education is that nature wants children to be children before becoming men. "Kids are innocent, curious, and honest, that's what adults should learn from kids and what we are trying to preserve on our campus. It is our hope that six years of primary school in nature can cultivate their personality and prepare them for what the future may hold," said Qin.