Little Tree Huggers!

" Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. "

~ Frank Lloyd Wright

Inquiry : How many children does it take to form a circle around the tree?

Earlier this week, we took advantage of the remaining warm and sunny weather and head for the field to go exploring. There was no specific outcome planned. We simply needed to use our skills of observation.

We were intent on listening. What would we notice?

We were intent on watching. What would we notice?

We were intent on smelling. What would we notice?

We were intent on feeling. What would we notice?

We noticed that some trees have leaves, and other trees have needles.

"It doesn't have any leaves."

"It's a little bit darker on the skin."

"The bark."

"That one has pointy sticks on it."

"Branches."

"Branches grow leaves."

"The tree is so big and has lots of branches."

"The leaves fall off and the trees are naked."

"Leaves are for summer."

"Leaves are for the birds."

"One has changing leaves and one doesn't."

"The other one has needles."

We spoke to the differences between deciduous and coniferous trees, and asked the children if they think the trees will look the same next week?

In reference to the leaves, one little person said,

"If they're still on - they may change. They'll look red." 

I had anticipated that we would make our way around the entire yard, but our adventure took an unexpected turn. Someone tripped. They were ok, and many friends stopped to help him up. But they wondered, why did he trip? Remember, the little things are the big things in kindergarten. They notice, and they observe... 

Roots growing out from the base of a tree = tripping hazard.

 We spent a l-o-n-g time checking out the roots in this part of the yard, and didn't move beyond this point until it was time to come in.

"There's logs coming out of the tree."

"The grass is growing up to cover the logs."

 "It's like a log, but it's not."

"It's connected to the other tree."

"They're roots."

"You can step on the roots."

"It reminds me of a river."

"Maybe the roots are making the leaves fall off the tree."

 Our nature walk was a 'jumping off' point for a number of follow-up activities. We did some yoga - 'tree pose', and tested our balance, comparing it to a tree swaying in the wind. Our 'limbs' helped us balance. We spoke to the function of roots, and how they provide nutrients to the tree, ensuring its survival. We read a story, The Tree, written by Dana Lyons & illustrated by David Danioth. It is a personal experience narrative, told by an ancient tree on the west coast. The story highlighted the fact that trees are homes to birds and other wild life, and its roots hold back the river banks. Towards the end of the story, the tree expresses its gratitude for the children who embrace it, and the wind which carries its song.

This got us talking about the sounds trees make and how they communicate. This conversation was fascinating, and I got caught up in the "I wonder ..." discussion, momentarily forgetting that ideas were coming from 3 & 4 year olds. This alone, could be a separate post.

We were also inspired to pick up our paint brushes again, and create another collaborative art work, in the form of a mural. 

Just the basics (grass, a few outlines, and a couple tree trunks) were prepared on the mural as a provocation... 

To play.

To explore.

To observe.

To create.  

Ideas are shared, and details emerge.

  

A view from above - above ground.

Roots are added, showing an "underground" perspective.

You can imagine my delight, when, one of our friends shared a little "root" vegetable from their garden! How timely, and how wonderful.



  

These two little carrots reminded us of the roots we explored on our nature walk! And I was reminded of how we are all interconnected. The beauty of nature fills us with wonder.

Thank you for visiting the atelier.