In the front yard, we noticed that our “Big Tree” has many branches that aren’t giving new leaves as Spring approaches. We invited the children to deeply observe our tree and they began to wonder what was happening. The teachers let the children know that Roleen shared her concerns about the tree and she mentioned that an alumni parent, Michael Jimenez, can support us to trim our tree and give us some information on how to support it.
Mica: I think the tree will really like his trimming.
Adriana: How do you think trimming will support our tree?
Isla: I think it will hurt our tree.
Mica: No. When they trim the trees in my house, it help them to get new branches and new leaves.
Adriana: Isla, when you get a hair cut, how does it feel? Does it hurt?
Isla: (Smiles) No, it doesn’t hurt. New hair grows. We will need to give water too.
A group of children decided to go and make some observations visible by painting. We invited another group of children to create a letter for Michael Jimenez to visit us at NSW and support us with our tree.
Mila: I noticed some of the branches are dying. They aren’t all green.
Grace: Only some leaves are growing. Some branches have baby leaves.
Leah: I think It starting to grow and I think It’s going to really start to grow after we chop a little bit off.
The words of our letter to Michael:
Dear Michael,
We are wondering if you can come to New School-West. We have some concerns about our tree in the front yard of our school. The leaves are dying. Some leaves are brown. We want your support, please, to help our tree get new leaves and branches. We wonder if you can cut the old branches and it will grow new ones and pretty leaves. It will get taller and taller. It’s at New School-West when you come into the front door by the bike path.
East and West Wing Children
Since the beginning of the year, we made the intention to involve the children as participants in our environment. We began by asking the children to observe our Front Yard tree. It gives them an opportunity to feel ownership of their space and responsibility for its care by taking time to brainstorm the words that best invite Michael Jimenez to come and share his knowledge.
– Teacher Adriana