Grey: Dylan, you gotta try this!
Dylan gingerly picks a leaf from the peppermint plant and takes a cautious bite. After the first nibble, he puts the whole leaf in his mouth and moves closer to Grey who is working on potting an herb garden for the East Wing House Area.
Grey: Can we try this one, too?
They taste-test basil and parsley. It’s time to put the basil plant in the pot. We loosen the root ball from the container by squeezing it gently and tip it out of the cup.
Dylan: That looks like spaghetti.
Grey: Those are the roots.
Dylan: I know.
Agnes hears the conversation from the House Area and approaches for a closer look.
Agnes: Can I try that one? – She tastes the basil.
Avey: We want to try some, too.
Naomi and Avey each pick a leaf from the peppermint plant. Enjoying the taste, each reaches for a second leaf.
Teacher Jessica: We can’t eat all the leaves right away. The plant uses the leaves to grow but we will be able to pick them occasionally and taste them or even put them in the dehydrator so we can add them to the seasoning jars in the House Area.
Naomi: I want to put this one in the pot.
Avey: I’ll help you.
Together they repeat the process of loosening the root ball from the cup, gently tipping it out and breaking apart the root ball carefully before placing it into the new pot.
The children in the East Wing have developed a relationship to gardening from the work they’ve done together in the Front Yard. Our classroom has become another space we continue to deepen this connection with nature. Along with supporting teachers with preparing nap mats, refreshing our cups by the water dispenser, and writing “thank you” notes for families who bring the snack, watering classroom plants is a Community Job.
It is our hope that the children will see that by contributing to something bigger than themselves, the school community in this case, they will recognize their ability to impact and influence the world around them. – Teacher Jessica