While doing our calendar in the West Wing morning circle, we noticed that on September 23, the words ‘Fall Begins’ were written. So the question is: What is Fall?
Addy: “Fall means that Fall begins and leaves fall off the trees.”
Maddox: “It means that Fall changes colors. The leaves change to orange and yellow.”
Sergio: “Fall is the beginning of falling, the leaves off the trees.”
Phoebe: “It means when the leaves fall down.”
Sienna: “It means when you fall you get a boo boo.”
Sofia: “Leaves fall and turn black.”
Raven: “The leaves turn orange and fall from the tree. They are red so you can pick them.”
Bryce: “Fall is when the leaves fall off the trees, but sometimes it snows.”
Brendan: “Well, it’s a waterfall and waterslide. Even rain falls.”
Nico: “A flower is on a leaf and the flower on the leaf falls.”
Sam: “Well, some fall words mean it’s going to snow and when it starts to snow it falls all over the place.”
Leo: “Maybe Fall means green turns into red.”
As a provocation I wondered if taking the children on walks to test their theories would provoke conversations on other things that change with the season. As an extension to this conversation, the teachers took walks in the neighborhood with the children with an eye to the seasons’ subtle changes.