Thursday, September 30

9/30/2021

"This is change." -Reed

The fall season was gradually approaching and some Tucker Room children were beginning to notice the changes. "It's falling," Lucia said watching a leaf slowly fall to the ground. The cool and crisp days leading up to autumn were presenting us with pleasantly comfortable conditions to be outside and a changing environmental context within which the children could discover evidence of a season in transition. Gathering dried leaves instead of flowers for their mulch and sand cakes, our observations of the children indicated an awareness, on their part, of the slight changes that were signifying an onset of fall. This, along with the impermanence and transformation of the seasons, gave rise to the intention to explore fall.

At this juncture, it just so happened that the autumnal equinox was less than a week away. So, we set an introductory plan in motion: Firstly, to introduce some mythology and narrative around the fall season beginning with the Greek story about Persephone and the Underworld. Secondly, to take a fall walk so that we could observe signs of fall, collect leaves, enjoy the weather, and further reconnect. Thirdly, to begin observing and tracking the changes of two trees visible to us at school - the beloved persimmon tree in the outdoor classroom and the symbolic ginkgo trees that line our familiar Potomac street.

Approaching Fall and Noticing Changes

Lucia notices a leaf falling in front of her. Jane and Janie are making a mulch/sand cake called "chocolate cake."

"What are growing on this tree?" asks Violet. The persimmon tree becomes a focus of attention in fall as the fruit gradually blushes and deepens in color to match the shade of the Cobb house.

"I saw some of my leaves changing at home.
They're changing color. It was kind of like orangish." C.C.

Introducing the Greek Mythological Story of Persephone

A Fall Field Trip to Observe and Collect Leaves

Using the language of drawing as a tool for reflecting

"People walking, leaves falling, sun, and sky." Sylvie

"Leaves" - a drawing by Jane

"The leaves are on the ground." A drawing of fall by Lochiel

Branches of leaves collected on our fall walk. The same shape of leaf but different colors.

Watercolors and oil pastel drawings of leaves and fall.

Observing the Potomac Street Ginkgo Trees

We counted 16 Ginkgo Trees on Potomac Street

Reflecting on our work and reporting back to the whole class:

What do you want to share about our work observing the Ginkgo trees?
“We drew Ginkgo leaves.” C.C.
Why did we choose to draw the ginkgo leaves, the ginkgo trees?
“So we could remember that trip when we started from all the way when we went to school. And, and then we could remember that trip by seeing the picture by the door when school ends.” Sylvie
“We drawed Ginkgo berries.” C.C.
What did we learn about the Ginkgos?
“I see a lot of Ginkgo trees, and the one that didn’t have any berries, I put an ‘x’ on it.
Why did you put an 'x' on it?
because it didn’t have any berries.” Giacomo
Why do you think that some of the ginkgo trees have berries and some of the trees do not have the fruit, the berries?
“Maybe all them fell off.” Lucia
“A monster ate them.” Elle
“How can a monster eat them? Monsters aren't even real.” C.C.
“I have monsters in my backyard. And a Ginkgo tree. It’s so huge, in my yard. And I looked at it a little bit and I tried to draw the ginkgo leaves. And it was the shape of the Ginkgo leaves, and then I made the colors and colored in the Ginkgo leaf.” Maxon