From preschool to “treeschool”

My first session was called From preschool to “treeschool”: Supporting young children’s growth and development with the wonder of trees

SO FASCINATING!

When I sat down at the table I introduced myself and met my ‘tablemates’. My table had 3 women from Iowa and two from Detroit. Then to my right was a fellow from Colorado.

The session began with how important it is to incorporate natural spaces. Then we listed out all the products we get from trees. Then they had us write our name on some tree cookie tags.

The highlights? Examples of how we can switch out items for natural things.. She encouraged us to have other things to paint instead of only paper. Then she showed us how a classroom uses clay, at all times. The teacher places a wet towel and plastic towel over it. Of course! I was thinking how I’d like to incorporate something like that. I already have ‘tables’ but I wonder if they are too close, too tempting to pour sand on them.. and maybe they are too high. Regardless, I need a table and a marble top, then some covering of course. I like the idea though!

Then Michael, the man from Colorado said something that blew my mind. We were talking about wooden cookies and how you can use them for so many projects— write numbers or names or letters on them. Drill holes to thread or stack.

Then he said, “I’ll defiantly incorporate this when we have the parents bring in their old Christmas trees, I’ll have someone cut them up.”

I was flabbergasted at how simple that was and SO efficient! Everyone will have a Christmas tree! I am excited to mention it to the families.. I figure I’d better have some sort of collection spot and perhaps limit how many families will bring them in, but it was SO SMART!

[Edit: I tried this, and it kind of worked.