Background information

Content information for educators (also suitable for parents):

The benefits of mindfulness
We are a culture increasingly becoming addicted to instant communication and ever-changing technologies. While technologies such as mobile phones bring wonderful opportunities, children are spending more and more time being passively engaged in these technologies rather than actively engaging in the world around them. This includes the natural world and our environment. There is growing concern about the lack of time young people spend in nature and the consequences of this disconnection.

The practices of mindfulness and meditation offer people of all ages an effective path to develop healthy responses to the chaotic world around them and often inside of them. The key benefit of meditation and mindfulness is developing self knowledge, or learning about what’s going on inside. This positively influences student wellbeing, emotional intelligence and resilience. Other benefits include improved concentration, sharpened focusing abilities and simply being calm and still.

It is important to clarify the differences between relaxation and mindfulness.

Relaxation. Activities such as reading a book, eating an ice-cream or lying in the shade can be considered relaxation activities.
Mindfulness. These same relaxation activities can become mindful activities by becoming more aware. Learning to observe the self and bring attention fully to the present moment is key to mindful activities. Mindfulness requires practise (although some would argue that the same could be said of relaxation!)

By practising mindfulness activities outside, students can enhance their focus, emotional regulation, empathy and happiness through connection with nature. Nature provides us with limitless, enjoyable opportunities to focus and be absorbed in the moment, and offers countless ways to improve our minds. There are many other benefits to taking your students outside. Find out more by reading the benefits of spending time in nature fact sheet.

New words for kids to learn:

Seed
Seedling
Soil
Nutrients
Stem
Roots
Growth

Activity: Be a Tree

Ages - 0 to 2

What to do

Preparation: Gather a range of edible plants with varying textures, smells and flavours (vegetables, fruits, herbs). You will also need pots or a prepared garden bed and herb seedlings or seeds.

Part 1.

Show children the dirtgirlworld Grow Up video (above), asking them to dance and mime the actions of growing plants and animals shown in the video.

Once the video is complete, engage children in a role-play activity where they imagine themselves as a seed growing into a tree.

Talk children through the steps of growing from a seed to a tree, from:

Being curled up in the soil
Needing sunshine, water and food from the soil to grow
Sprouting the first roots and the first leaves
Stretching the shoot up towards the sun
Growing taller and stronger
Growing more leaves and branches, and growing stronger roots and a trunk

You could also consider asking children to role-play the tree:

Providing shelter, shade and food for animals and people
Blowing in the wind and stretching up for rain and sunshine

Part 2.

Show students the edible plants that you have prepared. Explain that these plants were once a simple seed like in the video.

Allow the children to explore the edible plants through touch, smell and taste. Add them to foods they may be familiar with and see how flavours change (basil and tomato, carrot and ginger). For Schools Tree Day you can also plant a garden bed or some pots with herbs and watch them grow.

Provocations

I wonder where these plants come from?
I wonder how long it took for them to grow?
I wonder what that tastes like?
I wonder if that smells good?
I wonder what our plants need to grow?

Possible lines of development:

Grow some vegetables from seed.
Try some different recipes using unusual fruit or vegetables or combinations of flavours and share them with families (include some pictures of their child tasting the food).
Make some finger paint using pureed fruit.
Include your herbs in other activities such as playdoh.
Cook with the herbs you have grown (pizza or pasts with tomato, basil, oregano, etc).
Growing and healthy bodies.
Make a fairy garden or “small world” on a pot using edible plants.
Create a sensory maze using herbs or other fragrant plants.

Ages - 2 to 3

What to do

Preparation: Place your soil, seeds, tubs, tray and spoons in an outdoor area.

Part 1.

This activity can be used to calm and focus children, particularly in times of busyness or restlessness.

Show children the Grow Up video (above), asking them to dance and mime the actions of growing plants and animals shown in the video.

Once the video is complete, engage children in a role-play activity where they imagine themselves as a seed growing into a tree.

Talk children through the steps of growing from a seed to a tree, from:

Being curled up in the soil
Needing sunshine, water and food from the soil to grow
Sprouting the first roots and the first leaves
Stretching the shoot up towards the sun
Growing taller and stronger
Growing more leaves and branches, and growing stronger roots and a trunk

You could also consider asking children to role-play the tree:

Providing shelter, shade and food for animals and people
Blowing in the wind and stretching up for rain and sunshine

Part 2.

Explain to children that they will be conducting a science experiment to see how plants grow from seeds.

Demonstrate how to plant a seed (How to plant a seed).

Ask children to plant their own seeds, each planting at least two different seeds in separate pots. Label each tub with each child's name if you wish.

Once complete, place all the tubs into the tray and carry your tray to the site where you will grow your seeds. This could be indoors or outdoors but there will need to be some sunlight (check the seed packet to see how much light your seeds like). A good place might simply be on your windowsill – children will be able to observe any changes to the seeds easily and will be reminded to water their seeds.

Observe your plants over several weeks: which ones are growing and looking healthy? Which ones aren't growing at all? Which ones don't look very healthy?

Provocations

I wonder what plants like to drink and eat?
I wonder how you can tell whether a plant is healthy or unhealthy?
I wonder where plants come from?
I wonder how plants grow?
I wonder how animals grow?
I wonder where animals come from?
I wonder which animals come from eggs?
I wonder what animals like to eat and drink?
I wonder how we grow?
I wonder what we need to grow big and strong?

Possible lines of development

Compare pictures of baby animals with their adult versions
Open a seed and look inside
Break open an egg and have a look inside
Find seeds in the garden and plant them
Seeds we can eat
Explore different seed shapes and sizes
Time lapse film of plants growing
Video of chook egg hatching
Explore different seed shapes and sizes
Life cycle of an animal (e.g. a caterpillar, using the book The Very hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
People trees

Ages - 3 to 5

What to do

Preparation: Place your soil, seeds, tubs, tray and spoons in an outdoor area. Have two different 'drinks' for the plants, such as milk, juice, tea and water. One of your drinks must be water.

Part 1.

This activity can be used to calm and focus children, particularly in times of busyness or restlessness.

Show children the Grow Up video (above), asking them to dance and mime the actions of growing plants and animals shown in the video.

Once the video is complete, engage children in a role-play activity where they imagine themselves as a seed growing into a tree. The aim of this is activity is for children to begin to understand how they are similar to trees in growing (starting small and growing tall) and in needing certain things to survive: encourage children to think about how they grow and what they need to thrive. This doesn’t only need to be applied to physical growth; it can also be applied to emotional and academic growth.

Talk children through the steps of growing from a seed to a tree, from:

Being curled up in the soil
Needing sunshine, water and food from the soil to grow
Sprouting the first roots and the first leaves
Stretching the shoot up towards the sun
Growing taller and stronger
Growing more leaves and branches, and growing stronger roots and a trunk

You could also consider asking children to role-play the tree:

Providing shelter, shade and food for animals and people
Blowing in the wind and stretching up for rain and sunshine

Part 2.

Explain to children that they will be conducting a science experiment to see how plants grow from seeds.

Demonstrate how to plant a seed (How to plant a seed).

Ask children to plant their own seeds, each planting at least three different seeds in separate pots. Label each tub with each child's name if you wish.

Once complete, place all the tubs into the tray and carry your tray to the site where you will grow your seeds. This could be indoors or outdoors but there will need to be some sunlight (check the seed packet to see how much light your seeds like). A good place might simply be on your windowsill – children will be able to observe any changes to the seeds easily and will be reminded to water their seeds.

Observe your plants over several weeks: which ones are growing and looking healthy? Which ones aren't growing at all? Which ones don't look very healthy?

How can you tell which ones are healthy and which ones are unhealthy? You could consider measuring the height of the plants and charting their growth on a sheet of paper.

Provocations

I wonder where seeds come from?
I wonder what seeds need to grow into strong trees?
I wonder how you can tell whether a plant is healthy or unhealthy?
I wonder where plants come from?
I wonder how plants grow?
I wonder how animals grow?
I wonder where animals come from?
I wonder which animals come from eggs?
I wonder what animals like to eat and drink?
I wonder how we grow?
I wonder what we need to grow big and strong?

Possible lines of development

Plant your healthy seeds into the garden and watch them grow into bigger plants (if you're short on room, consider creating a mobile or vertical garden
Plant other seeds found in the yard
Seeds that we eat
Time-lapse film of plants growing
Time-lapse of egg hatching
Explore different seed shapes and sizes, such as seeds from fruits, flowers or trees
Life cycle of an animal (e.g. a caterpillar, using the book The Very hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
People trees
Take children on a mindfulness walk in the yard. Ask children to take their shoes off and to be aware of what they're feeling with their feet as they walk around, what they can hear with their ears, what they see with their eyes, and what they feel on their skin (wind or sunshine).

Evaluation

Complete an analysis of learning listing evidence about:

Belonging	Find something of interest
Communication	Express an idea or feeling
Exploration	Engage with challenges and persist when difficulties arise
Well being	Being involved

Embedding into daily practice

Practising mindfulness is beneficial to both adults and children, and as children learn by watching the adults in their lives, try joining your children in these exercises:

Happy hour! Ask each child to think of something that they do at your centre that makes them happy (e.g. painting, playing outside, etc). Once a week, select one child's happy activity and do it as a group, alternating each week until everyone has had a happy hour.
A quiet space. Create a quiet space in your centre for children to pause and develop a familiarity with quiet. The quiet space could be a corner in the room, a special mat on the floor (either inside or outside) or a place in the garden. Encourage children to notice how, when we allow our bodies to rest in quiet, our minds can settle and we may become aware of things around us and in us in a new and different way.
Pause and notice the breath. Our breath is something that we don’t always notice, but something that is always with us. Paying attention to our breathing can be calming and quieting. With children, explore the breath by having them lie on their back and notice the movement of the chest or belly as the breath moves in and out of the body. Repeat daily or weekly.

Schools Tree Day - Be a Tree

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