29: Tiny Moments

"Everything is sacred when you take time to notice.

Big love happens in the small moments."

-JJ Heller

Our life is made up of tiny moments. They are small but significant pockets of time that when put together, make our life story more meaningful. It can be found in many of our firsts, lasts, and in betweens -- like the first time we experienced snow, or the last time we saw our beloved pet, or the slow and quiet walks where we can savor the beauty around us.

In writing, tiny moments are the strongest foundations of a story. Lucy Calkins, an advocate of literacy and the Writing Workshop approach, calls them seed stories. When children write, they often look at the broader picture.

Seed stories ask us to zoom in -- to look at the tiny details of the bigger picture, and to let it grow with our words. This way, we create a vivid retelling of our stories that will allow our readers to experience it as if they were with us when it was happening.

Source

This week in Kinder 2 was abundant in seed stories -- small but significant moments -- that tie up with spring.

Last December 9, the Kindergarteners planted some tulip bulbs in the field near the school. 

 This week, the tulips have fully bloomed and were celebrated by many people who visited the island just to see them. The kindergarteners had a chance to see the flowers they planted with their own hands -- the whites and the yellows, and some colors out of place, which is the perfect imperfect mark of a child's work. They were all beautiful.

Flowers and plants grow on fertile soil if tended with much care and love. Fertilizers enrich the soil and provide nutrients for the plants to flourish. To continue our inquiry on the seasons, specifically spring, the children got their hands dirty and learned how compost is made with the help of some wriggly friends.

 

There were squeals of horror and giggles and much laughter when the children were invited to hold the worms. Some excitedly said yes, others preferred to be spectators who watched a few meters away. But one thing was common: they were all happy to finally have a "real class pet" that they can take care of. A plus side to it is that their pets can help them grow a garden!

Side story: our class pet is a cardboard box cat that the children made some months ago.

The children have started collecting their food scraps after snack and lunch time. It was amazing to see how they easily got into the habit of cutting their banana peels into small pieces before they throw them, so that the worms can eat them easily.

We can't wait to see what the worms will produce so that we can use them to make a beautiful garden.

Speaking of gardens, one such creature who loves a beautiful garden is the Easter Bunny who loves hiding some eggs behind plants and on flower beds on the eve of Easter. 

"Ms. Pam, the Easter Bunny isn't real. You are the one hiding the eggs."

"I am not the one hiding the eggs, I promise. You can keep an eye on me the whole day."

Right at that moment, Mr. David was happily hiding the Easter eggs outside. 🐰

 

The children went out with their recycled baskets in tow to see what the Easter Bunny left behind for them.

And they were all happy with their egg-citing treats! 🥚

(Thank you, PTA, for your generous gifts for the children! You are the true Easter bunnies.)

The children also enjoyed some Easter games outside to enjoy the beautiful weather that spring brings.

We ended the week by planting our own seeds in little eggs to celebrate 

the arrival of spring and Easter.

A little seed. Who would have thought that something that small could grow into a majestic tree or a life giving plant? It's the same with our life. If we make the tiny moments count, they will grow into something big and make the stories we tell, legendary.

Have a great weekend, everyone, and enjoy the flowers. 🌷

Your Kindergarten teacher, 

Pam