Our students went on a journey of discovery, exploring the intricate connections within the natural world. Their investigations centered around the concept of the “Tree of Life,” explored the realms of food chains, food webs, and the profound interdependence of living organisms. What began in January as a study of the family tree and the Amazon rainforest, then blossomed into a collaborative group project, resulting in a group exhibition showcasing a family of trees.
Our students started their exploration by exploring the meaning of the Tree of Life, which is a breakdown of all kingdoms of life. This initial investigation, inspired the 1st and 2nd graders to take on a group project of creating a Tree of Life for the school to use as a resource. Eira, Evelyn, Maisie, Wilder, and Marek all shared ideas of the project’s vision and agreed upon using watercolor as their main medium and sharpie to outline the details. To make the piece interactive, they added magnet tape to the tree and to the different classification images.
As their knowledge grew, the 1st and 2nd graders took on the task of creating their own unique tree, with the desire that the trees would be a family and of the same species. This then led to the inspiration of our Kindergarten friends joining the group project, with the understanding that they are part of a school family and the trees are a symbol of that. Leona and Vira decided to create their own Tree of Life, inspired by the original piece.
Throughout the project, our students made discoveries about the care and nurturing that trees extend to one another. They learned that trees possess an incredible ability to send nutrients, sunlight, and water to neighboring trees in times of need. They then came up with the idea to add a root system to the group piece and create symbols that would represent sunlight, nutrients, and water.
Our students were fascinated to uncover the intimate bond between a mother tree and her offspring. They learned that the mother tree possesses a remarkable awareness of the location and well-being of her “baby” trees, ensuring their survival and growth. This nurturing aspect mirrored the deep connections found within families, resonating strongly with the students’ own experiences.
As they continued our investigation, they also explored into the intricate world of fungi. They discovered that these organisms create intricate webs, acting as a communication network that spans across trees. Fungi play a crucial role in transmitting messages and alerting trees to potential threats within their environment. Discussions were had at what type of messages would be added to the root system and what material would be used to represent the web. Students decided on a fine, delicate string and instead of sending messages of danger, they would send messages of love and positive affirmations. To add an interactive element, the group brainstormed on ways to make the messages moveable from tree to tree. Ideas were given and the use of a straw attached to each message was implemented.
Everyone was invited to experience their interactive exhibition with calm observation and reverence for Mother Earth. The exhibit was one to be explored, with the hopes of giving the viewer a peek into the world of trees.