In part two of this project our intention remains for the children to develop their own theories and understandings of change in relation to their environment.

They have expressed that they feel sad for the tree and want to give its leaves back to it.

Since coming to this conclusion the children have been collecting leaves as they fall off the tree and testing theories and hypotheses such as painting them green again, sticking them to the tree with sticky tape and discussing how to get them to the very top of the tree.

 

The children have told us it's important that the gift is permanent, they want to make sure the tree will not lose them again. They have begun experimenting with more permanent materials such as wire, nails, and clips as opposed to blue tack and sticky tape which did not have the desired effect the children were after.

 

Soon the children will be ready to gift back to the tree what it has lost.

 

The Early Years Learning Framework of Australia emphasises the need for children to connect empathetically with the community and the world around them. We will be using the tree as a metaphor to assist the children to understand empathy and how it impacts those around them.