Morah Katie: Last week we talked about the animals a farmer takes care off, what else does a farmer do on a farm?

Lochlan: Grows food, like onions.

Moshe: Carrots.

Ozzie: Maybe coconuts.

Makayah: Strawberries.

 

 

Morah Katie: What do all plants need to grow?
Makayah: Water.
Lochlan: Sunshine.
Morah Katie: What do carrots, corn, broccoli and trees have in common?

Lochlan: They all have roots.

Makayah: They all need food and water.

Emily: They start from seeds.

Evan: They make food.

Morah Katie: What are things trees provide for us?

Makayah: Colors, they are beautiful.

Evan: Food.

Lochlan: Healthy air and shade on a sunny or rainy day.

Emily: Fruit to eat at snack time.

Morah Katie: What do you think our world would be like if we didn't have trees?

Evan: No apples to dip in honey.

Lochlan: Not as much oxygen to breathe.

Emily: No fruit.

Moshe: No tables.

Makayah: No chairs.

Emily: No fruit at snack time.

Morah Katie: The world would be very different without trees.

Morah Katie: Do you and trees have anything in common?

Lochlan: We need water and trees need water.

Emily: They start as seeds. But they get big.

Morah Katie: Do you begin small and grow big?

Emily: Yes, we do. I am bigger now.

Morah Katie:  Is there anything else you have in common with trees? (children thinking)

  If want you to imagine yourself a tree, what type of tree would you be?

Emily: Peach.

Evan: Apple.

Makayah: Strawberry.

Moshe: Orange.

Clive: Apple.

Zoey: Cake.

Morah Katie: You would all be sweet fruit trees. You aren't trees. You are children. You don't produce sweet fruit. What sweet things do you produce?

Lochlan: Doing kind things. Sweet words and love. 

Emily: Being nice.

Morah Katie: What actions would be kind and nice?

Moshe: Mitzvahs!

Morah Katie: Right, you can produce mitzvahs-good deeds we can do everyday.  What are some mitzvahs you can do?

Moshe: Make our bed.
Emily: Make our lunch for our mom's.
Lochlan: Ask our mom's what chores we can help do.
Evan: Help our dad in the yard.
Moshe: Listen to our mom's.
Makayah: Share with friends.
Emily: Playing with friends.
Lochlan: Inviting friends to play.

We have begun creating an orchard in our classroom.  It will not be just any fruit orchard, it will be a Mitzvah orchard.
We will write down the sweet, good deeds the children do on a "piece of fruit" and add it to our trees.
In past years, our Mitzvah trees have grown heavy with fruit. I have a feeling this year will follow the pattern.