Why do Leaves Fall?
From Alicia Alvarez to Sheyli Baltazar January 29, 2020
What happened? What is the history?
Sheyli, this morning when we went out to the schoolyard I noticed how engaged you were in collecting leaves. You took a small bucket and started gathering leaves. You were talking to Jennifer. Then, you walked to the other side of the garden where there was a plant that still had green leaves. You asked “Jennifer, why do leaves fall from the trees? Jennifer just saw you and kept touching the leaves and you asked her the same question again: "Do you know why leaves fall?" Jennifer just shook her head saying no.
So, you offered an explanation:
"Look Jenny, las hojas se caen del árbol por la lluvia. Y también, when it rains, el color cambia. Primero, they are green, luego, se vuelven rojas. Y luego se mueren from so much rain”.
Sheyli, I listened as you explained to Jennifer the reasons why leaves fall from trees. You also told her: “Sometimes, las hojas se caen porque es very windy y también porque los niños sometimes, las arrancan de las branches and don't take care of them. Mi mama dice que we have to take care of the plants.”
Then, you went with Jennifer back to the classroom and put the leaves you collected in a basket. And you said "I'm going to put them here para que las vean los niños".
What learning took place?
Sheyli, you showed interest in nature by giving Jennifer an explanation of why leaves fall from trees. You also showed that you have a wide vocabulary and you know that we must take care of plants. Sheyli, today I saw that you are persevering, that you follow up on your ideas and you like to share. You wait your turn and have good relationships with your classmates.
How can we help you to extend your learning?
We could bring books about nature and read them in a small group. We could invite Sheyli to do drawings or paintings about the books we read. Reading books would help Sheyli expand her vocabulary. She might try to write a few words related to the topic and recognize letters in those words. We could talk to her parents about how they could support school activities at home.
What do Sheyli’s parents think of this story?
This is for Sheyli, from mom:
Sheyli, you are a very smart girl and very friendly and very respectful and very attentive and very responsible and very calm. You surprised me because you have learned a lot. Thank you very much teachers for doing such a good job; for teaching children and being patient with them. God bless you.
Sincerely, Floridama Gomez.