As the Garden Grows, So Does the Gardener
How do tiny seed grow into such large plants and trees? I once thought they just started out that size. My kindergarten class taught me how plants actually grow.
During the first week of school our teacher announced we would be helping the sixth grade with a project. The next day we ventured down to the big kid hall. It was the first time any of us had been to this wing of the school. Everything was huge. We reached the classroom; when the door opened it smelled like wet dirt. The teacher quickly paired us with an older kid and explained what the special project was. We were going to plant and chart the growth of tiny seeds. I was bursting with excitement. My partner found us a Dixie cup and explained how much dirt to use. She let me fill it and plant my first seed. From that moment on I was hooked. I could hardly wait to check and water my seed. Every day it was a little different. From a small sprout to the beautiful flower, I charted every change. The project only lasted a few weeks but I noticed a change in myself as well. I wanted to keep planting. The teacher promised that we would get another chance to plant, but we would be the teachers.
The next few years I anxiously awaited my turn to teach. The first day of the project adrenaline was pulsing through my body. Kindergarteners poured through our door like puppies, shaking with excitement. My partner was nervous, but once the dirt came out he was ready to get planting. Every day he was excited to water, chart and learn about plants. I explained how they grow and use sunlight as energy. Helping kids learn was a new and wonderful feeling. I wanted to do more.
During my first year in Missoula I worked on a local farm that offered college credit for volunteering. The farm was not just for college students; it was a learning opportunity for elementary students as well. This hands-on approach not only furthered my education, but helped kids learn more about the natural world. We planted onions and mixed manure. Tasks that would be tedious to adults were new and exciting to third graders. It was refreshing to see kids outside and learning.
As people get older, learning tends to become more conventional. Kids need to get out and explore the world themselves. Playing in the dirt has shaped me into who I am today. Teaching has shown me how much wonder children show towards the world. I want to stretch that curiosity and get caught in their excitement, push them to explore, and, plant a seed.
