Growingtrees
What could be more beautiful and symbolic than planting a seed that will grow into… a tree, “your tree”? Then, planting it for a special occasion to grow and evolve alongside it? Here’s a wonderful activity to do in October with young children: planting an oak tree!
Step1:Harvesting
Necessary materials
Harvest baskets
Go for a walk and look for an oak tree. Choose beautiful acorns that are plump, brown or green (but not black) and without holes (which indicate insect damage). Their little cap, also known as the cupule, should come off easily. Place your acorns in a basin of water: only those that sink to the bottom are suitable for planting.
Phase2
Growingtrees
Necessary materials
• Pots with a minimum height of 15 cm
• Soil
• Water
Don’t wait to plant your acorns, as a dry acorn is a dead acorn! Plant the acorns horizontally and cover them with 1 to 2 cm of soil. Water them well. Then place the pots in a bright spot with an average temperature of 20°C. There’s no need to water them daily, but make sure the soil stays adequately moist.
Step3:Planting
Necessary materials
Shovel
Rake
Late April or early May is the perfect time to plant your baby oak tree. If possible, choose a date with special meaning for the child or the location hosting your nature activities—for example, a child’s birthday or the anniversary of an event. Select a sunny spot, far enough from other trees or buildings. Remember that an oak tree can grow to a diameter of 10 meters.
Loosen the soil to a depth of at least 30 cm to help the roots take hold, and clear weeds in a 30 cm diameter around the spot. Carefully remove the young oak from its pot, keeping the root ball intact (avoid exposing bare roots at all costs). Water thoroughly.
Visit the tree as often as possible to check how it’s doing and to give it some love. Every living being we connect with deserves our attention, care, and thoughtful observation.
Growingtrees
Learninggenius
The tree is a symbol of life and a kind of mirror for humanity: it shows us a balance between Earth and Sky. We can invite children to imagine themselves as trees: closing their eyes and visualizing roots growing deep into the earth, allowing them to feel their connection to Gaia, the Earth, while imagining their head reaching upward toward the Sky, connecting with the Divine, the stars, and the Sun.
Just like the tree, humans are influenced by both earthly and cosmic forces. Children have the ability to feel and fully experience these two connections, provided their human and natural environments nurture this awareness.