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Seed Stories

Seed Stories
Coral Balubar

As our inquiry journey has unfolded, we’ve paused often to reflect on where we’ve been and how far we’ve come. This process is crucial, helping us recognize the intricate connections that weave through our learning. We began our inquiry of “stories” by exploring our own name stories, discovering that many names in our class connect to cultures and places all over the world. From there, we explored the stories of these cultures: Kamishibai tales from Japan, folktales from India, and Moʻolelo from Hawaiʻi. Each step brought us closer to understanding how stories help us find meaning, connect to one another, and root us in the places we live.

In the weeks leading up to the break, we explored the Hawaiian concept of Moʻolelo—stories that preserve the history, values, and beauty of the islands. One of the Moʻolelo we studied was the legend of Kahalaopuna, which illuminates aspects of a place close to our hearts—Mānoa Valley. This legend reveals the origins of Mānoa’s rainbows, its majestic mountains, and the pueo, or Hawaiian owl, revered as a guardian and protector. Through this story, we formed a meaningful connection with the environment, deepening our sense of place and gaining a richer understanding of the world around us.

After the break, we took our learning even further by venturing into the valley itself, on a research trip to Lyon Arboretum, a treasure tucked into the lush heart of Mānoa. The children had the chance to experience the valley’s beauty and explore the stories present in nature. This experience opened their eyes to the wonder of seeds—small yet mighty carriers of stories themselves. From the double coconut, the world’s largest seed, to the sticky ʻIlieʻe, we uncovered how seeds travel, grow, and connect ecosystems in ways that mirror the connections we make in our lives and learning.

Our visit to Lyon Arboretum, allowed the children to discover more about Mānoa Valley’s natural wonders and began asking new questions. One question emerged as central to our inquiry: "How do seeds tell stories?" The children’s responses to this question revealed their growing understanding of the natural world as a tapestry of interconnected narratives—stories of growth, movement, resilience, and transformation:

A.T. “Seeds can tell us stories with how they can grow and their life cycle is like a story.”

K.C.”Seeds can tell us stories by telling us how to grow seeds and how we can keep them healthy.”

E.Y.: “Seeds can tell us the story of how plants grow in different places and how multiple of the same plants can show up in different places.”

R.K.”Seeds can tell us stories because when the seed grows into a tree, the tree rings can tell the story of the tree–like how old it is.”

E.P. “Seeds can tell a story because when seeds grow and grow into trees and plants, it becomes a place for birds and animals. We can learn the life cycle of the seed and the lifestyle because the seed becomes a setting for all the nature around it.”

N.G.”Seeds can be part of our stories because we can help decide where we want to plant the seed and we can change the story of that seed by deciding.”

L.K.”Seeds can grow up and become flowers and flowers make Hawai`i smell good. The flowers become part of Hawai`i and everyone thinks Hawai`i smells good.

K.P. “For me, seeds can tell a story because first they start as a little seed. Sometimes people think that seeds are just small and helpless, but actually they grow into plants and big trees. It goes step by step just like a story and that’s how they tell their story.” L.T. “Seeds tell a story because they are useful. We can use seeds and when they grow into plants and trees they can help us.”

As we continue to create our own inquiry story, it is thrilling to see how our journey is blossoming. Just like the seeds we now study, our learning is growing and branching out in new and exciting directions. Together, we are uncovering the magic of stories, whether they come from names, cultures, valleys, or even the smallest seed!

 

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