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Connection: Seeds, Stories, and Travel

Connection: Seeds, Stories, and Travel
Carin Chang

Learning is an organic journey of discovery, connection, and exploration. This year we embarked on two enriching research field trips—one to the Bishop Museum and one to the Lyon Arboretum—sparking curiosity and deep conversations among the class. These experiences have seamlessly intertwined with our ongoing studies, revealing a rich tapestry of connections between the natural world, human ingenuity, and cultural narratives.

As you may recall, our time at Bishop Museum was spent exploring the stories of trash, navigation, and astronomy. This led us to think about how human actions impact the environment. The museum’s exhibits also introduced the concept of human travel, particularly through Polynesian voyaging traditions, where canoes became a vessel for people, knowledge, and culture to journey across vast oceans. At the Lyon Arboretum, we further built on this understanding by exploring the journeys of seeds. We learned about the ways seeds travel across ecosystems, carried by wind, water, animals, and even human activity, spreading life to new places. The Arboretum provided a living laboratory where the students could see firsthand the diversity of seeds, their unique modes of travel, and the critical role they play in ecosystems.

Back in the classroom, these provocations sparked conversations about the interconnectedness of our research field trips. The children reflected on how the stories they encountered at both the Bishop Museum and the Lyon Arboretum—stories of travel, migration, and the relationships between people and nature—could link to their own investigations. They began to explore how seeds and people alike carry the promise of new beginnings, and how trash, if unmanaged, can disrupt the delicate balance of these journeys. They recognized the parallels between the stories of voyaging at the Bishop Museum and the journeys of seeds at the Lyon Arboretum. They imagined how canoes might carry not only people but also seeds and stories, spreading new life and knowledge.

The word “traveling” kept surfacing in our conversations, tying all of our explorations together. It was clear that these ideas resonated deeply with them, and they were making connections I hadn't even anticipated. What truly struck me was how naturally these connections emerged. The children were piecing together their learning from each research trip in ways that showcased their curiosity and critical thinking. They recognized the parallels between the stories of voyaging at the Bishop Museum and the journeys of seeds at the Lyon Arboretum. They imagined how canoes might carry not only people but also seeds and stories, spreading new life across distances. It was a wonderful and exciting moment of seeing the Reggio process come to life—when learning grows from the children’s perspectives, driven by their own insights and wonder.

I felt both amazed and energized by the richness of their thinking, their excitement sparking my own. Watching our class build these connections and reflect on the stories of travel was a powerful reminder of how deeply children can engage with complex ideas when given the opportunity to explore and connect on their own terms. We will continue to delve into these themes of travel and connection, honoring the stories we’ve uncovered and seeking new ones to explore. As we continue, I am eager to see how their understanding of travel and movement evolves. I am excited to be a part of these incredible moments of growth and connection!

 

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