We`ve all seen images in movies and television shows where kids and sometimes even adults run and jump into large piles of fallen leaves and throw them up in the air. It always looks like a lot of fun, but have you ever done it yourself?

This week in 1^st grade the students enjoyed this same scene. While there weren’t enough leaves for the students to jump into a large pile, they enjoyed themselves by gathering and throwing the leaves during recess and in their life skills classes.

At first, many students were put off by possibly getting dirty but once they realized that you wouldn’t be getting dirty, the kids joined in. Within a few minutes, the nervousness was replaced with pure joy. The sound of laughter coming from their voices as the children discovered how nature felt was contagious.

This connection to nature throughout the year is vital to the growth of children. Nature provokes children into thought, action, and formulating their ideas. When children are involved in experiences with nature, they are absorbed and completely attentive to what is at hand.

I hope the students of Hibarigaoka Elementary School can enjoy and experience more connection to nature as they continue to grow.