Tree-mendous Beginnings: Our First Root and Rise Unit Study

Our first Root and Rise unit study, Tree-mendous, wrapped up just over a week ago, and it was truly root-worthy! The weeks were full, heart-opening, and deeply grounding—and I couldn’t let too much time pass without sharing a recap and reflection.

I want to start with celebrating Kelly, whose gentle guidance helped Tree-mendous bloom so beautifully. She brought spaciousness, creativity, and curious wonder to every session. Kelly and her kids joined our Friend School group last year, and she’s become such a close, trusted friend. Though she’s homeschooled her three children for years, this was her first time leading a group unit study—and I knew her sparkle was perfect for setting the tone as we build Root and Rise. I’m so grateful she stepped in!

Over September, we explored trees as friends—learning not just about their roots and rings, but about our own grounding, growth, and connection to the living world around us.

We studied leaf shapes, bark textures, and tree parts, met the creatures who make their homes among branches, observed different types of trees on walks around the property, and practiced short moments of quiet reflection beneath their shade (which, for the kids, lasted a whole 60 seconds).

My favorite takeaway: how trees communicate, support one another, and give freely to their forest community—lessons that mirror our own circle of learning and care.

After each of Kelly’s activities, the children had time for free play while the moms connected on the sidelines. On their own, the kids built water systems, examined bugs, balanced on the slackline, and even played “school”—reading aloud and creating nature art together. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll have even less of a hand in teaching! These weekly moments of fellowship mean so much to us as moms, while also giving the kids the space to follow their curiosity and build social skills—knowing we’re always nearby for a cuddle after a buggy bite.

As we move forward, may we carry these tree teachings with us:

🌱 Root deep—ground in what nourishes you.

🍃 Stretch upward—stay curious and open to light.

🌳 Stand together—remember the strength found in connection.

Alongside this study, our group was grateful to visit one of our favorite local teachers, Annette at Cassia Farms, who graciously taught us about air grafting using her own beloved—and truly magical—mulberry tree that we all adore. We might soon even get to nurture a few baby trees of our own!

We capped off our unit study with an adventure to our local nature center, Trout Lake. The volunteers kindly reviewed what we’d been learning, helped pull all the pieces together, and went even deeper into the science of trees. We finished with a hike around the property and a visit to a magnificent 275-year-old oak!

Thank you to each family who showed up and helped make this first chapter so alive. Here’s to the next seed we’ll plant—and all the ways we’ll continue to Root and Rise.

P.S. Kelly also just opened an Etsy shop filled with wonder-fully crafted nature-inspired goodies, including her Trees in Florida workbook! If you’d like to show her some love, you can check it out here:

Books we read:

• What do you see when you look at a tree? by Emma Carlisle Check it out on Amazon

• Listen to the Language of the Trees by Terra Kelley Check it out on Amazon

• The Bust Tree by Jennifer Ward Check it out on Amazon

Song we sang: