Bread
“Who will help me plant the wheat?” I chanted as I walked about the room with a fistful of wheat berries, inviting children to the sensory table filled with potting soil. Nearby sat cookie sheets covered in a light blanket of powdery white flour, perfect for drawing, tracing letters, or simply exploring. A few children ground some wheat berries using a flat stone and a river rock. “Wow,” one exclaimed, “that miller must have had lots of wheat to make a whole bag of flour!” Bread, Bread, Bread by Ann Morris and many versions of The Little Red Hen filled our days with rich curriculum. Children can see and taste a whole universe in bread. Each nibble contains the sun, soil, rain, harvest, and hands of many people.
In loving memory of Gryphon House author Leanne Grace, MEd, we are sharing pieces of her inspirational writing every Wednesday.
Leanne was the director of professional development at Hildebrandt Learning Centers and a lifelong advocate for early childhood education. She inspired the early childhood community to prepare children as lifelong learners with her ability to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. One person can make a difference, and Leanne did just that. She will be sorely missed.
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