At Alef Bet Montessori, each holiday is an opportunity for immersive learning, and ט"ו בשבט - Tu Bishvat, the New Year of the Trees, was no exception. Our students engaged in a rich, sensory-filled work-cycle that connected them to the natural world through touch, taste, smell, and creativity.

Students were free to choose their own path of exploration, engaging with a variety of activities. Many explored an assortment of delicious fruits, a perfect occasion for practicing the brachot (blessings) associated with different foods. They thoughtfully distinguished between those that grow on trees, like apples and oranges, and those that grow in the ground, such as strawberries and watermelon. The experience encouraged them to observe textures, flavors, and scents as they sampled each fruit.

Creativity flourished as students crafted dried orange necklaces, threading slices of fruit and colorful beads to create fragrant, wearable pieces that engaged their senses and fine motor skills. The Primary and Elementary classes also made bookmarks with dried flowers and leaves. The children pasted handmade paper onto the card, used Modge Podge to arrange and adhere the carefully selected flowers, made a hole and strung a ribbon through it.

Planting was a highlight of the day, as children carefully placed basil seeds in small pots to take home, feeling the textures of soil and seeds while observing the process of plant growth. Some classes also planted parsley, which they will tend to as it grows. They will be harvest the parsley just in time for Passover, bridging one holiday’s lessons to the next in a meaningful cycle of experiential learning.

From tasting and smelling to planting and creating, Tu Bishvat at Alef Bet Montessori was a celebration of sensory exploration and discovery. Through these experiences, our students deepened their connection to nature and engaged in the Montessori philosophy of learning through experience.