An unexpected outcome of Grade 4’s work in the garden last week was the discovery of a potential new wellness craze for Dubai – root ball therapy!
Having worked hard to remove the roots of a dead tree that was unsuccessfully transplanted over the summer, a small group of students started tapping the root ball against the wall to remove soil. Taking turns, they settled into a rhythmical pattern of tapping and passing the root system that was unexpectedly calming and meditative to watch.
Before long, one of the students took the root ball to the ramp above the garden and dropped it gently onto the soil from which it had been removed. Something about the process drew other students to join in and a quiet, meditative flow of the root ball gently being passed up the ramp and then thudding onto the soil followed, over and over again. It was child-led, unrushed and something that all of the children wanted to be a part of and fully delighted in.
This beautiful moment reminded us of the power of giving children time to play outside in nature, and of the ability of children to tap into nature’s rhythms when given the opportunity. Root ball therapy was well and truly alive in the school garden on Wednesday morning last week!
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