Counting the Gifts of Nature: Sunflower Seeds and Curiosity 🌻✨

🌿 The Hana (The Practice)

At Ka Hana Pono, learning often begins with something simple and beautiful from nature — like a sunflower. Keiki explored the flower’s texture, seeds, and bright petals, discovering math, science, and wonder in one activity.

🌱 What Children Learn

By carefully removing and counting seeds, keiki practiced early math skills: number recognition, sequencing, and the concept of quantity. They also observed patterns in the seed’s arrangement, sparking scientific curiosity.

💛 Connection to Social-Emotional Learning

Working together at the table, keiki took turns, shared seeds, and celebrated each other’s discoveries. This nurtures patience, collaboration, and respect for one another’s voices.

🌺 Connection to ʻĀina

The sunflower reminds keiki of the cycles of nature: how plants grow, provide food, and then create seeds for the next generation. They begin to see themselves as part of these same cycles, cultivating gratitude for ʻāina.

✨ Living in Pono

In the simple act of counting seeds, keiki are learning balance — between curiosity and care, self and community, human and nature. Living in pono means honoring these small daily lessons that connect us to each other and to the land.