Definition:

to be amazed at and/or curious about something that is pleasantly unexpected, beautiful, or  mysterious.

In short:

Curiosity sparks endless discovery. 

Definition of wonder for 8 - 11 year olds: to be amazed at and/or curious about something that is pleasantly unexpected, beautiful, or  mysterious.

In short:

Curiosity sparks endless discovery.

Summary:

A little girl’s love for the redwood forests of northern California becomes a powerful incentive for her life’s passion, planting trees. Katherine Olivia Sessions (Kate) was the first woman to graduate with a degree in science from the University of California in 1881. When she moved to San Diego for a postgraduate teaching job, she was shocked to discover that very few trees grew there. Eventually she became a gardener with a focus on growing new varieties of trees in this arid place. Her experiments were successful and her trees were planted all over town. She is most known for her role in preparing for a big event, the Panama California Exposition, held in 1915 in Balboa Park, San Diego.  Kate enlisted volunteers to help her plant millions of trees in the park, and as a result, it was a great success. Through her tireless efforts in horticulture and reforestation, she became known as the Mother of Balboa Park. 

Lesson Objectives: 

1. Wonder inspires us to become activists. Students will reflect on what moves them. They will be more inclined to take action and protect the parts of nature that inspire them. 
2. This lesson can be linked to science studies, especially environmental science and botany. 

Guiding Questions: 

1. How did Kate “change a city forever?”
2. What was Kate’s favorite subject in school? 
3. What did Kate see and feel when she was in the redwood forest? 
4. What did Kate notice when she moved to San Diego? 
5. What did Kate prove that was important to those who lived in San Diego? 
6. What were some of the varieties of trees that Kate planted in San Diego? Do some research and look at photos of these trees. 
7. Have you ever attended a tree planting party or participated in a tree planting service project? If you have, share about what it was like. 
8. Look at some of the trees in your neighborhood. Do you notice any animals living in them, like birds or squirrels? 
9. Name some ways that trees help us. If you don’t know, ask someone or do some research. 
10. Do you have a favorite tree? What do you like about trees?