The Gardener and the Tree

In pairs, one child is a seed and the other is the gardener, who waters it and gives it sunshine so it grows little by little into a tree whose leaves flutter in the wind. It works on moving from low to high positions, balance and caring for a partner.

How to play

1. The teacher models with a child: the seed curls into a ball on the floor, and the gardener waters it with a pretend watering can and makes sunshine with their hands (2 min).
2. In pairs, the gardener waters and the seed grows one stage with each touch: roots come out (legs stretch), the stem comes up (kneeling) and the branches grow (standing with arms open) (3 min).
3. The tree grows leaves: the gardener puts a scarf in each of its hands, and the teacher is a gentle wind and then a strong wind; the tree sways without moving its feet (2 min).
4. Switch roles and plant, water and grow the tree again (4 min).
5. Fall arrives: the leaves drop to the ground and the tree turns back into a seed to sleep (1 min).

Rules

• The seed only grows when the gardener waters it.
• The gardener touches gently, like watering a flower.
• The tree moves its branches, not its feet.
• Then we switch: everyone is a gardener and a tree.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: grows from whatever position they can (from seated to arms up) and waters from their wheelchair as the gardener.
• Visual impairment: the gardener says it out loud before touching (“Watering your shoulder!”), and the tree feels the scarf in its hand.
• Autism: if touch is uncomfortable, the gardener waters without touching, pouring from a distance with a “shhh” sound.

Learning goals

• Move from low to high positions with control.
• Keep balance while moving the arms.
• Take care of a partner in pretend play.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Scarves: 50

Teacher tip

Practice gentle watering first: a soft touch, never a push. Seeds often jump straight to being a tree; call out each stage slowly (“Now... the roots”).

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