Something happened in the Owl class, something extraordinary. A group of children unexpectedly stumbled upon a map of the United States and in that simple, unassuming poster of geography they found something beautiful – relationships.

“Washington is where apples live and Florida has spaceships. Then we continue to Indiana where my grandparents live.”

“I’m tracing Ohio because that’s where my grandparents live and they have a house in Georgia too.”

“My daddy goes to Texas.”

“We live in Arizona.”

“I’m pointing to Ohio because that’s where my parents lived before I was in my mommy’s tummy.”

One of the children, an expert envelope maker, was excited to show his classmates how they could make an envelope to send letters to their loved ones.

“This is for my mom. I used this paper so you can see inside. She’ll like to look inside- she likes surprises. I made it small because she likes tiny things like me.”

“I made this envelope for my mom because she likes pink and lots of colors. I added water because it gives it energy.”

“I am making my letter for my grandparents in Payson. How do you write Nana? This is Papa.”

“I want to write I love you and I miss you.”

“I am going to make this for my mom. M-O-M.”

“I made it for my dad. His name is Philippe.”

“I want to write a letter for my grandma: I love you, Grandma. I wish that I could visit you today. I miss you.”

We began to wonder: How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected children’s relationships with loved ones? Were they unable to see grandparents or relatives in other states? How might it feel to receive a letter, a handwritten letter, from a person you loved?

As children began receiving responses to their letters, ideas emerged as to how exactly the letter gets from one place to another:

“He couldn’t have walked it’s too far”

“I don’t think it’s that far, he could have walked”

“He could have flied in a big airplane”

“It’s a car that goes from mailbox to mailbox”

“I think he put it in the truck and drove it or maybe he put it in a train”

“Maybe he used the airplane and truck and train”

“They matched his name to get it here”

The children have continued to stay busy writing letters to loved ones, each other, and even an elusive elf named Notty whose camper resides in our Outdoor Classroom. This work is purposeful, meaningful, and grounded in cherished relationships. It offers children an invitation to share a part of their thinking, their world, and themselves.