Perspective
What do you see when you look at this photo?
At first glance, we might simply notice two mushrooms pushing their way through the dirt.
However, if we look closer, we can see: Science. Math. Literacy. Nature. Wonder…endless possibilities!
For what ages? Any of them!
Learning doesn’t live in just one subject or one stage of childhood, it’s woven into the world around us — in the way we count the petals on a flower, compare the sizes of two rocks, wonder where clouds come from, or tell a story about a dream we had.
From preschoolers noticing shapes and textures, to older children researching fungi in a field guide, these simple moments can blossom into meaningful, multi-age learning journeys that can be enjoyed individually, as a family, or a classroom community.
Small Things, Big Learning
When we offer children the chance to observe and explore, their learning grows naturally. Here’s what these two mushrooms might invite:
Science - observing growth, exploring plant and fungi life cycles, asking “What do mushrooms need to grow?”
Math - Measuring height, comparing sizes, counting caps and stems, sorting by shape.
Literacy - Storytelling — how did these fragile mushrooms burst through the hard ground? Is there something special about them? Descriptive writing, creating labels, researching in books or online.
Art - Sketching, painting, or sculpting the mushrooms; noticing the shapes and textures in their caps.
Nature Connection - Talking about the role mushrooms play in an ecosystem, and why they often grow in surprising places.
The beauty of this approach is that it’s not planned down to the last detail. It’s open-ended, and it allows children to follow their curiosity — which is where the richest learning happens.
From Dirt to Discovery
Just like these mushrooms, learning often begins quietly — with something small, perhaps even overlooked at first. But given the right conditions, curiosity pushes through, grows taller, and surprises us with what it becomes.
At Toadstool Table, I believe these moments are everywhere, waiting to be noticed. When we pause to look closer, even the simplest wonders can grow into endless possibilities.
