In multiple PreK classrooms at Valley View Early Learning Center, something remarkable is taking root.
Students aren't just learning their ABCs and 123s. They're planting carrots and green beans, checking soil moisture, and discovering what it means to be responsible for another living thing. They're practicing gratitude through a "magical mailbox" that regularly delivers caring tasks. And they're conducting actual scientific inquiry—comparing native seeds to store-bought varieties—in preparation for a future SARSEF project.
This is the "Growing Gratitude" project, an innovative approach to early childhood education that weaves together gardening, social-emotional learning, and hands-on science in ways that feel less like a curriculum and more like a way of life.
From Garden to Gratitude
The project is built around Slumberkins' "Gifts All Around Us" unit, with Honeybear—a beloved character—guiding students through daily gratitude practices. But the real magic happens in the garden, where students plant seeds, water sprouts, and watch their vegetables grow.
The learning doesn't stop at the garden gate. Back in the classroom, students run a pretend Farmer's Market, role-play farming scenarios, create art inspired by their plants, and dive into inquiry-based science. They're learning to count beans, sort vegetables, measure plant growth, and record observations—academic skills strengthened by real-world purpose.
'My Heart Is Going to Remember This Today'
Perhaps most powerfully, students are learning gratitude as a daily practice. Through Honeybear's magical mailbox, they receive caring tasks and reflect on moments worth remembering. "My heart is going to remember this today" becomes more than a phrase—it becomes a mindset.
The project addresses a growing concern in early childhood education: anxiety in young children. Research shows that gratitude practices can help build emotional resilience, and Valley View teachers are seeing those benefits firsthand as students learn to notice, appreciate, and care for the world around them.
A Celebration of Growth
The project culminated in a gratitude celebration that brought everything full circle. Students prepared a fresh salad using vegetables they had planted, tended, and harvested themselves. Families joined for pizza and the chance to see firsthand what their children had created.
It was, in every sense, a harvest—not just of vegetables, but of confidence, responsibility, and joy.
Why This Matters
Growing Gratitude" exemplifies CFSD's commitment to early childhood education that develops curious minds, compassionate hearts, and capable hands. Students aren't passively receiving information. They're actively engaging with real challenges, making authentic decisions, and seeing the tangible results of their care and effort.
This is innovative early childhood education in action—and it's happening right here at Valley View, one seed at a time.
Watch the Full Story
We invite you to watch the complete Growing Gratitude video, which captures this beautiful project in action. The team that created this project—teachers Amy Acuna and Leah Rosthenhausler, with the support of Principal Jen Dooley—was recognized at the January 13, 2026, CFSD Governing Board meeting as part of our Deep Learning Showcase series.