Wind on the Hill

This poem is from the book “Now we are six” by A.A. Milne that we having been reading after recess everyday. 

 A particularly beautiful and fascinating conversation arose this morning after reading this particular poem, Wind on the Hill.  I actually got quite teary as the children shared their poetic hypotheses of where the wind does come from. Please read on.

Where does the wind come from?

• It comes from outer space because it’s really cold out in space. 
• It comes from other planets. 
• I think it comes from behind the hills, because once I went behind the hills and it felt harder than ever. 
• I think it comes from the clouds because the clouds are high up in the sky… because it spreads it all over the world, it’s a lot 'cause there are lots of clouds. 
• I know where it really, really comes from… I agree with [another child].

How do you know that? 

• 'Cause my dad has been in outer space… he studies moon dust. 
• I agree with [another child] because you can’t even walk in space and that must be the wind. 
• My dad hasn’t actually been in outer space but some of his friends have. 
• I think it comes from inside leaves. When you shake a bunch of leaves sort of wind comes from it and other things. 
• My mum told me where, when the trees shake it makes it windy. 
• I agree with [another child] because, in outer space, um there’s gravity.

What does gravity have to do with wind?

• Well in outer space there’s, you can’t actually walk on the moon because of the gravity.

And what do you think gravity has to do with the wind?

• needs some thinking time 
• The clouds.

Why do you think the wind comes from the clouds?

• (not sure) 
• I agree with [another child].

Why?

• It really does come from outer space.

Do you think that or do you know it

• I know it.

How?

• I saw it in a book. 
• Bugs that flap their wings.

Why?

• because they always make air.

How do you know?

• Because when you go near them and there’s no wind you can feel them. 
• I agree with [another child]. 
• And me too! 
• Because sometimes when the suits of astronauts blew air, all of it blows out of the suit ‘cause it’s got special buttons, and that’s why I think it comes from out of space. 
•  I’m doing the same as [another child]. 
• I think it comes from the leaves and also plants because sometimes when the plants whistle round sometimes that’s making wind. 
• From the cloud ‘cause it’s windy. 
• I think it comes from trees because trees blow ‘cause the clouds make wind and then the trees make it.

After this discussion, a few children chose to either draw their hypotheses or do some research on the internet.