Margret Stöckler
I'd like to share a particularly touching story with you. You can find it here: "Oups and His Friend the Tree".
This wonderful story tells how Oups makes his way to Earth to visit a tree standing lonely and abandoned in a meadow. Oups initially wants to comfort the poor tree, but after a few words, Oups realizes that the tree is not lonely at all – on the contrary! It has many friends, and for a specific reason: it gladly shares what it has with everyone who crosses its path. A click on the book cover opens the link to the Oups shop!
For the reading of the book, I had prepared a nice little autumn rug.
The children listened fascinated and happily noticed that they can share as well as the tree. Each child was allowed to tell us what they like to share with others. Their snack, their eraser, their toys, everything and much more... :- ) I was amazed that my first graders even spoke about sharing friendship and their love, all by themselves.
At first, I was a little unsure if it would be good to read the story now in late autumn, when all the leaves and apples had already fallen. But I can now say with a good feeling that this story fits every season – and the topic of sharing is always appropriate, and especially now for St. Martin's Day.
At the end of the story, Oups celebrates a party with all his new friends. He sings and dances with them – and so did we with the corresponding song: "Like Oups on his Star"
Like Oups on his Star
Available here in the Oups Online Shop (Download article). 
Next spring, I will then go with my first graders in search of their "own favorite tree", just as Oups suggests in the Heart Education Workbook .
When we can write a little, we can write a letter to our favorite tree or write down the thoughts of our tree. Thoughts on environmental protection, for example. But until then, we still have some time...
How our tree story continues, I'll reveal in the blog post "A Heart for Trees".
