“A blue whale's heart is as big as a Volkswagen Beetle(大众甲壳虫),” I told a group of wide-eyed, open-mouthed second-graders. “It is so big that you could walk around inside of it.” Then I asked a big question-“Why does a blue whale have such a big heart?”—and let the adventure begin.

I was bringing SOLE to my classroom-the Self-Organized Learning Environment.

My students began their investigations and, after 40 minutes, they shared their discoveries.

“Blue whales can call to each other over almost a thousand miles.” said Heavenly. “They need a big heart to talk to each other.”

“They swim all over the world,” said Ki'ara. “So they need a big heart to be their motor.”

“They swim together in pairs.” said Amare. “So they need huge hearts to care for each other.”

“Yeah,” said Isaac. “That's true. It takes a huge heart to care for somebody.”

“Hmmm,” I said. “How can we have big hearts for each other instead of small hearts?”

Then the students made a list of it.

I was teaching compassion—to model ways we can care for each other and other living things. This SOLE lesson took a beautiful turn when Amaze connected the heart of the blue whale to community and to caring.

Perri Klass, in a brief essay for the New York Times titled “Understanding How Children Develop Compassion”, writes about the importance of modeling compassion to children so those things are part of their experience long before they know the word.

Around my school, however, nine out of 10 families live in a destructive poverty that makes it difficult to model compassion, to nurture community and caring. My students often come to school knowing more about the survival of the fittest than the survival of the kindest. Yet here were my 7 and 8-year-olds working together in a community, talking about caring for each other and exploring ways we can have big hearts instead of small hearts for each other.

On that day, the blue whale and the second-graders modeled compassion for all of us. This SOLE lesson brought heart to my classroom.

When the winter comes, millions of Americans realize they don’t feel as happy as usual, and may be depressed If you’re one of them, you may be suffering from “seasonal affective disorder” or SAD, whose symptoms include exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, body aches and pains, and a loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy.     5    

Take extra Vitamin D.

Researchers at the University of Georgia analyzed more than 100 articles that examined the link between Vitamin D and depression. They found that a lack of Vitamin D appeared to be a major factor in the development of SAD.     6    

    7    

Most researchers agree that the people who fall victim to SAD most often are particularly sensitive to the lack of light. Weather permitting, go for a walk. In your home or office, try sitting close to a window that faces south.

Increase exercise.

Although exercising may be about the last thing you want to do and would rather curl up with a book or watch a DVD, studies have shown that upping your exercise routine can counteract SAD. And experts advise exercising at least 20 minutes a day at least three times a week.     8     The benefits are also long lasting. The longer you do it, the more benefit you’ll get.

Eat more fish.

    9     Studies have found that people who have low levels of two chemicals found in fish, EPA and DHA, are at increased risk for depression. Either eat more fish—at least three times a week—or take fish oil capsules to combat SAD.

Although dark winter days got you down, don’t worry because nature is always waiting to help. Just enjoy the winter days and benefit from the nature!