All in the name: The meaning behind Samara
This post originally appeared in Dr. Rachel A. Larimore’s weekly Samara newsletter on March 22, 2022. If you’re interested in receiving these emails, scroll to the bottom of this page to subscribe.
Happy belated Equinox!
We’ve had lots of new subscribers join us recently and last week I mentioned maple syruping season. Maybe now is the time to explain where the name “Samara Early Learning” came from!
"Samara" is the scientific term for a maple seed.
The term “samara” is meaningful for several reasons—all closely related to our work in nature-based education:
1. Children’s joy!
“Samara” is the scientific term for the helicopters, whirlybirds, or whirligigs that children often play with. There’s pure joy in tossing a samara into the air and watching it twist and whirl its way to the ground!
2. Emotional & Intellectual connections
Yes, samaras are great fun to play with. And, technically a samara is an indehiscent, usually one-seeded, winged fruit from a plant such as the elm or maple tree. Nature-based education builds both emotional and intellectual connections. In this case, the fun helicopters also have another, more scientific name which supports their language, comfort, and identity related to science.
3. Context matters
The appearance of samaras varies based on species and where it grows, and yet all meet the basic criteria for being considered a samara. The same is true for nature-based early childhood education programs! There are core commonalities in philosophy and pedagogy, but nature-based programs vary depending on environmental, cultural, and community context.
4. Hopeful future
To me the maple tree is a symbol of the arrival of spring. First, with the sweet sap being made into syrup. Later, with the bright green leaves and samaras emerging on the tree. For me, these are symbols of renewal, growth, and hope for the future. Nature-based early childhood education is inherently hopeful for the future as we are investing in the health and well-being of future generations.
Separate from what the name means, we often get questions about pronunciation. You can pronounce it “sam-er-uh” or “suh-mair-uh.” I typically use “suh-mair-uh,” but you can say it whichever way you choose!
Hopefully that clears things up a bit!
Keep changing lives,
Rachel
Rachel A. Larimore, Ph.D., Chief Visionary of Samara Learning
About Rachel
Dr. Rachel A. Larimore is an educator, speaker, consultant, author, and former nature-based preschool director. As the founder and Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning her work focuses on helping early childhood educators start nature-based schools or add nature-based approaches into their existing program. Learn more about Rachel here.
