Object: A small cedar tree and some red dogwood leaves.

Lesson: Jealousy; friendship; love; trust; faith; hope; renewal; self-esteem.

As the children gather, I bring over a flowerpot in which I have placed a small cedar tree that "volunteered" in my yard during the summer. I also have red dogwood leaves, hidden in a plastic bag. After greeting the assembled youngsters, I ask if anyone went outside on Saturday. Most heads nod affirmatively.

"Did anyone notice the trees?" I ask. Several children indicate they did.

"Well, what's happening to them?" I continue.

"They're changing colors!"

"Some of them have turned orange!"

"And red and yellow!"

"Some of them are brown!" As the children's answers spill over each other, it is obvious that autumn has arrived in all its splendor -- and the …