The Balance Garden

Luna is on the jetty when you arrive, bouncing from one foot to the other. She has been awake since yesterday afternoon. She calls it "a bit of a long day".

She picks up a pebble and drops it in. Rings spread across the water, and the signal lanterns on the posts flicker. "Vesper says the pond copies whoever is closest," Luna says. "Still water if you're steady. Ripples if something's stirring. Splashes if you're all over the place."

You both look down. The water is slapping against the posts.

First, a choice: 4 options

• Race Remy round the pond
• Sit on the jetty and watch the rings fade
• Get a snack from Mira's café first
• Tell Vesper how splashy it feels

On the printed page: Circle what Luna tries, then fill in the pond card.

By the end they have: Pond card with before and after marks; pond check added to the toolkit.

You will need: The pond card on this page (or any paper) · A pencil

1. Do your own pond check: still, rippling or splashy? Mark it on the pond card.
2. Pick one thing to try from Luna's list, or your own idea.
3. Predict: write or draw what you think your pond will look like afterwards.
4. Do it for about five minutes.
5. Check your pond again and mark it. Did your prediction match?

Smaller step if needed: Do just the first pond check, and say it out loud instead of marking it.

The grown-up’s part: Stay nearby while your child reads and chooses. If they ask for your pond, give an honest one: My pond's a bit splashy right now.

Do a pond check before school and again after school on the same day, and mark both on your pond card.

What it practises: Practise noticing your own energy (still, rippling or splashy), choosing something to try, predicting what will happen and checking.