Mrs. Lighthall would take us outside on whims brought on by endless days with 4th graders whose questions left her needing escape. We would sit around trees. Never any particular tree. Then she would ask us to, "Close your eyes and listen. Remember all the sounds that are here but you haven't heard because you weren't paying attention." And we would sit, eyes closed, listening, no questions. We would then be asked to hug the tree. And then back inside. I don't ever recall my classmates and I talking about this. It seemed normal enough. I still have to close my eyes sometimes in order to notice what I am missing.