I’m back with another kit update from my students, this time, the Evergreen Pine Bonsai!
This one has been such an interesting experience to watch, because even though the difficulty feels similar to the Sakura Bonsai, the construction process is completely different. The difference with the Christmas Fireplace is that this one is fully wooden, much closer to the ROKR style, and the kids are definitely noticing the jump in complexity.
What’s fascinating is how much they’re learning about force control: pressing pieces hard enough to fit, but not so hard that they break. And yes, we’ve had a few “crack!” moments… the good kind and the not-so-good ones 
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Another thing I’ve loved is seeing how this group works. They’re the type who spread out the instructions wide open on the floor and claim every bit of space they need. They help each other constantly and, surprisingly, they’re the ones asking me for the least help. It’s such a joy to see them become more independent.
Of course, unlike the Christmas Fireplace, we have had a few broken pieces here. So hello, superglue! Honestly, superglue with a brush applicator is one of the best inventions ever. Even the kids have been able to use it safely and confidently when something needed fixing.
It also made me smile when they’d come to me asking to remove or insert a piece because “it’s stuck and I’m scared to break it.” They’re so sweet.
The bonsai structure itself is quite delicate. A couple of students had to reassemble parts more than once, and one unfortunate kid dropped the whole thing on the floor. Luckily, we managed to fix it and they’ll continue next session.
And that’s the first update for our Evergreen Pine Bonsai adventure! More to come soon 
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