Trees play an important role for humans and other living organisms. Trees provide us, as humans, with the oxygen we breathe, materials for tools and protection, medicine, improve our health, habitat for wildlife and mitigate climate change. Despite this, many people ignore and underestimate the trees around us. This suggests that some people develop what can be called plantblindness, which is a sign of not perceiving plants and trees as significant or even alive. This indicates how important it is to pay attention to plants and trees already in preschool.This study therefore aims to depict the variation in ways preschoolers conceptualize trees. The focus is on how children think and reason about the conceptions of the trees as living or non-living organisms. A phenomenographic approach is used to analyze the interviews with 25 four to six years old children from two different preschools in Sweden. There was a wide range in the children's answers, which were both completely compatible with a biological description, but also a series of misunderstandings, and even an incipient plant blindness.This emphasizes the crucial role of introducing trees and plants in preschool education with a focus on biological accuracy. To capture children’s interest, it is essential for educators to present information in a scientifically accurate manner. This approach not only imparts knowledge about the distinctive biological features and functions of trees and plants but also ensures that learning about trees and other biological organisms is enjoyable and fun for the children. / Träd spelar en viktig roll för människor och andra levande organismer. Träd ger oss, som människor, det syre vi andas, material för verktyg och skydd, medicin, förbättrar vår hälsa, livsmiljö för vilda djur och mildrar. Trots detta ignorera och nedvärderar många människor träden omkring oss. Detta tyder på att vissa människor utvecklat vad som kan kallas för växtblindhet, vilket är ett tecken på att vi inte uppfattar växter och träd som betydelsefulla eller ens levande (Amprazis m.fl., 2021). Detta indikerar hur viktigt det är att uppmärksamma växter och träd redan i förskolan. Denna studie syftar därför till att skildra variationen i hur förskolebarn uppfattar träd. Fokus ligger på hur barn tänker och resonerar kring sina föreställningar om träden som levande eller icke-levande organismer. Studien bygger på denfenomenografiska ansatsen som använts för att analysera intervjuerna med 25 fyra till sexåriga barn från två olika förskolor i Sverige. Det fanns en stor spännvidd i barnens svar, som både var helt förenliga med en biologisk beskrivning, men också en rad missförstånd och till och med en begynnande växtblindhet. Resultatet understryker betydelsen av att introducera träd och växter i förskoleundervisningen med fokus på biologisk noggrannhet. Det är viktigt att pedagoger fångar barns intresse och presenterar information på ett vetenskapligt korrekt sätt. Detta tillvägagångssätt ger inte bara kunskap om trädens och växternas utmärkande biologiska egenskaper och funktioner utan säkerställer också att det är lustfyllt och roligt för barnen att lära sig om träd och andra biologiska organismer.

The purpose of this study was to contribute with knowledge about the tension between preschool teachers' mission to teach and support children's learning on the one hand and the mission to assess children's learning processes on the other hand, in relation to equality in education. In Swedish preschools, children with different experiences meet, all of whom should have the opportunity to develop and learn based on their varied circumstances and needs. According to the Education Act (SFS, 2010:800), preschool education must be equal, and all children must have the opportunity to learn and develop as far as possible based on their potential. However, previous research (Alasuutari, Vallberg Roth & Markström, 2014) indicates that assessment involves risks for children’s identity creation.  This study examines how seven preschool teachers tackle the challenge of assessing and paying attention to individual children in their ongoing learning processes. A sociocultural perspective (Vygotskij, 1978) has been used to study preschool teachers' reasoning about assessment in relation to each child's possibilities for being supported in their proximal development zone. The sociocultural perspective stresses the importance of cultural tools for communication. Stimulated-recall interviews were conducted with seven preschool teachers in Sweden. Content analysis was used to reveal the views that emerged in preschool teachers’ descriptions. In the preschool teachers' reasoning, different strategies for assessment and methods for making the child's learning processes visible as well as approaches for following the progression in children's learning processes have emerged, which can create both opportunities and limitations for children to learn based on their potential. Findings indicate three areas significant for assessment in relation to an equivalent education in this study. Firstly, there is clarity regarding the approach to assessment, what is to be given attention and assessed and how the assessment should be carried out. Secondly, the preschool teachers in the study have knowledge about various methods to make children's learning processes visible and thus possible to follow over time. Thirdly, the preschool teachers in the study know how to draw attention to and make visible the child's learning from a holistic perspective.  The Licentiate thesis highlights different strategies for assessment, methods for making the child's learning processes visible and approaches for following the progression in children's learning processes that emerged during the preschool teachers' reasoning. The study has shown that attentiveness (Elbaz, 1992) can be used as a concept to bridge the tension surrounding assessment. / Deltagare i forskarskolan ReCEC

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