One of the most powerful ways middle school students learn about themselves is through writing, and one of the most effective ways for students to learn about themselves is by writing about a place. At Cosgriff, a K-8 Catholic School in Salt Lake City, Utah, teachers have put this idea into practice by participating in the River of Words project. River of Words was founded by poet Robert Hass and was designed to teach students about watersheds through art, science, and literature. They have taken it a step further, using it as an opportunity for their soon-to-be graduating eighth graders to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of themselves by developing a sense of place. Students at Cosgriff make trips to the Red Butte Garden and Arboretum in fall, winter, and spring. While there, they observe seasonal changes and learn to see them as a metaphor for changes in their own lives. After the last session, students talk openly about what an important experience River of Words has been. They discuss how it's given them a greater appreciation for the natural world. They talk about how it has given them a greater sense of place and self. And mostly, they talk about how it has made them more aware that life is about growth and change.