Below is a list of observations the children made with the change from Summer to Fall.
The children noticed:
•The air is chilly.
•We wear long sleeves and pants, sweatshirts and coats.
•The leaves are falling and changing colors.
•Nuts are falling.
•Pine cones are falling.
•Squirrels eat nuts.
•We go on hayrides.
•It is Halloween!
After our discussion, we read the book Autumn is Here by Heidi Pross Gray and added to our list.
Our theme of apples wrapped up with a discussion of the seasons and how apple trees change throughout the year. We read the story The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons and then looked at pictures of real apple trees in each of the seasons. The students then created their own apple trees through the seasons.
We then turned our focus to the changing trees outside in our neighborhood. Our class went on a nature hunt around Memorial School collecting items from the ground. The students touched and described the different items that they had been observing during collection, while playing with play doh and when creating their nature collages.
Prior to our hunt, we read We're Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger and tried out some yoga poses for each of the places mentioned in the story.
During small group, the children were introduced to attribute blocks and the many ways that these blocks can be sorted- size, shape and color. The children then practiced these skills with our nature items. As a whole group, the children were given a leaf and asked to describe its attributes to the class. We then sorted the leaves by size. This investigation will continue in small groups as the children sort leaves by other attributes.
After an introduction to the concepts of sink and float, the students made predictions about which of their nature items would float and which would sink when placed in water. We considered size, shape and weight. We tried several items as a whole group and then the children continued to explore this concept in the sensory bin.
Predictions:
Results of Experiment:
Sensory Exploration:
During Morning Meeting, the concept of patterns was introduced in the form of rhythm patterns. Each day the children follow my lead and continue the rhythm pattern. This concept was then transferred to pictures. The children practiced continuing ABAB patterns using Fall pictures such as pine cones, leaves, pumpkins and scarecrows.
The children also continued to practice their scissor skills this week. They were given actual scissors and asked to snip straws. The children all enjoyed when the straws shot across the table! They then gathered the straws and strung the straw pieces on yarn to make a necklace.
One of my favorite series of books is There Was an Old Lady... The children enjoyed reading There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves by Lucille Colandro. They took turns "feeding" different items to the old lady, sequencing the items and then making predictions about what she would cough up at the end.
Our first mystery reader joined us this week! The children were very excited to see who it might be and had lots of guesses after I gave them three clues. It was such a special treat!
Partner days continue to be a success! The children are doing a wonderful job of asking others to be their partner, negotiating what to play, taking turns and compromising!
