Cutest Little "Punkins'!"

See the cutest little "punkins'" in the pumpkin patch!

On Friday, we went to the Schilter Family Farm near Olympia--- a perfect farm to visit with our Early Learning Center community! Everything is set up for safe, hands-on and developmentally appropriate experiences for young children. We had a marvelous time, which began with greeting an autumn scarecrow...

We raced into the first pumpkin patch, which had some really large pumpkins... too heavy for us to carry! That didn't stop us from skipping among the pumpkins, admiring their sizes and shapes, then clamboring onto a big pile of squashes for a little breather.

(Who's squashing whom?)


The littlest punkin' in the patch was the 7 month old sister of our classmate, decked out in her pumpkin attire for the field trip. She didn't close her eyes for a moment over the next few hours... this "first class field trip" was too good to miss!

We all took a turn "driving" the old tractor, parked between the field and the parking lot..

We moved into the barn, where we could pet the farm animals, many of them also young --- just like we are!

We are enchanted by a gray puffball of a kitten... We are

s-o-o-o gentle.

The animals are very tolerant of seemingly endless pats and soft touches...

For most of us, this is a new experience... We love comparing the textures of the lanolin coated curly wool of the sheep, the fuzziness of the kitten's coat, the stiff hairs and spiraling tails of the pigs (note the little hand feeling the tail, below...),

with the soft feathers of the ducklings and chickens,

the silky, straight hair, wet tongue and warm breath of the calf,

the stiff hairs and smooth little horns of the miniature goat,

and the shaggy mane and fetlock of the Shetland pony. What tactile delights for all of our curious "farmhands!"

After thoroughly washing our hands at a farm trough set up with liquid soap and spray "faucets," we walked over to another barn where a maze made of hay bales was set up. We found that there was more than one way to the center of the maze, and we'd "find" one another and together figure out the twisting pathway to the the end. We all went through the maze several times... each path of discovery more shriekingly fun than the last! Great problem solving, Bear Cubs! (To do this, we employed all of our senses, integrating them with science, math, language, kinesthetic awareness and spatial memory skills.)

Time for the bouncy, bumpy hay ride out to the pumpkin patch!

We all want a "front row" view... the added bonus will be the springy rebound we'll get from being at the front or the rear of the wagon! We drive out to the field, circling it, before climbing down to search for the "perfect pumpkin."

We look, compare and contrast, as we make the big decision...

Each of us is so proud of ourselves for finding the very best pumpkin!

We are so strong and capable that we can carry our pumpkins all by ourselves back to the hay wagon...

Once settled in the wagon, we explore the pumpkin shells and stems with our fingers... Each part feels different!

And the hay smells so sweet... that scent will always remind of our day on the farm!

Another BIG and wonder-full day!

Judith

Two Weeks to Remember!

Two Weeks to Remember!

One of the beautiful things about early childhood education is that we are so process oriented, thus almost everything we learn on a deep level is that which is processed through our senses. Learning thrives when young children touch, explore, experiment, thoroughly engaged through interaction between body and mind. They test creative ideas and problem solve with greater independence. Join us as we learn more about our world!

Wedgits provide fascinating math explorations... How many of these "diamonds" will fit in this base? Let's see... 1-2-3- down and 1-2-3 across... Hey, that makes a square! How many stories high can I build? How can they fit together? Larger and smaller pieces can be used for gradation and seriation.

We learn that we can "read" the book to get more ideas or to build with patterns. Working with patterns is a pre-algebra skill, one that we're reinforcing with a variety of both three dimensional opportunities for creative exploration and focused replication of a pattern sequence. Additionally, we are learning that we can use books for "research!" (below) This is significant to emergent literacy...

Collaboration increases creative idea sharing, social awareness, cooperation and new opportunities for a different kind of problem solving (as in "We both want the same piece... how will we make this work fairly for each one of us?") Note that the Wedgit pattern book is opened for consulting during the construction process.

Process also involves being able to sequence an activity, to follow through from setting up to cleaning up (a complete "cycle of activity.") Ever changing "workjobs" often highlight seasonal awareness. Since we are studying pumpkins in Science this week, we offered a pumpkin washing job, which was a hit with the children. These types of activities also provide a beneficial opportunity for focusing our attention, deepening our concentration, as well as growing our sense of responsibility to others!

Pumpkin tracing and cutting encourages pre-writing skills in controlling and coordinating use of pencil and scissors... (We adults tend to forget how hard it can be to place fingers correctly in the handles, open, shut and move scissors, especially along a curved, or other complex line... it often takes YEARS of practice to refine that skill!)

Seasonal sorting with small objects can be accessed with fingers (simplest), tongs or tweezers(most challenging.) Again, this activity encourages pincer grasp refinement for writing, as well as developing differentiation and categorization, needed for both reading and math skills.

With sorting, we also divide a set of related objects into subsets--- a skill we'll come back to again and again as we study math over the coming years.

Notice the effort and concentration as we take on challenges!

Reading aloud, especially one on one or in small groups, is one of the best things we parents and teachers can do with children. NOTHING builds literacy skills and comprehension better than reading, discussing the pictures and text, asking questions, later reviewing the sequence of events, and LISTENING to what each child notices and clues into (a detail in the picture? a word from the text? a question about the storyline? a word to build vocabulary?)

Some of us are learning to associate letters and sounds, through a variety of art and sorting activities... so much fun that we don't even realize how much we are practicing, each at our own unique pace, while engaged in our own learning styles.

"Writing" can begin with letters that require a minimum of fine motor dexterity. Working with phonetic sounds gives us a feeling of confidence, independence and success! Sounding out a phonetic word is easier than reading it afterward, so it may take lots of "word-building" before the more complex interpretation of "word-reading" clicks in the brain.

Wow, we spontaneously snapped all the unifix cubes together to make the longest line ever. With help, we counted the cubes to the highest number we have ever "built" --- 114! We were THRILLED, and called the others over to see!

That inspired another child to build with the wooden cubes --- counting a line of 33!

The weather has even cooperated for another autumn picnic or two --- We always remember how special these simultaneous moments of warm sunlight, cool air and important conversation are to developing the bonding pleasure of wonderful memories!

More construction and testing of ramps happens in our play yard! Science happens everywhere in the Early Learning Center!

Autumnal "spiders" climb their web!

Making pumpkin muffins integrates all of our senses with motor skills, math, science and language arts. We love to cook (and eat!)

Look at the expressions of deep concentration and interest...

Never have eggs been so well beaten!

Measuring, pouring...

scraping and mixing wet ingredients together.

There is an important job for everyone!

Mixing wet and dry ingredients... We notice changes! Let's describe the texture, feel how much thicker it is, the increased effort it takes to stir and mix, how good it smells.

M-m-m--- What is that scent? Cinnamon? We can hardly wait to taste those muffins!

The pumpkin batter was spooned into mini muffin pans and baked for 20 minutes. A distinctly delicious autumn scent filled the classroom. We shared the muffins later in the morning (more about that, later...)

We have also been learning about personal and community safety. We got to meet two police officers, and we recognized the numbers "911" on the side of the police car! (Can you spot it, just to the right of the officer's forehead?) Below, our teacher is always so happy when we meet a woman or man in a job that broadens our gender stereotypes... and she hopes that with enough exposure, and our parents' help, we will grow up free of stereotypical thinking! And then another generation will understand that a whole world of possibilities is open to each one of us!!!

A week ago, Seabury staff had an inservice day devoted to safety, practicing the newest CPR resuscitation techniques, reviewing abdominal thrusts to relieve choking, and afterward we learned about all the amazing equipment in the back of an ambulance... There are more supplies in our local ambulances than in some developing nation's hospitals!

As part of our continuing fire safety awareness, Diane came into our class to talk about campfire safety. She broadened our vision of what a firefighter looks and dresses like... We noticed that forest firefighters have different clothing and gear than urban firefighters. We built a circle out of our rocks and stones (between Diane's feet and her green fire pants), and learned about being safe with campfires.

Diane receives help from her son, as they show us how to extinguish a campfire with water or sand, then stir and feel for heat. We know that starting, maintaining and extinguishing a campfire is a job for an adult!

We learn about Smokey Bear! We make Smokey hats (below,) and Diane gives us stickers, badges, bandannas and these fun sheets to color (above.)

On Wednesday, the Superstars and Bear Cubs had a visit from Tacoma firefighters and their fantastic engine!

We all climbed in and sat in the "jump seats" in the middle of the engine. Can you you tell from our faces how we feel about this turn of events?

And then, joy of joys, we each had a turn to "drive!"

Firefighter Chuck showed us how he looked in his turn out suit, so that we wouldn't be scared if we ever had to be rescued. We had already talked about crawling low under smoke and calling out to a firefighter, using our loudest voices, "Here I am!" We know not to hide under a bed or in a closet... we would want the fire fighter to find us! We practice again together. Firefighter Chuck shouts for us and we answer...

while we show him that we know to stay close to the ground when there is smoke, because there is more air down low. The firefighters are proud of us, and tell us that we have learned important skills!

Many of us dream of being future firefighters!

We invite the firefighters in to share one of our homemade pumpkin muffins while sitting around our "campfire circle." Do you see our campfire? We only have it in our circle of stones when we are sitting right there--- we never leave the campfire unattended! We ask the firefighters questions... Do you ever feel scared? Who drives the engine? And most important in the ELC, it always finally comes back to food--- Who cooks? What do you like to eat? We find out that they LOVE to eat pumpkin muffins! How perfect is that?

And then it's time to go... With flashing lights and siren wailing, they give us a "show" as they pull out of the Seabury School parking lot. We shout our thanks and all wave to one another!

Goodbye, Tacoma firefighters... We hope that we DON'T have to see you again too soon, but we are awfully glad to know that you're ready if we need you!

Big dreams fill our imaginations...

Whew!

All of this intense experiential learning really makes our bodies and brains work hard together. By the time afternoon comes, we are tired! It's time for a rest so that our brains can integrate all that learning (which the brain does best when we sleep!)

All too soon, the lively Cajun wake up music causes us to open our eyes...

Some of us return from dreamland quickly, others very S-L-O-W-L-Y. It's time to review our day and talk about tomorrow. We'll always be ready, each and every day, to celebrate our learning!

Judith