Monday, October 26

 

This morning we observed one of our large pumpkins.  The friends discussed what they noticed. 

"I see some dirt! It must be from the ground!" 

"I see the stem.  It looks rough." 

"The skin looks smooth, but it has those lines." 

We love playing on the hill! 

During Jesus time we learned the true story of God parting the Red Sea for the Israelites.  We learned that God saved them by parting the Red Sea.  God did an even more amazing thing for us; He saved us for eternity!  Through Jesus' death and resurrection He has given us the gift of eternal life!  

The friends enjoy exploring the linking cubes.  These have so many possibilities for the friends.  

Some friends chose to use them to make pumpkin people. 

Some friends used them to measure the pumpkin. 

We had a discussion about equal as the friends explored.  I asked if their line of cubes was equal to the table. 

"No it's not.  Do you see that part hanging on the edge?  It is not equal." 

Some friends chose to count the cubes.  

"Mrs. Douglas!  Come see if my gate is stabilized!" 

Exploring weight

As the friends explored weight with the balance they are practicing many important skills!  They are working with their friends, counting and comparing,  ("This side has five.  We need more on the other side."), and expressing curiosity about their world.  These are all important things for children at this age! 

"How can we make them the same?" 

"If I hold it, it is equal." 

"We need more on the other side to make it the same." 

"This one is really heavy." 

Dramatic play is a way that children make sense of the world around them and is very important to child development.  (Want to know more?  Check out this article here.) 

Our pumpkin patch dramatic play also provides an opportunity to incorporate important math skills. See how the friends are engaging in dramatic play and developing math skills below.  

"Pumpkins for sale!  $1!" 

"Can you give me $7?  I need to buy these pumpkins.  Wait... is $7 enough?" (counts pumpkins again) "Yep! $7 please." 

Some friends chose to draw pumpkins.  

As a class, we discussed height and weight.  

"The one going down is heavier!" 

"Now they are equal!" 

We then predicted which pumpkin would be heavier.  

"The big one because it's so big!" 

As we compared height, I reminded the friends that even if someone is taller, God still loves all of us the same! 

After lunch we went on a letter hunt! We support the success of all of the friends.   Success for some friends includes reading some high frequency words.  Success for some friends includes identifying the letters and their sounds.  Success for some friends includes identifying that letters are important.  ("That one is in my name!").