This week was spent learning about food that is typically harvested in the Fall, most specifically, pumpkins!
Pumpkin Books:
We didn't have too many pumpkin books this week...here are the ones we read.
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| Pumpkins by Ann Burckhardt, Fall Pumpkins by Martha Rustad, The Prize Pumpkin by Stan & Jan Berenstein, The Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgins |
Fall Fingerplay..."Pumpkin, Pumpkin":
Vegetable Exploration:
The kids examined and explored a variety of (real) Fall Harvest vegetables (acorn squash, corn, potatoes, onion, pumpkin, gourds...and an apple was thrown into the mix also).
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| We made sure to cook & eat all of the above items this weeks in one way or another (except the gourds). |
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| They were so excited to shuck the corn. They are now officially on-the-hook for that job anytime I make corn on the cob! |
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| Checking out the different colors, textures, etc. |
They (mostly Caleb) had to match the vegetable word to the actual veggies. I also printed off small cards that show how each type of veggie grows and we talked about that. Those picture cards are also by the appropriate vegetable.
Craft: Corn-on-the-Cob
Popping Corn:
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| Final Product |
The kids were amazed to watch the process of the corn kernels turning into popcorn.
They are no strangers to popcorn, although we always use the microwaveable bags! And I will admit that I have never even popped corn on the stove, so it was just as fun for me as it was for them. =)
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| I wish this wasn't blurry....you can (sort of) see how excited they are to see the corn kernels start to pop. |
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| Enjoying their snack while watching a quick show before lunch. |
Math...Pumpkin for Pattern Blocks:
I put together this pumpkin pattern for the kids to use with their pattern blocks. They really liked it, so I think I will (try to) make a new one each week for them to use.
Seed-to-Pumpkin Sequencing:
After reading Fall Pumpkins, the kids completed this very simple color, cut, and paste worksheet that I made to show the basic steps a pumpkin goes through from its tiny start as a seed.
Homemade Pumpkin Pie:
The kids helped me turn this pumpkin...
...into this pie!
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| Freshly whipped cream is a MUST. =) |
Venn Diagram: Compare & Contrast Apples/Pumpkins
I introduced the kiddos to a Venn Diagram. They brainstormed ways that apples & pumpkins are the same (compare) and different (contrast).
Writing: Adjectives
I taught Caleb the term "adjective' and then he came up with 4 adjectives to describe a pumpkin.
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| Pumpkins are big. Pumpkins are fat. Pumpkins are orange. Pumpkins are round. |
Printables:
I printed off some (free) pumpkin printables from
1plus1plus1plusequals1. I seriously love all of the FREE and available resources out there. Those mommas have made life easier for me. =)
I also printed this off for Caleb to do. While he got a little weary of finding all of the numbers toward the end, he ended up completing it and he was excited to see how it turned out!
Marlana has a handful of
hundreds-charts designs over at Lil' Country Kindergarten, and Caleb and Meredith have already asked for more!
I had some painting projects planned for this week, but our downstairs has been taken over by a guy who is refinishing our wood floors. And, I am not brave enough to have the kids paint upstairs with the carpet!
And of course, we went to the pumpkin patch as well....you can see those pictures by scrolling down 2 posts, or just
click here!
