Fall Explorations

With the change in season, and the tree on our playground, we have been exploring different fall materials.  We first started out by bringing in small gourds, and later on a pumpkin.  When we opened the pumpkin, the children were reluctant to touch the insides at first.  They noticed there were seeds inside the pumpkin, and they wondered if there were seeds inside of the gourds too.  We cut open a few of the gourds and found there were seeds inside as well.  The children were able to compare the different types of seeds.  We used both the pumpkin and gourds in art projects as well.  The children noticed the different textures of the gourds, so we made prints in the play dough.  We also attempted to create the gourds using the play dough as well.  We mixed colors to paint pictures of the gourds, and we drew on the surface of the pumpkin.

Aside from the gourds and pumpkins, we noticed the changing leaves.  We brought in some leaves of various colors to look at on the light table.  Up close, the children could really examine the veins and textures of the leaves.  After going on a leaf hunt on the playground, the children were able to compare the different types they found.  We noticed our playground has a lot of maple trees.  We also noticed there were many yellow leaves, but not as many red and brown.  As usual, the leaves found their way into our art projects as well (these kids can never do enough painting)!  We used the leaves to make prints on the paper, we also painted on the leaves as well. 

The changes in the appear of our playground, as well as the changes in weather have been topics of conversation lately.  We have read some informational books about fall, as well as some fun ones too!  The children really loved the books "Fall Leaves Fall" and "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves".  We have read these often in the past month.  Fall is such an exciting time of year, as the children are able to easily observe the changes around them.  While the cold is coming, we have been enjoying our time outside, admiring the beautiful colors of this season.