A Walk in the Woods

Today was our monthly morning outdoors.  We went to Fairy Lane, our first visit for this school year.  The sun came out which made for a beautiful morning.
                       
We started with a StoryWalk using the book Stella and the Fairy of the Forest by Marie-Louise Gay.  I cut two copies of the book to create the StoryWalk.  Luckily I found several copies at thrift stores.
                  
I set it up zig-zagging down a paved path that runs between the forest.  Fairy Lane runs parallel to the path on the right hand side.
                
 
The group started to spread out as they read the book.  Some were faster then others.
                  
At the end of the StoryWalk we turned left into the forest.  I asked everyone to collect big sticks to make a fort for us to sit in for snack.  I also asked them to collect little sticks to make fairy forts later.

               Collecting sticks, a favourite activity, is usually discouraged.
  The parents didn’t realize, at first, that we needed long sticks to make the fort.
               
The base of the fort was a big branch of a tree that was hanging down to the ground.  We leaned some of the sticks around it then draped fabric over.
        
The children helped clear away the underbrush so we could spread our sit-upons.
                             

As we were clearing away the leaves we found a piece of bark with teeny
                           mushrooms and two different slugs.
              
While the children had their snack I read the story The Dark, Dark Night by M. Christina Butler.  I picked this book knowing that the sun would be out and we could play with shadows.
 
After snack we headed back up to the start of the paved path to decorate little
                           wooden houses to add to Fairy Lane.
   
  
I walked the trail after the children and found their little homes tucked in with
                                        the other fairy doors.
                
                  I also found a twig fort built beside a fairy door.
 
We had lots of time to check out all the homes that have been added since
                            June when Fairy Lane re-opened.
                          
                           I wasn’t the only one taking pictures.
            
It was a gorgeous autumn morning spent in the woods, introducing Fairy Lane
                                to many new families.
                      
            One more peek at our forest fort before I take it apart.

Hide and Seek Game

                 
                         
      
   This is how it started, searching under all the baskets to find matches.
                           
Then I noticed that the surprise of finding a small toy hiding was more exciting; like a Peek-a-boo game.
   
It didn’t matter what was underneath.  And like playing with the box instead of the present, the little baskets were more attractive then the toy to this toddler.
 
I continued to observe a few older children that began to sort and group the toys.
 
               
Then others began to put them in a row.  I see the beginning of patterning.
       
                      They also used them as little finger puppets. 
The parent in the first picture was using wonderful facial expressions to talk about 'scary'.
The second child worked hard placing the kitten puppets on her fingers without any help.  Looking at her face I wonder what she is thinking?  Is she telling herself a story?  Is she counting?  Is she wondering how they feel on her fingers?

Bubble Wrap Pumpkin Prints

I covered the table with bubble wrap.  This morning I covered the whole art table with bubble wrap and encouraged the families to paint it.
 
                   They did, once they enjoyed popping the bubbles.
                 
I purposefully put out red and yellow paint knowing that the colours would mix.
         
      Look at her face, how do you think she is feeling about her work?
             
  
                               Our bubble wrap pumpkin gallery.

                          
                         
       A final one that I want to acknowledge that was done by a parent. 
Part of my role is a person to encourage the grown-ups to let loose, be creative, experiment and break the rules of what we think materials should be used for.

Pumpkin Mac & Cheese

We still had some pumpkin left from our Turk's Turbin pumpkin that we baked last week so today we made Pumpkin Mac & Cheese.
                           
                         Start by grating two cups of cheese.
                        
Melt a quarter cup of butter in a pan.  Add a quarter cup of flour mix to blend.
              
We moved the electric frying pan to the table so the children could help easier.
                
         After whisking in two cups of milk, mix in a cup of pumpkin. 
             Sprinkle with nutmeg and a teaspoon of dijon mustard.
                  
                         Continue to whisk till smooth.
                    
                  Add cooked macaroni and blend till coated.
    
                             Time to eat.  It is really good.
              
           So yummy that many had second and third servings. 
The recipe makes a lot so the adults tried it too.  Turk’s Turbin is a mild pumpkin so couldn’t really taste it.  Another way to sneak a vegetable into their food.
              
                      Sorry this picture is blurry but I love it. 
The parent is appreciating how much her daughter is enjoying the mac & cheese.
                       
                                       The recipe for you.

Pinching Leaves

         
                While thrift shopping I found this tree, a photo tree. 
        I like to offer different ways of seeing things and practicing skills.
       
                      I placed it in a basket with fabric leaves to hang.

It took the children several tries to figure out how to work it.  It takes two
hands; one to pinch and the other to place the leaf inside, then close.

They had more success removing the leaves which made it a great parent
                                participation activity.