Pumpkin Donuts

Today we baked donuts.  Pumpkin donuts using my donut baker.

 
        
After mixing all the ingredients I brought out the donut machine and showed an easy way to pipe the batter into the pan.  Use a ziplock bag and snip one of the corners then squeeze it out.
      
We wondered how many donuts could be cooked in this machine.

So we counted as I filled each spot.  7 donuts are baked at once.
                 
     It bakes them fairly fast, 6 minutes in total.
    
  We were all ready to give a pumpkin donut a try.
  
        The majority really enjoyed them. 
     I found the recipe at Blue Eyed Bakers.

Pumpkin Patch Storytime

Each year we make a trip to the pumpkin patch. 
 
We have a couple of farms that host tours but we have always
gone to Shamrock Farms.

Shannon, the owner, loves Hallowe’en about as much as I do. 
She decorates the barn inside and out and she shares her knowledge
of the many varieties of pumpkins with us.

She lets us feed her chickens and goats, which is almost more
exciting for the children than picking a pumpkin.

     
The farm also has space for us to set up an area for snacks and
stories.  This year I decided to act out the story “Room on the Broom”. 
Here in the picture I’m quickly giving instructions to the grown-ups
whom just volunteered to take part.

I premade the headbands at school.  I found the images at
Making Learning Fun.
 
One parent volunteered to read the story, she stood behind the
children, the actors (parents and grandparents) just had to act it out. 
It was a lot of fun and I’m very thankful and impressed when the
grown ups volunteer not fully aware of what will happen.
           
Hope you enjoy the video.

Last Autumn Tree Art

We created two more autumn trees at the art table this week.
   
        Jigsaw puzzle leaf trees and yarn leaf trees.
 
Jigsaw puzzle leaf trees were started by painting a trunk, adding glue,
           then adding the puzzle pieces.
 
Finishing by painting the puzzle pieces on the tree, on the ground
                      and in the air. 
         

We recylced empty toothpaste sample boxes for the trunks of
                          our yarn trees.
   
  They painted the box, added glue then topped it off with
                                   yarn.
      
The extra leaves curled on the paper under the trees is a
                             nice effect.

Leaf Hunt

This week we walked in to our forest to look for four
          specific leaves.
     
This is our fourth week walking down the same path. 
      Each time we have a different goal. 
           
Each time I notice more children are taking the lead
            in the adventure.

Checking their findings as the grown ups are there for support.

       And sharing the experience together.
        
We are very fortunate to have this lovely woods just
        out the back door of our school.

Bark, George – A Story for Retelling

One of my favourite stories to share, at the moment, is by Jules Feiffer called Bark, George.
              
It’s a very simple story and the illustrations in the book are wonderful for showing the mother's feelings. 

Last year I read the book and told the story as a felt story.  You can find the pictures at Making Learning Fun.
                      

But last month, at our Storytellers group, one of our members shared the story by telling it with stuffies. 
                   
After our members left I remembered that a parent had given me a dog stuffie, which had a mouth/stomach that you could put things in.  I found it and quickly found some small animal stuffies.  I decided it wouldn’t matter which animals I used so they could be different that in the book.

Then I told the story.  This video shows the first time I did. 
What I've learned from watching my video...
1) I needed to have George more interactive rather than just sitting on my lap.  I've improved on that.  I move his head more when talking to him or when he makes each sound. 
2) I'm more aware of how it looks from the audience's perspective.  And because of that I'm gentler when I'm sticking my hand down George's throat.
3) I've also added a rubber glove that the vet wears.

                                
What I've enjoyed about this story is that the children enjoy retelling it.  The video above shows a three year old telling her version of the story. 

 Each time I tell this story, and I've told it many times in the past few weeks, the children giggle and are very engaged.  I've even changed the animals to a horse, cow and lamb to keep them guessing.

Our Pumpkin Patch Play

We have a field trip planned to the real pumpkin patch this week so in preparation for it we set up a pretend pumpkin patch.  I decided to only use real pumpkins this year so the children could have authentic experiences with the texture and weight of each one.
  

The children have been buying and selling pumpkins to each other and to the grown ups.  Taking on the roles of seller and buyer, sometimes at the same time.

         
Their number play has included money, pricing, weighing and using the cash register.
 As well as recognizing the numerals on the cash machine.


Harvesting the pumpkins and restocking is a job that needs to be done at the
pumpkin patch before the next customers arrives.

 
Having paper and pencil available allows a child to document her own learning. 
She is drawing a picture of her pumpkin.  It has become a sign on the side of the
shelf.
             
It also helps put her learning in to practice.  She’s printing numbers and
letters after using the cash register.

     
And keeping lists, just like they see adults do.