Fall Brings Herb Gardening

Ms. Sara and her toddlers transplanted herbs into pots.

Fall is here and, with it, finally, some cooler weather. Our class starts the day indoors, then transitions outside after snack, when they might have some built up energy. The fresh air is always beneficial, and there is space to run, as well as larger “equipment” to push, pull, ride or pedal for gross motor skills.

Since this is a good time for growing in Florida, we have been talking about how plants start from seeds and the care they need to produce fruits and vegetables. We transplanted parsley, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, dill and peppermint into pots, with each child scooping dirt. This herb garden is for the children to water, watch grow and become more familiar with these healthy plants.

Classroom Themes

The classroom themes are fall, pumpkins, bats, spiders and cats, with the addition of farm animals. We focus on the color orange since there are many orange pumpkins around already. There was painting with orange paint, and then we switched to red and yellow to make orange, if the artist blended them. The colored water mixing work has yellow and red to pour together or use the dropper to make orange! This work gets lots of use and oftentimes will be done over and over.

A toddler in Ms. Sara’s class uses orange and yellow to paint to focus on the colors of the season.

The letter box has continuously been on the language shelf, initially containing only items that begin with the letter “A” and going through the alphabet. For example, the “D” box had a deer, duck, dragonfly, dirt bike, dog, dinosaur and a picture of a drum on a card showing the letter uppercase and lowercase. Being the second month of the school year, the number “2” is in the counting drop box with pegs, as well as on the math shelf.

Songs

One little, two little, three Little Pumpkins…
4 little, 5 little, 6 little Pumpkins…. 10 little Pumpkins in the Pumpkin Patch.

5 little pumpkins were sitting on the gate.
The first one said: “Oh my, it’s getting late!”
The second one said: “There’s a chill in the air.”
The third one said: “But we don’t care.”
The fourth one said: “Let’s run and run and run.”

The fifth one said: “I’m ready for some fun!”
Whoosh went the wind, and out went the light,
And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” is always a favorite whether we have farm animals throughout the classroom or not.

Thank you, parents, for your support getting our school year started and happy fall!