October is here, and wild animals are about to be exchanged for pumpkins, bats, hats, cats, spiders, the color orange and the number 2. Every year when October comes around, and I see what’s in the box, I get excited. The work is perfect for fall, and it sets a nice stage for things that are related to the season.
As always, we will have things to transfer. In the sensory bin, there will be orange rice with plastic spiders, which are fun to scoop out with a wire spoon that lets the rice through. There will be some funky hats and glasses for dress up. We will have a pumpkin to scrub, and we will carve it and light it on the 31st.
Ms. Kathy Aguilar, mom of one of our fourth graders and someone with 20 years of Montessori experience, has started her internship in our class for her 0-3 Montessori teacher training. She already holds American Montessori Society credentials for 3-6 and 6-9, and she has experience in the upper grades. She is planning on bringing more independent food preparations to our toddler experience. We love her dedication to the Montessori way, and the ideas she brings to enrich our class experience.
Songs
Some of the songs we will sing during October:
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: “I see children over there.”
The third one said: “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.
(Tune “Oh, My Darling Clementine”)
Pick a pumpkin, a big fat pumpkin,
That was growing on a vine,
And I carved a Jack O’ Lantern,
And it turned out just fine.
(Tune “Pawpaw Patch”)
Where, oh, where are all the children (3X)
Way down yonder in the pumpkin patch
They are picking up the pumpkins, and put them in a wagon (3X)
Way down yonder in the pumpkin patch.
What will they do with these pumpkins? (I ask)
Should they make some pumpkin pie? (I ask)
They pull the wagon home, and cut the pumpkins open (3X)
That’s what you do when you make pumpkin pie
They cut it all up and mash it, mash it (3X)
That’s what you do when you make pumpkin pie
They pour it in the pie crust, and put it in the oven (3X)
That’s what you do when you make pumpkin pie
They bake it and bake it until it’s ready (3X)
That’s what you do when you make pumpkin pie
I explain: When it’s ready, it’s really hot at first, so we have to let it cool.
We blow on it a little bit, then we cut a piece for you, for me, for our mom, our dad, our brother, our sister, and then….
Put it in our tummy, yummy, yummy. (3X)
That’s what you do when you make pumpkin pie!
Toddler Resource
Consider checking out Janet Lansbury’s Facebook page or her blog (such as this article). She has a Facebook post almost daily about caring for infants and toddlers. She offers many insights on how to respond to toddlers respectfully and remain unruffled by their testing. She also discusses how to encourage independent play and other infant- and toddler-related topics. I consider her a great guide to toddler teachers and parents.
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