Fall Days
The Italian educator Loris Malaguzzi said "There are three teachers of children: adults, other children, and their physical environment.”
This is never more true than in the fall, when the world around us changes in such vivid and beautiful ways. The children are discovering the many colors of falling leaves, delighting in their descent each time a strong wind blows. They are busy each day foraging for beech nuts and acorns, making sure to leave some for the squirrels and their families when it is time to hibernate. What began as planting nuts in the sand or dirt in play has transformed into a long term experiment: placing our acorns partially in water to see if they sprout so we can plant them to grow our own Oak tree. They are making art using fall nature, collaging, making leaf rubbings and foraging pinecones and goldenrod to use in creating natural pigments for painting. After a very successful apple tasting and sampling the delicious applesauce the children made, they are curious about finding new ways to use things that grow in nature to cook and create. The appearance of pumpkins has sparked conversation about the idea of a restaurant that only serves pumpkin dishes! The children have started to write a menu that has everything from pumpkin muffins to pumpkin pasta.
“I love the majestic maple tree that stands at the center of our playground. Not only does it dazzle with its red-orange leaves in the fall and shade us in summer, but it continuously inspires our learning and imagination. We document its seasonal changes in science journals, make rubbing of its leaves and bark, tap it for syrup, tirelessly attempt to climb it, and celebrate it in song. After so many years, the maple tree feels like an old friend, who is growing and changing alongside us.”
