Now that the leaves have fallen, what can we see in the trees?

We have had some nice sunny autumn days here in the Cleveland area and the other day as I was getting into my car I stopped for a moment to look up at the beautiful sky. As I looked up, I noticed the beauty of the bare trees against the blue sky and then I noticed something else!... A bird's nest. We often help children notice the beautiful falling leaves and the different colors and raking leaves is another fun activity we can do with children. However, in the autumn season we tend to focus on what falls to the ground rather than what is left in the tree. Seeing this nest helped me realize that we might be able to see MORE in the tree now that the leaves are gone. We can take children for a walk to notice what is left in the tree. How many nests can we find? Are they all the same? Are they different? What kind of bird or animal do we think lived or still lives in that nest. How is the nest made? What else do we see in trees in the autumn when all the leaves have fallen?

Sowing Pumpkin Seeds in October?

Many preschool classes use the month of October or the fall season to learn more about pumpkins. We can cut the top off a pumpkin to view the inside fibers and seeds. We can cook the pumpkin to make pies, cakes or cookies. We can also plant some pumpkin seeds. This year in the Parent/Child Resource Center I sprouted some old packaged pumpkin seeds to test their germination. I began by placing several seeds in a wet paper towel. I folded the paper towel and placed it in a plastic Ziploc bag. After about a week, I opened the bag and carefully unwrapped the paper towel. Several seeds started to sprout. I placed these in the science area with some pots, soil and a scoop. The children scooped soil into a pot, made a small hole in the soil with their finger and placed one of the sprouting pumpkin seeds into the soil. Next, was to cover the seed with a bit more soil. Lastly, the children watered the seed. The first photo shows the seeds after being in the soil for one week. The second photo shows the sprouts after two weeks. We have these under the grow-light and we will see what happens. How long will the pumpkin vines grow? Will they get pumpkin flowers? Will they get pumpkins? We will wait and see!