P is for Pumpkin

This week our theme is pumpkins.  Today we read the story Life Cycles Pumpkins.  This story was a nonfiction story that depicted the stages a pumpkin goes through from seed to orange pumpkin.  When the children entered the room today they colored half of a paper plate orange.  They then glued a brown stem on it.  At Miss Sue's center today the children colored cards of the pumpkin life cycle.  They then cut them out and placed them in order.  I will have the children repeat the process of sequencing their cards tomorrow with a partner.  The children will then "tell" about the life cycle of a pumpkin using their cards.  Sequencing is an important skill to learn, for the children will have to use it when they retell the events of a story, and write the steps in a process.

Our classroom is undergoing some changes this week.  I took down the fire station and replaced it with the math and science center.  In this center I added jack-o-lanterns with numbers on them and foam seeds.  The children can look at the number on the jack-o-lantern and place the corresponding number of seeds in it.  The books and puzzles center is now being made into the Meeme Orchard.  We are in the process of putting up trees that have apples labeled with letters, numbers, and shapes.  We will also work this week during playtime to make pumpkins to sell at the orchard.  When the children place an order at the orchard they will fill out an order form.  A worker will then fill the order.  When the customers take their order home they can pretend to eat their apples, or make apple or pumpkin pie.  I hung up a recipe for making apple pie in our house center.  The recipe will allow the children the chance to follow the steps in the process of making pie. 

The children are also enjoying the pumpkin play doh that I made for them at the writing center.  I have included the recipe for your enjoyment at home!

Pumpkin Play Doh
~ 2 cups of flour
~ 1 cup salt
~ 4 tsp. cream of tartar
~ 1/4 cup cinnamon
~ 2 Tbsp. cloves
~ 2 Tbsp. nutmeg
~ 2 tsp. ginger
~ 2 cups water
~ 2 Tbsp. oil

To Make:

1. Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar, and spices together in a mixing bowl.

2. Add the water and oil to the dry ingredients and mix together well.

3. Transfer mixture to a medium sized saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly.

4. The dough will begin to thicken and form. When it becomes difficult to stir and is more solid, remove from heat and carefully knead the dough. {Note: dough will be hot!}

5. When dough has cooled, have fun playing ~ this is great for the holidays!!