Fall is in the Air!

Fall has officially arrived at Giving Tree Early Learning. Warm colors and scents fill the air in each classroom as children engage in the changing of seasons. From Katon through Ganon, Fall inspiration is found. Let’s explore some ways in which we use Fall inspiration to promote learning throughout the classroom.

Art:
Explorations around the use of warm colors (red, yellow, orange), natural materials such as leaves, acorns and pinecones, and sensory explorations involving spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom create a rich Fall experience. In the Art Studio, the classes have participated in a multi-layered collaborative art project in which each class adds their own unique creations. Kindergarten created leaf rubbings with black crayons, followed by our Katon and Maon classes who added Fall paint colors using tempera paints and watercolors. Peuton and Ganon finished the piece by adding collage materials including hand painted leaves and glitter. The final result is a stunning Fall mural on display in the Giving Tree hallway. ​

Math:
Patterning, shapes, counting, number sense, measurement, classification and algebraic thinking are math concepts being explored through our Fall activities. The light studio partners loose parts, cookie cutters and numbers together on the light table as an activity to support various age groups. 

For example, our Katon and Maon finds can practice filling the cooking cutter shapes with various sized objects to explore the concepts of shapes and volume. 

Peuton children can create patterns with the materials focusing on ABA or ABBA patterns using the leaves, pompoms and bobbles. 

Ganon children can count and compare the quantities of loose parts materials found to fit within each shape using translucent numbers to label and identify their creations. 

While one activity was presented, the materials allow for differentiation to easily occur to meet the unique needs of each child and class. ​

Literacy: 
From stories to dictation to writing, Fall literacy can be found in each classroom. Connections are being made between the spoken and written word daily as we capture the children’s voices and thoughts through dictation. Questions promoting inquisition are added to invitations regardless of a child’s ability to read, providing exposure and guidance as teachers and students interact with the activity. Favorite Fall stories such as Leaf Man by Lois Elhert or Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak inspire the children to explore the changing seasons both inside and outside of the classroom. In Ganon, our friends explore Fall words and practice writing using Fall colors.  What is your favorite Fall story to share with your child?

Sensory: 
Fall sensory exploration is a personal favorite of mine! Warm, rich spices fill the air, natural materials like pinecones and acorns fill sensory bins and ooey-gooey slime makes for a great time! Sensory exploration is an extremely important part of early childhood development as children learn to engage in the world around them with all of their senses, taking in information to form knowledge and understanding. Giving Tree’s approach to sensory exploration is full immersion. Children are encouraged to explore, create, and innovate using all of their senses including touch, taste, smell, hearing, sight and proprioception. ​

Light Studio:
One of our most exciting creative play spaces is the Light Studio. Fall explorations create beautiful experiences for our children. Small world play with farm animals and squirrel blocks set the stage for autumn. Videos of Fall scenes and Falling leaves are paired with clear umbrellas and leaves to create the experience of a sunny Fall day indoors. Fall themed loose parts on the light table and a farmer’s market round out our explorations in the space. 


With so many wonderful ways to explore and grow, we cannot help but to get excited that summer is gone and Fall has arrived at Giving Tree Early Learning!

Shabbat Shalom,
Ashley