A WISE TEACHER MAKES LEARNING A JOY

"A wise teacher makes learning a joy" - Proverbs 15:2

Learning how to make a bird feeder

Falling in love with learning through exploration, sensory and motor skills definitely helps when you've got a buddy now and then. We started off our morning stamping leaves on our freshly laid coffee table paper (aka Christmas paper in the making). I thought it would be a great ice breaker for the littles to get to know each other. Though each did take the time to do a couple of stamps, they had other plans. Next we went on a scavenger hunt for pinecones, which looked more like an Easter egg hunt. I never realized how prickly the fresh fallen cones were. It seemed like a grand idea, before reality set in of itty bitty hands possibly getting pricked. There were three in the trio today expanding from two-three years of age. It was interesting to see not only how they interacted, but how they interacted with the project at hand - pinecones filled with peanut butter rolled in bird seed for our feathered friends. One wanted to fill them with peanut butter, while the other two remained uninterested. Finally when it came time to put on the birdseed, Creed didn't want to roll it, but sprinkle it on. The smallest of the itty bittys rolled the bird seed on like a pro. All of them of course took breaks now and then, getting distracted by their surroundings. Finally it was time to hang them on the tree and Creed loved that part. It's funny how you've got something planned in your head and it doesn't quite turn out how you had imagined it, it was even better! By the time the project was completed everyone unscathed, we were all ready for a nap, but settled for lunch right away. 

A dab there ...

A sprinkle here ... viola!

After Creed woke from his nap he helped Mama in the kitchen making banana bread with our "Saturday" cooking class. Saturday we're planning on visiting a local botanical gardens and nature reserve for the Scarecrow Festival, where we will do our weekly color and shape walk. Among colors and shapes, our mission will be looking for many different kinds of leaves. We're learning how leaves bring food back to the tree and why some turn colors and fall off the tree. The circle of life as the seasons rotate is something even creatures of nature recognize - from the smallest bugs, ants store food preparing for the winter, to the busiest squirrels, with their innate nature of stashing away nuts for the long haul of the coldest days to come. Fall is truly my favorite time of the year. I love the faint crisp smell in the air and sound of leaves crunching underfoot. I like wearing layers of clothes. There's something snuggly about being bundled up. The weather forecast is promising cooler temperatures. Happiness is after all, footed pajamas, hands down.