Notable November Learning Fun!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It is hard to believe that the fabulous fall is already winding down.  Thanksgiving is upon us and we had such a "friend-tastic" feast on Friday,  last week.  Time is flying by but memories we've made will stay forever.  Mrs. Cummings and I are thankful for these memorable moments with your children.  Please enjoy the pictures from our happy November month.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoy your week together.

Based upon what they learned about the Seminole nation during the month of November, the children not only made lists of foods they thought would make a yummy feast but also foods they thought the Seminole may have cooked for a special feast of their own. Corn was a staple.  The children decided that corn must be on the menu. Here, they are preparing cornbread pudding. Yum! 

Mrs. McIvor helped the children to prepare a delicious cranberry dressing.

Yummy in the tummy! The children enjoyed the delicious food that was all prepared by them and set before them on the colorful placemats they wove themselves out of strips of paper.  The children shared some of the things they were thankful for and these were printed on rectangles in the weave of the mats.

                        We are all truly thankful for friends and family to share special days with!

Many thanks go out to all of those who were able to join us on Friday, lend a helping hand and share in all the smiles.

Seminole Study

Finding color in nature for painting and staining. Crushing flowers, berries, leaves and more to create paints.

Planting beans, a staple crop.

Weaving!

Using technology to look at pictures and watch videos of the colorful clothing and shields that were woven by the Seminole people. The children loved what they saw so much they asked for paper and crayons to try and duplicate the pictures.

Drawings of a Seminole shield

Painting what we see.....appreciating nature.  It was lovely to use our beautiful covered porch to take our classroom outside.

plucking dry corn from the cobs and grinding it into cornmeal using mortars and pestles 

Earth clay and nature exploration.

Pinch Pots, just like those made by the Native Americans, were fashioned by pinching a ball of earth clay from the center out. The children each made their own pinch pot and etched designs into it using small sticks.  The pots were then fired in a large tub lined with paper, pine needles, leaves, and sticks.  The smell was wonderful and the pots took on a lovely smoked look.  The children had the option of painting them or taking them home in their natural splendor.

Weedon Island Field Trip

We had such a great time on our field trip to Weedon Island! It was the perfect way to wrap up our study of Florida's first people.

Our guides Jeanne and Brian from Sensing Nature took very good care of us and shared their respect for nature and vast knowledge of plants and animals indigenous to this area, how people lived off the land, traveled and evolved over the years.

 Dugout canoes were hollowed out trees that were burned in the middle and then dug out to make boats. Lots of Florida waterways to get across!

Tools and hunting weapons were carved from bone, rock and wood. Some were even made from shells found on the beach.


Very Special Visitors

What a treat it was to get a special visit from our Ava's Aunt Marcie and Grandma Susan, members of the Native American Seneca Nation.  Being fantastic storytellers and very proud of their Seneca heritage, they had many beautiful artifacts and stories to share with the children, last Friday. Our Junior Kindergarteners were thoughtful listeners, respectful and completely mystified. We were so thankful for this wonderful opportunity for learning.

Be sure to ask your child about the artifacts in the pictures.  I have a feeling they can tell you the stories better than I ever could. :)

These activities and sooooo much more kept us busy from the beginning of November right up until our feast day Friday.  Be on the lookout for more pictures in the future.  There are far too many for just one blog entry. Until next time....have a wonderful week!