pumpkins

We have a short week.  For the past 2 days we have been out for a short but sweet "October Break."  Therefore, I get to do a fun week with the students.  We are going to learn about pumpkins.  We will discuss how they grow.  We will learn about the entire  process, which will fit rght in as we will be learning about vegetation in the weeks to come.  I look forward to this week.  I went and bought different types of pumpkins for us to be able to see, as we study them.  I also bought every child their own pumpkin to paint.  They all are very interested in "what is inside of a pumpkin."  I have one pumpkin that we will carve and study it's contents.  This is the type of teaching I enjoy.  I can incorporate all areas of study in doing this theme.  I am able to bring out the creativity that I think is lost among most teachers, due to basal teaching. As I always say, the basal has it's place.  But if that is all we go on, each individual teacher cannot express their teaching style and their creativity into the classroom.  We must find a balance to it all!

http://www.norcalblogs.com/sustainable/2009/10/ffa-pumpkins.html