Our Pre-K, Jr. K, and Early K families all went to visit the Stoney Ridge Farm on a gorgeous sunny fall day last Friday. Parents were encouraged to join their students for this learning about the family farm and “select a pumpkin” on this adventure.
The 4 year old to 5 year old preschool students were well informed about pumpkins leading up to the trip, too. Jr. K learned about all the sounds of “P.” In Early K their lesson in science the week prior was all about pumpkins. They used different kinds of pumpkins and differentiated one from another by size, color, and shape. One student summed up the research of pumpkins prior to the trip by saying that not all pumpkins look the same.
Once everyone arrived in the morning our school community received an education about the operations of the farm and discovered pumpkins, corn, Christmas trees, and apples all grow on the farm grounds. The students discovered the most important worker on the farm isn’t the farmer, but the bees. Did you know a pumpkin flower needs to be touched about 20 times before it has the right pollination to become a pumpkin? They were able to see a bee box and learn that in each box there are about 50,000 bees and they all have different jobs. Also, that bees find their home by using their sense of smell and the colony works together to protect the queen bee.
Families were able to go on a hay ride, walk through the corn maze, and each student received a complimentary small pumpkin to take home with them. Upon returning from the pumpkin patch field trip, each Early K student investigated their provided pumpkin using an investigation worksheet, carved pumpkins into Jack-o-lanterns for art class, and did an activity related to the Five Little Pumpkins rhyme. Looking back it was great to spend part of the day on the farm with preschool classmates and families getting to know each other. Lots of parents left with additional pumpkins they picked out.
More pictures can be found on our Franklin Academy Facebook Page.
