Our Kindergarteners are welcoming the changing seasons with hands-on learning in our fall gardens. We began the term by reacquainting ourselves with the school gardens, spaces they helped plant in the spring as middles. It was a delight to see how much has grown and changed over the summer! As young observers, our students noticed wildflowers going to seed and thoughtfully helped spread those seeds to new areas, supporting the continued health and beauty of our garden.
This term, our main focus will be planting and caring for saffron crocus bulbs, a unique fall-blooming flower. With great care, we planted the bulbs deep in the soil and added protective cages to keep curious rabbits away. Each week, students will explore and meet a different need of the plant, learning firsthand about what living things require to grow and thrive.
A highlight of each class is our tasting time, when children sample the fruits (and flowers!) of their labor. This is a wonderful way to expand their palates and make direct connections between the food we eat and the plants that produce them. So far, we've enjoyed tasting tiny spoon tomatoes, bright nasturtium flowers, sweet oka melons, and crunchy cucumbers.
We look forward to observing our flower bulbs over the course of this term and will keep you posted!
