This October, we had our very first PD Day in school-age. The weather was beautiful, so we started the day by walking in the community forest. The air was crisp, and the sun was warm. We enjoyed the smells and colours that autumn brings each year. Children enjoyed doing a scavenger hunt while exploring the different textures and colours of the crunchy leaves. Many children noted different insects and animals that have now appeared and how the flowers and plants are changing.
In the afternoon, educator Stephanie brought a pumpkin for the children to engage in exploration. With a group of children, Stephanie asked some prompting questions to get their minds thinking. “Does anyone know what a pumpkin starts as before it becomes a pumpkin?”, she asked. “A seed!”, one child replied. “Can anyone tell me what a seed needs to grow into a pumpkin?”. A few children replied, “Soil, water and sunshine!”. We were pleased with how much the children already knew about pumpkins and their life cycle.
Stephanie then cut the top of the pumpkin to expose the inside. The children observed that it was stringy and had many seeds inside. As we scooped the guts out, the children began to feel the texture of the pumpkin and the seeds. “It’s so slimy!”, one child yelled with excitement. The children continued to squish and mash the pumpkin's contents in their hands. Stephanie then passed the pumpkin around and asked one final question to the children. “Do you think this pumpkin will float or sink if we put it in water?” As the children passed the pumpkin around, they all made their guesses. Most said that it would sink because the pumpkin felt heavy. Some children went against the odds and said it would float. With this in mind, we put it to the test. With a large bucket of water and our pumpkin, we gently placed it in the water to see what would happen. The pumpkin…. FLOATED! The children yelled with excitement and laughter, amazed that something heavy could float.
The pumpkin exploration fostered the children’s curiosity and understanding of how pumpkins grow. They enhanced their critical thinking skills by engaging with one another and asking questions. The pumpkin also provided a great sensory experience through smell and touch. Our first PA day was outstanding; well done, school-age one!
