Sprouts: Sept 22-24 (Core)

We started the week with apple picking, and ended with apple sauce! Jessica demonstrated respectful apple picking from our neighbours tree, highlighting ‘eye to the sky’ and not forcing apples off the branch when they aren’t ready. This can damage the part of the plant where the next apples would grow. We experienced this the first year we picked as the following year the tree didn’t produce apples. This was a great lesson for us all.

For one of our read alouds this week, we used our apple sauce recipe. The Sprouts helped me fill in the blanks, allowing them to think about what might be needed to make apple sauce and the how-to. Once complete, we read over the ingredients and steps and completed step 1 on Monday afternoon. Students assisted in peeling and slicing by sorting skin, apples, and seeds. We kept seeds to sprout and the skin is a favourite treat of theirs. 😆 If your child came home with a lunch pail filled with apple skin: this is why.

We were in the kitchen Tuesday moving through the next steps in our recipe. This process involved recall from the students as well as exploration of numbers and fraction basics. Teamwork and patience were also present or at least practiced. We completed step 5: ‘mash apples’ on Wednesday and got to eat it up! Everyone approved.

Since the apples came from our neighbours tree, we walked over after recess to deliver a small jar of apple sauce and some apple chips from the Saplings. Ralph and Carmel have given us permission to use their apples in the past and this is how we thank them. They weren’t home but we left the items on their door step.

To support our learning around trees and fruit, we discussed the apple life cycle this week and the Sprouts added their own rendition of it to their portfolios. They also coloured their ‘Humility’ poster and we reinforced our teaching through game play.

Tuesday Trek took us to our tree climbing spot where the students have decided to create a neighbourhood. Each student is creating their own home in their unique way. Some students are living in trees and some students are living beneath them! It’s super cool to see their creation skills within nature. This activity brings our language of tree parts to the surface as well, as I have student identify which parts they are using in which ways.

Wednesday was our first Spirit Day of the school year and we created a new tradition: bringing out the ‘tickle trunk’! Some Sprouts were feeling low as they forgot to wear their planned costumes. We raised those vibes with the options we had at school and had a blast choosing pieces for the day. The Sprouts spent part of the morning playing Spirit day board games as well. It was a great way to spend a rainy day!