A Month in Review: November 2022
What happened this month at Pillar Kids?
During November the fall-related activities continued. Our friends got a chance to explore more about this special time of the year, where many transformations occur in preparation for the winter season. Both groups explored some intriguing subject matters, and had a chance to participate in new activities, including cooking with their teachers! George, from One Heart Music, paid us another visit, where friends of all ages were able to sing, dance, and let off a little steam. We’re excited to have him visit again this month.
Toddler Group (Ms. Lam’s group)
Ms. Lam’s group began the month learning about farmers. We discussed how farmers have more than one job, where they grow food and also take care of the animals that live on the farm. During our exploration of the foods grown on a farm, the toddlers got
a chance to husk corn! Once they were done husking the corn (putting fine motor skills to work), they helped Ms. Lam put it in the Instant Pot to steam it and enjoy a yummy treat. The friends also had an opportunity to learn about the lifecycle of seeds. They got to see what a seed looks like, by exploring an apple that was cut up. They engaged their sensory skills as they removed the seeds from the apple, touching them to see how they feel. Because the children were so into the farmer and farm animals, we will continue to learn about the farmers in December.
Books that we read to support the curriculum included, “Machines on the Farm” by Lisa Amstutz and “Where, Oh Where, Is Rosie’s Chick?” by Pat Hutchins. The toddlers also enjoyed finger play songs, “Way Up High in the Apple Tree” and “5 Little Acorns all in a Row”, where we practice memorization, rhyming and counting skills.
Next Up for Toddlers!
In addition to talking about the holidays, December will focus on another interesting topic of Arctic Animals, including polar bears, penguins, walruses, and snowy owls.
Preschool Group (Ms. Angelina’s group)
Ms. Angelina’s group explored fall leaves, fall colors, farms, Thanksgiving, and woodland animals. The children were 
excited to learn about some of the animals that live on a farm, as well as some of the foods that we get from the farm like corn, apples, and pumpkins. To expand on the topic of foods grown on a farm, we shucked, cooked, and ate corn-on-the-cob. The children also tasted different color apples, and made a no-bake pumpkin pie treat that they loved! These cooking activities are a great way for children develop cognitive and mathematic skills, by measuring and mixing ingredients and following the steps needed to complete the recipe. Regarding woodland animals, we learned that raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, owls and bears all live in the woods. We will continue to learn more about these animals in the coming months. Friends read the “The Farmer and the Dell” book and enjoyed singing the accompanying song, followed by conversations about things that happen on the farm.
This month’s Vocabulary words: “nocturnal”, “shuck”, “woodlands”, being “thankful”.