Unfortunately it has rained constantly for the past 2 weeks and we are not able to go outdoors to enjoy the autumnal activities..collecting leaves, nuts and berries. Yesterday ,there was great excitement as we put up the halloween decorations. To day the children made masks..pumpkin and rabbit faces and much fun was had by all gluing and colouring.To morrow we will make a barmbrack, and place a ring,a coin,a pea,a stick and piece of cloth in the mixture before baking.At circle time today, I introduced the smelling jars and Vivienne and Leah immediately recognized the lavender, mint and rosemary from our “smelling” walk.The other jars have cinnemon, ginger and nutmeg which we will put in the brack and lead on a spice project later in the year.On friday we will have a halloween party and the childen will play the traditional games and taste the brack….
Monday 10th, Tuesday 11th and Wednesday12th of October it rained continuously. The children are working well and have settled in to school life..”normalisation” is occuring…Three of the boys arrive and immediately put on their aprons and take out the polishing baskets, another child grates the soap for washing the dusters, a group of girls chat as they settle into doing an inset. Already, they are producing beautiful work and admire each others.Someone asks me to help them with a set of matching cards,(the garden birds are still a favourite) and within minutes a group of boys joins the table. New work is now being introduced on a daily basis and school is hub of activity.
Thursday 13th,the sun has re appeared,the sky is blue and its warm..We celebrate the fine weather and have an outdoor day.We start by having a “scent” walk and stop by the herb bed.The children really enjoy this and I start by picking parsley and asking each one to smell it and then name it.We talk about how we use it in cooking and then move on and do the same with chamomile, thyme, mint,lemon balm , lavender and rosemary.The herbs are gathered in a basket and will be brought into school for further work and will use them in smelling jars.We gather leaves for leaf compost, weed beds and do a general Autumn clean up.We also talk about the wonderful work that the little worm is doing,munching up old leaves and plants and making into delicious compost which will be ready for our little seeds in the Spring. What a wonderful morning..we even have our snack outdoors. A game of football ,hide and go seek and hide the ball are all part of a special day.
Friday, sun shone, it was warm and what a great time was had by all in the vegetable plot picking peas, beans, carrots, lettuce and curly kale. The apples are small but so good and enjoyed by all.
September is upon us once again. I am delighted to welcome three of last years students, along with nine new little ones back to the classroom.Asher, Aimee and Leah are an asset to the classroom and the new children are eager to emulate them.The children are wasting no time in settling in and the grace and courtesy exercises are already becoming part of their young lives.Unfortunately the weather has not been kind to us but we have managed a few trips down the field to see the swallows as they prepare for their long journey south.We watched the cows graze topped off by a game of football .I look forward to sharing my passion for nature with the children .
About Me
Mary Clyne
BSc., HDip. Ed,
National Diploma in Humanities in Montessori Education
Auburn Cottage, Strandhill Road, Strandhill, Co. Sligo.
086 1036207
accredited Where I am
