Ghosts, potions, gourds and pumpkins have been showing up in our explorations over the past few weeks. As we continue to spend our days outdoors we are immersed in an ecosystem that is in transition as our environment prepares for a long(and hopefully snowy) period of dormancy. The crispy, once green leaves flutter to the ground around us, the creek has dried to a trickle and even Garbanzo seems a bit more pensive and quiet these days. 

 The children and their teachers have been working together to make sense of what the natural world is showing us as we build connections and make links throughout our curriculum. Siobhan has been helping us learn about spooky books and how to choose a story that feels just right for each of us. Our younger friends in the Neighborhood and Downstairs have been using their senses to explore pumpkins and apples as we examine their anatomy and diversity of size, shape and colors. Many of our older students have been flexing their literary muscles as they write Halloween inspired songs and poems.  And, our field laboratory has been transformed into a potion-making operation, full of plants, herbs and spices.