This week, Junior Kindergarten students finally cut open the pumpkins that have decorated their classrooms for the last several weeks. Students scooped out the seeds, guessing how many could be inside, and baked them to eat and enjoy. Some students were really interested in baking a pumpkin pie with the pumpkin.

The two classes took advantage of the beautiful weather this week to go outside on a fall nature adventure. Students observed the changing leaves and collected beautiful items to bring back into the classrooms to create their own leaf designs. JK teachers read aloud the book Leaf Man. Fall always feels brief in Chicago so JK plans to keep using the beauty of the season to enhance classroom exploration and creation.