First Fire!

 It was a perfect chilly week to have our first fire. In preparation we told stories and practiced our fire rules both inside and outside. One of the best parts of having a fire is the cooking we get to do. This week our cooking centered around corn. We talked about how corn is a plant that has been grown and eaten by people in this area for thousands of years. 

An age-appropriate goal that we have for pre-k students is for them to understand that there are native people called the Abenaki who have lived on this land for a very long time, long before white Europeans colonized the region, and that Abenaki people still live here and look just like you and me. This understanding that white Europeans haven't always been here provides a foundation for the learning that they'll do as they get older. In that vein, we read a wonderful Abenaki story this week called How Chipmunk Got His Stripes. Ask your child about it!

Enjoy some pictures from the week: 

We pulled out our rocking boat earlier in the week, much to the delight of the class!

It was so windy on Tuesday we didn't go into the woods, but brought our projects to the pavilion in the field. This kiddo is working on grinding some corn. 

This crew is working on pulling popcorn kernels off the cob.

Grinding corn is incredibly hard work!

And here it goes, into our cornbread...

Carrying the cornbread over to the fire. 

We cooked our cornbread in a dutch oven, and boy was it delicious - our best pre-k batch ever!

These hardy kiddos have no problem eating outside in the cold. Thanks for dressing them so well!

Some buddies in a "house"

Lunch around the fire - so pleasant!

Have a great long weekend!