We Are Learning About Pumpkins!

DID YOU KNOW:

A pumpkin is really a squash?
It is! It's  a member of the Cucurbita family which includes squash and cucumbers.

That pumpkins are grown all over the world?
Six of the seven continents can grow pumpkins including Alaska! Antarctica is the only continent that they won't grow in.

That the "pumpkin capital" of the world is Morton, Illinois?
This self proclaimed  pumpkin capital is where you'll find the home of the Libby corporation's pumpkin industry.

That the  Irish brought this tradition of pumpkin carving to America?
The tradition originally started with the carving of turnips. When the Irish immigrated to the U.S., they found pumpkins a plenty and they were much easier to carve for their ancient holiday.

Fun Facts About The Pumpkin!

• Pumpkins contain potassium and Vitamin A.
• Pumpkin flowers are edible.
• The largest pumpkin pie ever made was over five feet in diameter and weighed over 350 pounds. It used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin, 36 pounds of sugar, 12 dozen eggs and took six hours to bake.
• In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling.
• Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.
• The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 2,230 pounds.
• The Connecticut field variety is the traditional American pumpkin.
• Pumpkins are 90 percent water.
• Eighty percent of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October.
• Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made mats.
• Native Americans called pumpkins "isqoutm squash."
• Native Americans used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine.
  
  
  
  
  Our Academy children are learning so much about pumpkins this month! The preschool 3 class is doing an observation on what they think is inside the pumpkin. Their answers are very cute! They think there is: eggs, candy, snacks, a lot of candy, and chocolate. They will get to help cut open the pumpkin to find out what is in it. Children love exploring hands on to learn about pumpkins. They will also be using all their senses to learn as well.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Mr. Bruce Amato Visits!

We always have a great time when Mr. Bruce comes to visit our school! He has new material, and makes the children laugh everytime! He has such a positive and joyful personality and it fills our children with pure happiness and laughter. Thanks again Mr. Amato for doing the best job in the world sparking interest and wonder in the minds of our youth!

 

Apollo the Guinea Pig Visits the Kids

The school age children are on fall break this week and they decided to share their class pet Apollo. They organized a fun fact sheet about what he eats and what he likes to do. They read the facts to some of the classes and even took his bath spray and sprayed it on a bear so they could see what he smells like. The children got to sit in a circle and each brush him. We hoped to teach the kids about responsibility with taking care of a family pet. They enjoyed his company.