We start with a question:  Do you feel relaxed when spending time outdoors? If your answer is yes, all of the children in these pictures agree!

In many places, children’s access to outdoor play has evaporated like water in sunshine. Not at FMS! We flourish in the outdoors.

October has been full of learning. We have planted carrots, beets, turnips, peas and beans.

We have carved pumpkins and tasted the toasted seeds.

We have also enjoyed scrubbing the pumpkins and corn tweezing. So much fun, and great for eye-hand coordination!

The leaves have been plentiful. Leaf gathering, collaging and book-making have kept us busy.

Bird feeding and watching has been a life lesson. The outdoors belongs to everyone. The sky, the clouds, the rain, the sun and the wind are for the birds and insects to enjoy, as well as for us. Watching and listening to these living creatures lifts our spirits. Children remember when they are involved.

Our artists are always creating what they see! We had many creative pictures of our greenhouse this month.

In early childhood settings, children need time to explore literacy, math, science and more through indoor and outdoor activities. This approach ensures their healthy development and learning. Children are born to move and to learn from movement.

Remember, the weather is changing! Please send your children dressed with layers of clothing so they will be comfortable in the outdoor world.

Remember, learning is endless!

–Ms. Val & Ms. Marian

October brings a change in season that ushers in the fall. As the temperatures begin to cool, there is a new crispness in the air, and the leaves are beginning to change their colors.The children enjoy visits to the garden from creatures preparing for winter including birds, bunnies, lizards, and bugs.

Dr. Maria Montessori stated that children belong to nature. With this in mind, the outdoor exposure has a positive effect on the well-being of our students.

As fall quickly approaches, a new transformation has taken place in our greenhouse. Thank you to Ms. April’s husband, John Dane, for his craftsmanship as he expanded our growing area by adding additional shelving to our greenhouse. What a pleasure for all of us! We appreciate his time and hard work. The children have been busy in their new added space planting and seeding vegetables.

Remember, learning is endless!

Ms. Val and Ms. Marian are always watching!

We would like to take this time to welcome you to our outdoor classroom!

What is an outdoor classroom?…Our pictures will tell a story we hope you will enjoy. It is nature, combined with an abundance of learning. It will give our children the opportunity to explore, question, and experience nature’s gift to all of us.

Dr. Maria Montessori had a vision that gives children the opportunity to make choices, developing a well-rounded individual. Let us take you on a visual tour of the outdoor world.

We will encourage creativity, as well as artistic values and imagination as keys to producing life-long learners.

We have a greenhouse that will flourish before their very eyes.

They will become our backyard detectives, solving nature’s mysteries and secrets. Their final analysis will be fascinating as they follow their interests.

The weather will be important, so kindly dress the children appropriately each day. Layers and sturdy shoes are always suggested.

Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Our goal is for children to flourish in our outdoor classroom! We look forward to having a very productive year. Feel free to visit us and watch our progress.

Remember, learning is endless!

–Ms. Val and Ms. Marian

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June is here, what a year. I can’t believe the end is near! This year has been filled with so many accomplishments. We have learned so much, but there is still much more to learn. We must keep feeding our minds, just like our plants in order for them to keep growing.

Dr. Montessori taught us to see a oneness with the child and nature. She states, “man still belongs to nature, and especially when he is a child, he….draws from it the forces necessary to the development of the body and of the mind.”  She shares with us an idea that without the influence of nature, the child misses an important basic instinct that is naturally part of them. Keeping this in mind we need to give our students as much exposure to their outdoor environment as much as possible.

To all our FMS families, have a wonderful summer!

Remember…learning is endless,

Love Ms. Val & Ms. Kim

Our achievements this month have been endless! The children have grown this year just like our garden.  May has been truly a magical month, just take a look at these magnificent apricots that our children were able to pick and taste. Our children became quite the food critics when tasting the freshness of our garden grown fruit versus the store bought fruit.

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Look at the size of this praying mantis!!

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Our backyard detectives have been discovering some facts about our praying mantis. Did you know… that a praying mantis can turn its head all the way around to catch a bug or fly and can take the color of any leaf?

So many things coming and going our way, please take the time to discover each day! Our elementary friends came over to help their reading buddy’s plant new seeds, we had so much fun together! 

This month our children had some fun making clean mud from soap, paper and water. The children were able to mold and create with their hands watching it go from liquid to solid.  

Architects in the making!

Lets not forget all our arts and crafts!

Make sure you check out our new STEM camps (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Spaces are filling up quickly, please check out the details and sign up now! Camp will be a blast so don’t be last!

Remember learning is endless,

Love Ms. Val & Ms. Kim