Ms. Mollie: Pumpkins, Paint and Halloween!

Posted on by Mollie Smith

This week was full of joyful seasonal learning in our toddler community! Autumn offers so many natural opportunities for hands-on exploration, and the children embraced every moment.

We kicked things off with a pumpkin-picking adventure right here at school. Toddlers were invited to walk through our mini pumpkin patch, choosing a pumpkin of their own. It was wonderful to see the independence and pride as each child carefully selected one — big, small, bumpy, smooth — all perfect in their eyes.

We also enjoyed a special treat as the older students led a Halloween parade. Our toddlers watched with wide eyes and big smiles as costumes and music filled the air. Experiences like this gently introduce our younger learners to community traditions and help them feel connected to the larger school environment.

Back in the classroom, we moved from observing to creating! Each child had the opportunity to paint their pumpkin, exploring color, texture, and process at their own pace. True to Montessori principles, we focused on independence and creativity — little hands worked hard, and the results were both beautiful and joyfully unique.

This week reminded us how magical the world is through a toddler’s eyes. Thank you for sharing these moments with us and for supporting your children as they explore, discover, and grow!

With Full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette

Ms. Mollie: Halloween Excitement!

Posted on by Mollie Smith

As we move closer to Halloween, the excitement is in the air! The children are enjoying festive crafts, songs, and stories that celebrate imagination and creativity in a gentle, joyful way.

I also want to take a moment to thank all of our wonderful parents for taking the time to meet with me during parent-teacher conferences. These conversations are so valuable—they allow us to work together to support each child’s growth and celebrate their individual progress. Your partnership truly enriches our Montessori community here at Fraser Woods!

Here’s to a season of discovery, gratitude, and joyful learning! 🍂🎃

With Full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette

Ms. Vicki’s Weekly Update

Posted on by Vicki Downs

This week, we have been talking about and noticing the changing of the seasons.  We have been Weather Watchers and observing what the sky looks like and how the air feels.  We also watched the big tree by the playground each day turn from red, yellow, and orange leaves to almost all yellow, then fall from the tree with the big gusts of wind!

Inside the classroom, the students have taken an interest in water lately, so we opened up a water play area and  pumpkin washing work.  We also added new artwork: Paint sticks!  These are much smoother to draw with and add a different sensory experience than using crayons.

For food tasting this week, we tried radishes.  Almost everyone wanted to take a bite! (Swallowing was a harder sell.)

I have enjoyed watching some of the older children helping their younger classmates and showing them how to do work and follow directions.  We had some time in the gym this week riding on the scooter cars and gathering bean bags to drop into a bucket.

Enjoy the pictures!

Reminders:

  • No school next Friday, the 31st (Halloween)
  • We will be going through the children’s bins and sending home summer clothes.  Please replace these with long-sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, and pants.
  • Pumpkin Patch Wednesday the 29th. Lots of pictures will be taken, so dress in fall attire!

Mrs. Wilson: Pumpkin, Pumpkin

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

Throughout the school year, we will be exploring life cycles — discovering how living things grow and change over time. To begin this exciting series, we introduced the life cycle of a pumpkin. The children listened to the story Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington, which tells the tale of a young boy named Jamie who plants a pumpkin seed and patiently cares for it as it grows into a big, round pumpkin. The story ends with Jamie carving a face into his pumpkin and saving six seeds to plant again in the spring—a perfect way to illustrate the full circle of life.

Next week, we will begin our very own pumpkin life cycle project, a year-long science exploration that will allow the children to observe, care for, and revisit the growth process throughout the seasons. This hands-on experience will nurture their sense of curiosity, patience, and care for living things — all foundational to Montessori science learning.

Food Tasting Experience: Sweet Potato

This week’s food-tasting experience featured the sweet potato. The children used their senses to explore its smooth skin and earthy scent before tasting it. The sweet potato’s vibrant orange color also tied beautifully into our autumn theme and our continued exploration of all things orange!

Love and Light,

Cynthia and Sara

Ms. Mollie’s Class

Posted on by Mollie Smith

Fall has arrived on our Fraser Woods campus, and our toddlers are soaking up every bit of it! The crisp air, the colorful leaves, and the soft sunlight make this such a magical time to explore. Each day, the children head outside ready for discovery—collecting acorns, crunching through piles of leaves, and noticing how the wind makes everything dance around them.

In Montessori, we often say that “play is the work of the child,” and it’s something we see so clearly this time of year. What may look like simple play—carrying a basket of leaves, sweeping the deck, or pouring water for a friend—is actually deeply purposeful work. Through these small tasks, the children are strengthening their coordination, independence, and concentration.

Inside our classroom, the fall theme continues! The shelves are filled with warm colors and natural materials that invite hands-on exploration. The toddlers have especially loved washing pumpkins, sorting tiny wooden pumpkins, and arranging leaves they’ve collected during outdoor time. These activities help them practice fine motor skills while also connecting them to the beauty of the season.

What I love most is watching how the children enjoy these moments together—sharing their discoveries and helping one another with a task. Their joy and curiosity remind us that learning doesn’t just happen at a table; it happens through movement, exploration, and connection with the world.

As we continue through this beautiful season, we’re so grateful for the opportunity to slow down, notice nature’s changes, and see fall through the eyes of our toddlers—full of wonder, work, and play!

With Full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette

Ms. Vicki’s Class

Posted on by Vicki Downs

The children have been working hard both in and outside the classroom.  Some students chose to gather leaves outside and do a project, while others worked on fine and gross motor skills.

Reminders:

  • Please bring weather appropriate outerwear each day.  Sometimes a sweatshirt is ok and other times we need a jacket.
  • There is no school on Friday.
  • Several children have forgotten their cups this week.  Please bring them in.  We only have a few sippy cups in the classroom.

Enjoy the pictures!

Mrs. Wilson: New Additions to Our Classroom

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

This week, we added a few exciting new materials to our shelves!

On the art shelf, we switched out our playdough for red, orange, and yellow modeling clay. This clay is firmer than playdough, which provides a wonderful challenge for the children’s hands. As they roll, press, and shape it, they are strengthening their fingers and refining their fine motor skills — all while having fun exploring the texture and color.

Another favorite new addition is our class sketchbook. This will be a year-long collaborative project that all the children will contribute to over time. Right now, they are using red, yellow, and orange oil pastels to explore color and movement on the page. As the year goes on, we will introduce new art mediums, allowing the children to experiment and express themselves in different ways.

In the practical life area, I introduced the hand washing lesson. This is such a beautiful and peaceful work — one that engages both the mind and body. The series of steps encourages focus, order, and care. It’s always lovely to see how calm and centered the children become as they go through the process of washing, rinsing, and drying their hands with purpose.

We also added a mini piano for the children to explore. The piano provides an introduction to music in a joyful and hands-on manner. As the children press each key, they are not only discovering cause and effect but also building finger strength, coordination, and auditory discrimination. Listening to the different tones helps refine their sense of hearing, and playing freely nurtures creativity and self-expression.

Each of these new materials offers meaningful opportunities for concentration, coordination, and creativity — the hallmarks of Montessori learning.

Speaking of new additions, we would like to congratulate The Vrantchans and welcome their newest family member. Big sister is so proud!

Ms. Mollie’s Class: Hello Fall

Posted on by Mollie Smith

Hello Fall!

This week, our classroom welcomed the cozy season of fall! The children have been observing the changing colors outside and exploring nature through all their senses — crunching leaves, smelling cinnamon, and noticing how the air feels cooler.

We also celebrated a class birthday! In true Montessori tradition, we gathered for a simple celebration. The birthday child walked around the “sun,” holding the globe to represent another trip around the sun. The children loved singing and enjoying a birthday treat.

To continue our fall theme, we baked pumpkin bread together! The children practiced practical life skills — scooping flour, stirring the batter, and carefully pouring ingredients. The classroom and school smelled amazing, and everyone was so proud to taste their work.

Fall is such a wonderful time for hands-on learning and connection. We can’t wait for more cozy, joyful moments ahead!

With Full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette