10/12/2016
By: Stephanie LaPorta, Wilson KinderQuest Head Teacher
and AfterSchool Site Director

Fall has arrived and we all expect cooler weather, football games, and leaf raking. But have you ever thought about fall math?

We are exploring seeds this year at Wilson After School and I am excited about the many ways to use seeds to practice math skills.  We count seeds, sort them by characteristics, create patterns with them, and more!

Acorns are plentiful in our neighborhood.  We are collecting them to see how many we can find.  As we fill our jar, we will be estimating how many acorns we have. Then we will count them to see who had the best guess and discussing estimating strategies.

The children are also fascinated by the amazing variety of seeds produced in the fall.  My seed collection is growing! Did you ever consider the many ways seeds travel?  I challenge the children think about how seeds float, fly and hitchhike to new places!

We all know how important it is for children to connect math skills with real life situations.  When I can combine that with a science exploration, it becomes a great learning opportunity.

One of my goals as a teacher is to help young learners take the time to see the amazing world around us, an important skill for this technology oriented generation!

So take advantage of a beautiful fall weekend and head to the park, go for a hike, or stroll around your neighborhood. You can get fresh air, exercise, and encourage learning and exploration all at the same time!