Hello StrongStart friends,

Do you remember when I did a little science experiment with popping corn? I put a handful of corn kernels on a two sheets of paper towels soaked with water and covered the corn with more wet paper. After few days in the sun on my windowsill, the corn sprouted. After few more days, the sprouts became bigger and longer and some grew light green leaves.

 

I put the sprouted corn kernels in the planter by our StrongStart and covered them with dirt. I was wondering what would happen. The sun shining and rain falling made a miracle! If you are walking by our centre come and explore, bring your magnifying glass if you have one, or just your curious eyes: we have real corn growing! Look up close, touch, count the seeds, feel the husk and silk. You are even welcome to pick the corn and enjoy it. First come, first serve!

 

When you walk around in community gardens this harvest season, or in your own gardens or even in the grocery store doing your regular shopping, there is a great opportunity to notice and talk with your child about fruits and vegetables, learn their names, talk about different parts, shapes and colours, textures, where they grow and how. With most fruits and vegetables being available all year long, most children do not know there is a season when fruits and vegetables are grown locally and are tastiest. If you involve your children in noticing/shopping/picking up fruits and vegetables, they will be more likely be willing to try something they never tried before! Preparing food together adds another learning opportunity and fun time spent together.

If you have the opportunity try visiting a pumpkin patch or corn maze during this harvest season or a local farmer’s market (with all safety measures of course).

Enjoy the harvest season!

Miss Lillian