Ms. Hollie's Preschool at the Big Red Barn

We made it another week, and we are all still smiling. Our mornings together are filled with so much joy and laughter. We were blessed to witness our second beautiful monarch butterfly this week and were able to release it in our prairie. What a miracle! My favorite quote this week as a mom was picking up her son, "Mom, can we go to Mexico with the butterflies?" I love the innocence of these sweet children. We have learned about metamorphosis, chrysalis vs. cocoon (Don't let The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle fool you. ;)

We will be enjoying some fun fall activities next week and waiting for our next new unit study to come along. I do think it's important for students to understand the reason why leaves lose their green and fall to the ground. I also help it can teach us all a lesson in slowing down for the season and enjoying the beauty all around us. No matter our circumstances, God is good and showing us in all the creations and changes in nature. One thing we are noticing on our little farm is that the chickens, duck and goose are molting. Each fall my girls will lose their feather (hence the many sickly-looking hens right now) and they grow new, healthy plumage to protect them during the long winter. Molting is actually painful and takes a lot of energy. Chickens don't really like to be touched when they are molting, and they need extra protein. As much as the students love to touch the chickens, I am encouraging them to let them have their space and be respectful. In the spring, we will really bond with the girls. :) This class is obsessed with chasing the chickens and they know I don't approve. :)

In the next couple weeks we will be having a pumpkin hunt in the corn field next door. We pretend that the pumpkins grew in the field. It's magical and so much fun! I'm a simple gal and refuse to take a field trip to a crowded orchard. Each student will be able to take a pumpkin home with them. Please provide $5 so that your child can hunt for a pumpkin. My venmo is @Hollie-Allen-9 or you can bring $5 cash to preschool. Thank you!

Important Dates-

October 9th NO PRESCHOOL

October 23rd Pumpkin Hunt on the Farm

October 30th- Halloween Party(wear your costume to school)

This class is obsessed with the mud kitchen and sand area. Sorry about all the mess, but the learning is phenominal.

Building a fort.

I love the sweet sharing.

Fresh water for the chickens and ducks.

Teamwork tower building.

Helping a friend with their shoes. I love the sweetness.

On Saturday we were gifted with a beautiful Monarch butterfly. I told the students that I would not be able to keep it in a jar over the weekend until Monday, thankfully, we still have another one that has not emerged out of the chrysalis. I will share pictures of our beautiful Monarch below. God is truly amazing.

On Monday we had our first visitor come to the classroom. Ms. Mai from the Huxley Public Library comes each month to read and sing with us. The students loved having her. If you have time to take your child to our library here in Huxley, it is such a great space.

We have continued to enjoy learning new things about butterflies and fall and will see where the study takes us this week. We will begin to look at the Monarch's journey South.

We are still so impressed with this class and truly enjoy every minute we get to be together. They are all so kind to one another and I pray daily that they will continue to shine God's light on everyone around them.

October 2nd- Picture day

October 9th- Professional Development Day- NO PRESCHOOL

October 30th- Classroom Halloween Party- I will have a sign up for games, snacks and crafts very soon. Your child is allowed to come to preschool in a costume as we have a fun morning being silly together.

So beautiful!