My favorite time of year is Autumn. I love the colors, the smells and, especially after a hot summer, cooler temperatures! One thing I try to do every day of the year is to get outside, but during Autumn make a point of going outdoors. If I’m not hiking or biking, I’m gardening or walking in the neighborhood. During Autumn, the trees are so stunning! They’re in all their colorful glory and I usually collect some leaves because….
Mother Nature Provides Learning Opportunities
Have you discovered how trees make the perfect visual marker for the changing of seasons? I find myself looking to them to see the very first signs of Autumn as well as Spring. One of my (new) favorite books about tree also is one of my (new) favorite illustrated books.
READ: seasons come, seasons go TREE by Britta Teckentrup. I actually spotted this book whilst visiting grandbub#1. We’d gone out for tea at the Ickworth Hotel. Following tea, exploring the extensive (beautiful) grounds is a must, ending with a stop the gift store. What I especially liked was my purchase benefited the National Trust.
Nursery rhymes have multiple benefits for child development. There are nursery rhymes and fingerplays about all kinds of things. When I suggest a book I usually pair it with a nursery rhyme or fingerplay. Hence Go PLAY Activity Cards™! This book is no exception! A great nursery rhyme to use with this book is I Had a Little Nut Tree. It’s a very, old nursery rhyme; dating back to the late 1700s. And that was a written record, so it’s probably much, much older as a shared, oral story. The words to the nursery rhyme are below. I’ve sung the 1st couple verses for you in the video so you have the melody.
I Had A Little Nut Tree
I had a little nut tree
& nothing would it bear.
But a silver nutmeg
& a golden pear.
The King of Spain’s daughter
Came to visit me.
& all for the sake
Of my little nut tree.
The dress was made of crimson,
Jet black was her hair.
She asked me for my nutmeg
& my golden pear.
I said so fair a princess
never did I see.
I’ll give you all fruit
From my little nut tree.
I danced over the water,
I danced over the sea.
& all the birds in the air
Couldn’t catch me.
& all the birds in the air
Couldn’t catch me.
& all the birds in the air
Couldn’t catch me.
NOTE: Colored and underlined words highlight rhyming pairs.
There’s still time to enjoy the wonderful sights of Autumn. Hiking in the forest, walking through a park or playing in the backyard. Get out and enjoy it!
Yours in Play!
Teacher Karen