A Harvest Fair

Last Friday, we had another cross-curriculum farm to preschool experience.

Children’s art abounded with our recycled supplies to build farm stands. Corks, wallpaper samples, plastic tops, wax, tissue paper, and wooden coins were among some of the plethora of choices.

Children dedicated time, attention and concerted efforts to construct their farm stands. Some children dictated stories to celebrate their farm stands, which were later read during our “Author’s Chair” segment of story time.

Once upon a time there was a table that had apples, carrots, and eggplant and purple grapes, broccoli and celery. The food comes from “Pull Bucket Farm.” The End

These are cherries and this is celery and this is for checking out after you buy food. And these are strawberries and eggplant. Teacher: Who goes to your farm stand? “My mom and dad. Teacher: Where is it? “Whole Foods!”

These are cherries. This is a pumpkin. This is a donation box. This is a nectarine. This is celery. My favorite ones are the ones that have the orange dots next to them. Those are the legs of the table and this is a table cloth. Teacher: Who comes to your farm stand? “it’s by the Boulder Library. That’s where the farmer’s market is at. It comes from “Funny Farm.”

This is the donation for money. These are prices. This is the food.

This is carrot. This is broccoli. This is apple.

All the lettuce from the CHP garden had to be picked on Thursday, before the freeze, so some of the children volunteered to wash and bag lettuce. We attempted to use a kitchen scale to weigh each bag, but the scale battery died.

Children then set up a farmer’s market and art show, as an impromptu harvest fair. Children hosted the art show during pick-up time so that parents could enjoy the children’s individual farm stands and stories. Next to the art show table was a live farm stand, where children were “selling” the lettuce. The parents had the opportunity to “buy” the lettuce, through donations. All proceeds went to the annual drive.

Our impromptu harvest fair was a success and children enjoyed the satisfaction of working as a team.

Thank you to all the parents who purchased a bag of lettuce and allowing children to experience an authentic moment at a farm stand. You made our art come to life. One child told his mom, as they were leaving the school, “I love lettuce.”