A Montessori Going Out Activity: Visiting a Farm for Fall

October is a great month to visit a farm, an apple orchard, or a pumpkin patch. Planning a trip to the farm is a great way for your Montessori students to get outside and experience nature first hand. From picking apples and pumpkins to sampling local foods, a trip to the farm provides a memorable, hands-on learning experience for all.

Visiting a Farm in the Fall: A Perfect Montessori Going Out Opportunity!

Before You Go

Before embarking on your going out activity, consider how a trip to the farm fits in the Montessori curriculum and all the cross-curricular presentations it can inspire.

Botany

• Life cycle of apples and pumpkins
• Parts of the tree
• Parts of the leaf
• Parts of a fruit

Physical Geography

• Seasons
• Fall equinox

History

• Common Needs of People
• Fall and harvest celebrations and festivals

Practical Life

• Peeling, coring, and slicing an apple
• Cooking – applesauce, pumpkin bread, pumpkin seeds

Safety

Did you know that the two age groups at greatest risk for injury while visiting farms are children 3–4 years old and teens 13–14 years old? (Kidshealth.org) Here are some tips on helping keep your students safe when going out to visit the farm.

Animals

Calm, respectful behavior is not only reserved for the Montessori classroom. Ensure that your students understand the importance of being calm in the animals’ environment. Animals are easily frightened and if they panic, they can accidentally injure young children. Using a calm, peaceful manner can prevent injuries before they happen.

Hand washing

Animals can transmit diseases and infections to humans. Be sure that you and your students wash hands frequently with soap and water, especially after touching or petting animals.

Machinery

Children should not play near or on farm equipment. While the temptation is great, children should treat heavy machinery like any other automobile and stay clear of it. They should also not touch farm tools unless they are shown how to properly use the tools by an adult. With any tools, proper adult supervision should always be practiced.

Montessori teachers take care to prepare the environment prior to the children’s arrival. Visiting an orchard or pumpkin patch should be no different. A well-prepared field trip will ensure that all goes smoothly, allowing both you and your students to enjoy the outdoor environment.

As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.
© North American Montessori Center - originally posted in its entirety at Montessori Teacher Training on Tuesday, October 1, 2013.