October Newsletter
“We call it material for the development of the senses, but sense development is merely the consequence of the urge to do something with the hands. The children also gain the ability to control their movements with precision, and this skill brings them closer to maturity.” (Dr. Maria Montessori)
Preschool Class
This month, our theme is “Fall is Falling.” Students will explore the wonders of the fall season—what happens in nature during this time, and how we can celebrate it through crafts and experiments. One highlight will be a science experiment with color changing, sparking curiosity about how colors transform in nature.
We’ll also dive into the world of animals by learning about nocturnal and diurnal creatures. Children will discover which animals are active during the day or night, their unique qualities, and explore the life cycles of both an owl and a bird.
Another important topic this month is hygiene. Through hands-on activities, children will learn why cleaning our bodies is so important and practice skills such as brushing teeth and proper washing.
October also brings the excitement of learning about the human skeleton. Students will find out what a skeleton is, how it helps our bodies move, and even the five types of bones! A fun skeleton craft will help bring this lesson to life.
Of course, we’ll continue practicing with our Montessori materials to strengthen early literacy and numeracy skills, social-emotional growth, physical activity, creative arts, and practical life skills.
Toddlers
October is always a fun (and just a little spooky!) month for our toddlers. They’ll enjoy a variety of seasonal and hands-on activities, including:
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Pumpkin exploration: learning about the life cycle of a pumpkin, scooping, sorting, washing, and even making their own pumpkin faces with felt. We’ll also connect pumpkins to emotions by expressing different feelings on their pumpkin creations.
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Sensorial play: leaf handprint art, counting activities with colorful leaves (1 to 5), and sensorial bins filled with beans, corn, and leaves. These help strengthen fine motor skills using tools like tongs.
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Nature discovery: collecting leaves of all shapes and sizes, comparing and sorting them.
Both classes will also learn about insects, bats, and spiders. As we approach Halloween, the last weeks of October will be filled with spooky fun! Children will:
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Explore pumpkins and carving
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Learn about the human body and create skeletons out of Q-tips
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Show their creativity with pumpkin coloring sheets
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Practice sorting pumpkins by size (small, medium, and large)
It’s sure to be a month full of learning, laughter, and fall fun! 🎃
➡️ Things To Remember ⬅️
Footwear Reminder
No Crocs or shoes with holes in them per licensing rules. Such shoes will need to be sent home.
Please, No Sweets for Lunch
We have a food program representative who stops occasionally, and we get in trouble for allowing these types of foods in lunch boxes. Additionally, children take naps right after lunch, and sugar increases energy instead of helping them calm their bodies.
Plan for the Weather
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If snow so happens to show up in October, please send all appropriate outdoor wear: warm coat instead of jacket, snow pants, mittens, not finger gloves, boots, hat, and please label all outdoor wear, as so many end up with the same items.
➡️ Important Dates ⬅️
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October 14 & 15 – Parent/Teacher conferences for preschool students only. We will post time slots on the Transparent Classroom app, and slots will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, so look out for that email and let us know through text or email what works best for your family. Each slot will be 15 minutes.
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October 16 & 17 – North Oaks Montessori is CLOSED
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October 31–Fall Party! NOM will provide a pizza lunch for the entire school, so no need to bring a lunch, and children can wear their costumes
We can’t wait to share fun photos of our work in October. 🍂