The fall season here in the mountains is one of the best times to get outdoors. Students all across the county are exploring and learning all that nature has to offer, including kindergarteners at Oakley Elementary. Students ventured out to Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville for a fun filled day.
“For many of our students this was the first time picking apples right off the trees,” said kindergarten teacher Virginia Gibbs. “Not only did we learn about apples, but we also learned about corn and pumpkins.”
The apple orchard was full of fun ways for the students to understand where some of where food comes from in a grocery store. Students also learned about the importance of taking care of our environment in order to have yummy fruits and vegetables.
“It’s important for students to understand the hard work that goes into growing the fruits and vegetables we see at the stores,” explained kindergarten teacher Amelia Rubin. “Going to an orchard also helps students understand that plants are living things, and that how we treat the Earth matters.”
Students took a tractor ride through the orchard, explored the pumpkin patch, navigated the corn maze, and of course picked their own apples.
“As an educator, seeing students engage in hands-on learning validates the hard work we put into facilitating learning in the classroom,” said Ms. Rubin. “Watching the lightbulbs turn on as students link the concepts we have learned about in school to a real experience is an inspiration. It was so much fun to see an apple tree, pick an apple, taste an apple, and drink some cider with the students!”
