When Learning Just Hits You in the Head

 One day at the park, some chestnuts fell high from the trees and almost landed on our heads.  From squirrels?  We looked high and low but were unable to detect animal movement (this is an ongoing mystery we try to solve).  We examined the chestnuts, still in their prickly shells, and discussed.  Shawn thought they dropped because they were too heavy for the branches, then split open upon impact.  :)

 

Next, we collected the nuts themselves, whole ones from the ground.  We threw them to each other, rolled them along the benches, bowled with them, counted them, and learned French words while we played.  There was a lot of running involved (quel surpris!).  Annabeth picked her pet "bebe" noisette and we brought many home for the science table. 

 

While walking home, we saw one smashed on the trail -- the only broken one we had seen.  Shawn picked up a whole one and we tried to re-enact how the nut could have become so smashed.  He threw it, stepped on it, tried to smoosh it, etc.  It took a heavier foot (mine) to break it open.  Then we talked about other things we'd seen in the park that could have smashed the chestnut.  We came up with a horse and a Rosalie (a four-seater covered bicycle). 

 

It was a perfect day!
 

The chestnuts stayed in our garage until I noticed they had split open on their own and started to get moldy.  Sadly, bebe noisette is the only one left.  But chestnuts continue to be a great source of natural fun for us, and I am just disappointed that I do not have any nut-specific photos to share at this time.   

But here are some photos of the park that we frequent:

 

We bring sand toys in all weather.

It's a long walk from our entrance gate to the playground -- great for singing French songs, looking for chestnuts and kicking a ball.

Playground equipment does not look the same, does it?

There is a petting zoo in the park, with miniature ponies, donkeys, goats, chickens, geese, ducks and alpacas -- yes, alpacas!  We have a lot of videos of the animals but not many pictures.  We'll try to post some.

There is a carrousel at the entrance to the park.  Today it is closed.

But many times it is open!

 

 

 Interestingly, we later learned that the correct French word for 'chestnut' is really 'un marron.'  We preferred to continue calling them 'noisettes'.