Cutting Melons- a summer memorial

Today was the first day where it actually felt like summer might end… bit overcast, occasional drizzle.  Even though I am way behind in other posts that might be more exciting, it seemed fitting to highlight “summer’s bounty” in a post today. {whimsical sigh}

We had two small melons.  Melons generally have two opposing destinies in our house: either being cut up immediately for yummy snacks, or being “neglected” in to a squishy how-can-I-get-this-out-of-the-house-with-out-it-dripping-rotten-fruit-guts walk of shame.

Luckily, even though we’d bought them a week or so before (which is heading into the territory of the second option), I was fresh off of writing my Montessori-in’ Up post & decided to use them as fine-motor skill practice!  And eating… we had caught them in time to save them from their rotten-fruit-guts destiny.

Materials:

• soft flesh fruit
• cutting board (we used a “meat carving” board with the little “moat” around the edge to catch juice= less sticky mess)
• large sharp knife (for grown up)
• spoon
• butter knife (for kids- we used kid-size ones)
• spoon
• 2 containers (for the fruit after its cut. and for “waste”)
• bonus: kids apron (not required, but definitely a good idea!)
• bonus: “bench scraper”-used to scoop fruit from table into the container

Luckily, the hubby was home & took a few pictures.  As this activity, at least with a 4 yr old & 18 month old, was a little hectic (sharp knives, slippery fruit, lots of helpful hands) to have a camera too close!

Voice of Experience: If I’d had the forethought to prep my melons before- cut into large slices & cut off rind- it would not have been hectic.  But I wasn’t that bright…   Learn from my mistakes!

As I sliced the melons, I passed them to Br (48 mo) to scoop off the seeds with a spoon into our waste bowl. He then passed it back to me so I could cut off the rind.  I then put it on the cutting board for him cut up with his butter knife. (Luckily, this operation was not graded on efficiency!)

We had a brief discussion about cutting up to share for lunch, and what “bite-size” might mean.  I also explained holding the fruit with one hand helps to keep it steady & straight as you cut it.  However, my kid doesn’t like messy hands, so you may note in the picture above that both of his hands are on his knife. 

Once sliced, Bl (18 mo) scooped the pieces up with the bench scraper and put them into our container.

Mostly.  After awhile he also started scooping them back out of the container.  Or putting them in the “waste” container.  Some were also scooped on to the floor.  Yep, kitchen time with an 18 month old… Great sensorial learning though!

Are you doing anything to wring out the last bit of summer glory as we transition to fall?  We’d love to hear about it (and maybe even borrow some ideas)!

Happy End-of-Summer!

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