Activities for Teachers of Young Children
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Gayle to
include your favorite preschool Fall
idea or activity!
Preschool Fall Activity Theme
The Halloween and Thanksgiving themes are in the Rainbow Resource Room.
Squirrel Song
Here is a fun action chant about squirrels in
the fall from Elizabeth C.
Gray Squirrel, Gray SquirrelCooking: Easy Pumpkin Pudding
Shake your bushy tail (pretend to shake tail)
Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel
Shake your bushy tail (pretend to shake tail)
Wrinkle up your funny nose (act out line)
Put a nut between your toes (pretend to eat a nut)
Gray Squirrel Shake your bushy tail (Pretend to shake a tail)
Melody R. helps children with measuring as they cook up this Autumn treat.
Materials and Ingredients:
1 cup vanilla pudding
for each child
2 tsp. Libby's easy
pumpkin pie mix per child
A bowl for each child
A spoon for each child
Description: Help young
children measure and place one cup of vanilla pudding in their individual
bowls. Next, measure out 2 tsp. pie mix with each child. Ask children to
mix the vanilla pudding and the pie mix together for a seasonal and yummy
treat.
Fall
Art Ideas
Promote small motor
development with these seasonal art ideas from Suzanne S.
Materials: Fall colored
construction paper. fall colored paint, string,
medicine dropper,
playdough in fall colors, cinnamon and vanilla scents,
cloves, apples, paint,
mini pumpkins and acorn squash.
Descriptions:
1. Cut
paper into large leaf shapes use dropper to drop fall colored tempera onto
paper. Fold paper in half and rub the closed paper open to a wonderful
surprise.
2. Using the same shapes and paint dip a long piece of string into paint allow it to fall onto paper and lift.
3. Mix the scents into the playdough and use leaf shaped cookie cutters to play with.
4. Cut a yellow, red and green apple in half take out seeds and save for a collage. Dip in paint and use as a stamp on white or fall colored paper.
5. Cut squash
and pumpkins in half and dip in paint. Use as a stamp on colored
paper
Magic
Pumpkin Seeds
Melody R. encourages
imagination by using a little bit of magic and a seasonal theme
Materials: Pumpkin seeds, small paper bag and small pumpkins.
Description: Show the children a small bag of pumpkin seeds and explain that you believe these are magic pumpkin seeds. Take the children outside to the playground where they can toss the seeds onto the ground. Have them make up a few magic words, if they want.
The next day, before
children go outside gather the seeds up and put small pumpkins in their
place. Take children outside to show them the magical pumpkins that have
grown. Then have the children take the pumpkins home with them.
Pumpkin
Patch Di-vine!
Promote body awareness
and stimulate discussion about the uniqueness of each child's fingerprints
with this preschool activity by Deborah C.
Materials: Yellow construction paper (may cut in half), orange and green washable paint, paint brushes, bucket of water or sink for washing hands, paint aprons or old shirts and green marker or cotton swabs.
Description: Place the paper on a table in front of the child. Have him or her make a fist with one hand. Paint the top of the fist (fingers and knuckles) orange. Press the fist onto the sheet of paper to resemble a pumpkin. Repeat until the paper has as many pumpkins prints as desired. Next, make a green fingerprint at the top of each pumpkin for a stem. When the paint is dry, use a green marker to add vines to the picture. You may wish to use a cotton swab for this so that the child can make the vines him or her self.
Comments: Children who respond to tactile stimulation love this activity.
Lots of Art
Recipes and Activities are in the Rainbow
Resource Room.
Mr.
Pumpkin Head
Preschoolers use fine
motor skills during this Autumn activity by Annessa.
Materials: Pumpkin and Mr. Potato head pieces.
Description: Using a medium sized pumpkin, poke some holes where the eyes, nose and mouth should be (include hat and ears). Let the children decorate "Mr. Pumpkin Head" using Mr. Potato Head pieces.
Comments: It's been a hit every year.
More about pumpkins
in the Rainbow Resource Room's Halloween
Theme
Fall
Wreath
This Autumn activity by Susan C.
begins with an outdoor nature walk and ends with and indoor craft activity.
Materials: Leaves, acorns, pine cones, bow, brown paint and paper plates.
Description: Cut the center out of a paper plate
and have the children paint the paper plate, brown. Next, go for
a walk to find fall leaves, acorns and pine cones. When
the plates are dry give the children glue and let them have fun. Away
from the children, I use the hot glue gun to glue any loose pieces and
the bow.
Fall
Leave Place Mats
Preschool children use fine motor skills,
have fun and create something practical during this Autumn early childhood
activity by Terri H.
Materials: Contact paper, leaf patterns, crayons suitable for "rubbing" in Fall colors and white construction paper.
Description: Tape the leaf cutouts on the table. Place construction paper over the cutouts. Have the children rub the crayon colors of their choice over several of the leaf patterns. Cover front (and back if you choose) with contact paper. These are very bright and colorful. Each child uses his place mat at our Thanksgiving Feast, many use them at home as well.
Comments: This art activity follows a fall
walk! Depending on the age of the children, the construction paper
might have to be taped as well as the cutouts. My three year old youngsters
did not have any problems.
My
Leaf Book of Fall Leaves
Preschool and kindergarten observe the differences
in leaf shape and color during this early childhood activity from Diana
W. which can extend into a classification lesson.
Materials: 2 fall colors of construction paper, 4 white sheets of copy paper, Fall item stickers, red, yellow, green & brown crayons, Poem and yarn or staple to form a book.
Description: The cover of the book is one sheet of construction paper with the title "My Leaf Book". Then let the children put fall stickers to decorate. The next four pages are leaf rubbings with four different leaf shapes and four different crayons. The last page is the second piece of construction paper with the following poem.
When assembling the book you will have a Title Page, Red Leaf Rubbing, Yellow Leaf Rubbing, Green Leaf Rubbing, Brown Leaf Rubbing and finally the Poem.The leaves are falling down.
The leaves are falling down.
Red, yellow, green and brown.
The leaves are falling down.
Comments: It is fun to have the children
go out to collect the leaves to be used.
Fall
Poem
This action poem,
about Fall colors and the fun we can have with leaves, is
sent by Melissa W.
Comments: The children really enjoy acting this poem out during our circle time.Red and yellow, green and brown.
count off colors on fingers
Leaves are falling to the ground.
simulate falling leaves with hands
We pile them up OH SO HIGH:
'pile' leaves with hands
Then we JUMP in!
pretend to jump in
My dog and I!
Fall
Sorting
Preschool children
sort a variety of fall objects during this activity by Jenn J.
Materials: 4 egg cartons, 12 acorns, 12 maple seeds, 12 pine cones, 12 leaves, or other fall objects small container.
Description: Place
objects in small container on table. encourage children to sort the objects
into the egg cartons.
Comments: This idea
can be used for a variety of themes.
Autumn
Leaves
Decorate your classroom's
windows with this Fall Sun Catcher by Jena.
Materials: Contact paper, tissue paper in fall colors, permanent marker, leaf shape patterns.
Description:
Cut a 5 x5 inch square
of contact paper, put tape on the dull side and tape it to the table for
each child. Peel of the backing so that the sticky side is facing the child.
Have the children cut or tear small pieces of tissue paper and completely
cover the piece of contact paper. Cover the first 5 x5 piece with another
piece so that the tissue is now between the two pieces of contact paper.
Trace a leaf shape onto the contact paper and cut out the leaf shape. Use
a couple of pieces of clear tape to adhere the leaves to a window where
the sun will shine through them.
Comments: You can sprinkle
the tissue with water to make the colors bleed into each other. Let it
dry before putting on the second piece of contact paper.
Sensory:
"Fall Feely Box"
Learning different
textures and identifying them is fun for young preschool and kindergarten
children during this early childhood activity by Jana M.
Materials: Leaves, acorns, pine cones, nuts, apples, and other things you have discussed. You'll need a box the children can fit their hands into without seeing inside. I use a large shoe box. With a hole cut in the top.
Description: Teachers, without the children seeing you, add the objects in the box. During circle time have the children take turns feeling inside the box. Ask each child to describe what he or she feels and what they think it is.
Comments: I use this
box often, the children love it. Trying to figure out what's inside is
much fun!
"I'm
A Little Turkey"
Teachers don't forget
to ask young children why the turkey runs away, when teaching them this
action song by Jenn J.
Sing to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot".
Turkey art and crafts can be found in the Rainbow Resource Room's Thanksgiving Theme.I'm a little turkey
My name is Ted,
Here are my feathers
And here is my head.
Gobble, gobble, gobble
Is what I say,
Quick run,
It's Thanksgiving day.
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