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| Autumn Theme |
| Art Corn Roll Paintings Using the feed corn on cob you can buy at the local feed store. Children roll the corn in paint and then roll it onto paper. The ends of these cobs also make pretty flower prints. I hang them in the hall and see if the families can guess how they were made. When we are all done with this project I rinse the corn cobs and we leave them outside our windows for the squirrels-they love them and no waste! Harvest Necklace Materials: Large needle , string or fishing line , popped corn , raisins or dried cranberries , Optional items can be nuts, pieces of orange peel, dried apple or apricot Measure the length of line that you need to fit the necklace over the head. Don't forget to leave enough for tying off. Thread the needle and string the popcorn and other items alternately. When we were done we all made Native American head bands and wore them both for most of the day. Afterwards you can hang the necklaces onto a tree or shrub for the local wildlife. Tip: The orange peel adds a very pleasant scent. Put a bit of all natural peanut butter on the necklace before placing it outside. The oils and protein are great for the birds! Painting Leaves Paint paper leaves with autumn colors but instead of using paint brushes usecorks instead. Vegetable Stamping Children can use various harvest vegetables to stamp with paint onto paper. Green peppers, carrots and potatoes make excellent stampers. Garden Stone What You Need: 1 cup of sand , 1/2 cup of cornstarch , 1 teaspoon powderded alum , 3/4 cup of hot water , Food coloring of child's choice , Assortment of items child would like to decorate with, Plastic pastel butterflies , Colored stones What You Do: (This recipe only makes one stone) Might want to adjust to the size of your class. We do a chart and ask the children what is their mother's favorite color and then go from there in making the dough. Mix sand, cornstarch, and alum in bowl. Add hot water, stirring vigorously until well blended. Add food coloring and blend. Cook over medium heat until thick, stirring constantly. When cooled, Encourage children to flatten the dough out and make it the shape they prefer. Encourage them to decorate their stone. We had the letters M and O cookie cutters on the table and some of the children put the word "mom" on their stone by pushing the cutters in the dough. Dry pieces in the sunshine for several days. Lay out tissue paper, tape and ribbon, encourage children to wrap their gift for their mom's and if they would like make a card to go with their gift. Dramatic Play Fill a wading pool with fall leaves.(have parents bring in freshly raked leaves) Let children play in the wading pool filled with leaves. For saftey I only let no more than 3 children at a time in the wading pool. If leaves escape from the pool remember half the fun for the children is putting the leaves back in the pool. Magic Pumpkin Seeds 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. Games Pumpkin File Folder Game Cut out 20 small pumpkins out of orange construction paper. Write the numbers 1-10 and draw black dots (representing seeds) to match the number, on 10 pumpkins. Do the same to the other 10. You should have 20 matching pumpkins. Glue 10 of them to the inside of a file folder. Glue an envelope or plastic baggie to the back of the folder and place the matching 10 in the envelope. This becomes a matching game for the children helping them learn their numbers. You can also use real pumpkin seeds and they have to place the correct amount on each pumpkin. Language Little Miss Clover is nodding her head, sleepy and tired ready for bed. Kind Mrs. Oak Tree comes sending down a blanket of leaves red, yellow, orange and brown. The rain tucks them in, the autumn wind sings and little miss clover will sleep until Spring. Math Each fall we ask children to bring in a small pumpkin. We set up a tape measure and scale in our science area. Each child measures and weighs their pumpkin and we chart it, and leave the chart out for parents to see. Music Have the children make a circle around a large pumpkin. While holding hands start singing. "Ring around the pumpkin Orange, big and round. Pumpkin seeds, Pumpkin seeds We all fall down!" Recipes Easy Pumpkin Pudding Materials: 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. Sensory Add acorns to your sensory table in Autumn. Alternate activities by adding buckets and shovels one day and magnifying glasses another. Autumn leaves can also be added. Carve a pumpkin. Take out pulp and seeds for the children to explore. Put a clear plastic bag inside the carved pumpkin, have children fill it with soil and plant the seeds. Water, and close the bag. You just made a green house and after a few days, your seeds will sprout. The pumpkin was placed in a planter outside. As soon it started to disintegrate ,we planted the inside of the bag and watched our garden grow! Enjoy! In the sensory bin I place a bag of sunflower seeds (birdseed). I also add tiny pumpkins, various shaped and textured gourds and Indian corn, plus several (sturdy) magnifying glasses. Grow corn in baggies! Have children put popcorn seeds in bag with a small handful of dirt -- water. Tape on wall or on window -- you will see corn growing! Make a feely box with parts of a tree inside, bark, seeds, flowers, etc. Children reach in and describe what they feel. Mix dried black beans and red lentils (they look orange) for a festive addition to your sensory table. |
Have you Tried?. . . plan a Fall Carnival For decorating for fall. Take fresh fallen leaves and attach them to fishing line of different lengths. Attach the other end of the line to the ceiling with thumb tacks. c.2007 |
| Prop Box Ideas Include the following collections of objects and materials for children to create, discover, and use for imaginary play. Store collections in boxes or baskets to be accessible at any time (indoors or outdoors) for children to enhance their dramatic play. apple counters pumpkin bean bags, corn husks pine cones bullrushs & other reeds bird houses gourds |
| Idea Web Introduce and explore the following topics to expand and inspire new activity ideas. leaves harvest apples pumpkin School DAZE Holidays Thanksgiving |
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| " It is the supreme art of the teacher...
To awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." ~ Albert Einstein ~ |