Workshop Wednesday

Leaf Hunt

Want to get the kids outside for a little fun! Take them on a leaf hunt. Give each child a Ziploc bag or paper bag to hold their leaves. Go outside and see how many leaves they can find. You can provide a checklist to help narrow their search. Of course you will want to extend this activity by having them sort their found leaves. You could do this in small groups to make it more manageable. There are so many skills to be taught, i.e. colors, counting, vocabulary, etc. and it is FUN. Plus it gets them outside as an extra bonus!
 

Sorting Activity



Checklist

Workshop Wednesday

Counting Apples


Setting: Small Group, Math Centers

Materials: red pom-poms, red sticky dots, construction paper, Sharpie, laminating film, basket, strawberry hullers

Directions: Laminate construction paper and cut out tree shapes, one tree per child in your small group. Write a different number on the bottom of each tree trunk with a Sharpie and place the corresponding number of red sticky dots on the tree. Place a basket of red pom-poms on the table and have students place the correct number of “apples” on the trees using a strawberry huller. The strawberry huller incorporates fine motor exercise into this activity.

Extensions:  Change it up by switching apples for leaves or acorns. Instead of writing numbers you could use  a die. Children roll the die and place that many objects on the tree. Simple, yet so many ways to use!

Make & Take Monday

Paper Tube Trees

Materials:
paper tubes; construction paper; paint; crayons

Directions:
Provide a variety of tree shapes (different shapes and sizes).
Have children paint the tree shapes green (front and back).
Add apples or leaves by dipping fingers in red, orange, or yellow paint.
Color or paint paper tubes brown.
Cut a slit in the top of each paper tube so the tree shape will fit securely.
Place paper tube trees in the block area for fall fun props!

Feature Friday

The cool weather is getting me in the mood for fall. Check out these books.

A Friend for All Seasons by Julia Hubery is a gem! The book explains the change of seasons in a fun and easy to understand way for young children. Readers follow along with Robbie Raccoon as he notices the changes that are happening around his home, a big oak tree.  My favorite part of this book was when Robbie and a few woodland friends notice that the tree’s leaves are falling and they assume he is crying, so they give him a hug. Robbie’s mama raccoon explains the changes and before they go to sleep for a long time during winter’s dark days, they plant 5 acorns. I like that it provides an opportunity to extend this into a science lesson about seeds, and a oak tree’s life cycle. Sure enough when Spring comes there are tiny baby oaks waiting for Robbie when he awakens.

Every Season by Anne Love Woodhull and Shelly Rotner is a keeper. The text is simple, but the pictures really capture all the wonderful things that each season brings to make up a whole year. The photographs can be used as ice breakers about things children love about each season, are looking forward to or even don’t like. Either way this book is full of possibilities.

I Know It’s Autumn by Eileen Spinelli  is  age appropriate for young preschoolers and  toddlers. The book is a simple look at all the things that tell a small child that Autumn is here. Pumpkin muffins, apple picking, cooler weather,  hayrides and more all signal that the summer is gone and the fall has arrived. I like this book because there will be something a child will relate to and be able to identify with.