Autumn Sorting

Provide a variety of leaves, acorns, pine cones, pine needles, berries, seeds, etc. for the children to sort into groups, sizes, shapes or colors.

This was taken during our first preschool adventure, when my oldest was 2 years old. We have been doing preschool at home ever since, going on 5 years.

Leaves

Draw or print out a tree without leaves (see attachment below) on a big peace of paper or butcher paper. Have the children collect a variety of leaves from different trees. Glue the leaves on the paper tree. Talk about the origin of each leaf and what type of tree it came from.

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Weather Calendar

Make a calendar for the month. Each day recored the changes in the weather and temperature. Symbols such as clouds, sun, snow, rain, etc. can be attached to the calendar to represent the weather that occurs each day.
I found the calendar I used and have attached below on learningpage.com.

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Leaf Splatter Painting

Use a lid from a box that is about 9x12x12 inches. Cut a rectangle from the top of the lid leaving a 1-2 inch border. Invert the lid and tape a wire screen over the opening. Arrange leaves on a paper & place lid over it. Brush a toothbrush dipped in paint over screen. Remove the leaves when the paint dries.

Fall Wear

Set out warm clothes such as sweaters, coats, hats, rain gear, and blankets to indicated cold & wet weather coming on. The children can use the clothes for dressing up. It would also be fun to hang a mirror in the room for the children to use.

Pretty Leaves Are Falling Down

(Tune:London Bridges)

Pretty leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down.
Pretty leaves are falling down all around the town.
(wiggle fingers)
Let's rake them up into a pile, into a pile, into a pile.
Let's rake them up into a pile all around the town.
(raking motions)
Let's all jump in and have some fun, have some fun, have some fun.
Let's all jump in and have some fun all around the town.
(jump into a circle)

Touching Leaves

Place a variety of leaves in the sensory table (wet, dry, different sizes & colors) for the children to explore. Plastic animals can be placed the table with the leaves as well.

Apple Salad

Peel and chop 6 medium apples.
Mix with 1/2 cup of raisins, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 cup of chopped nuts, and 1/4 cup of white grape juice.
Scoop some into bowls for each child.
Serves 10 children.

Raking Leaves

Provide rakes (child-size if available) for the children. Encourage them to rake the leaves into piles. They can also enjoy jumping in the leaf piles when they are raked.

Weighing Autumn

Provide a scale for the children to weigh acorns, pine cones and leaves of different sizes that you have collected outside as a class.

Pumpkin Patch

Visit a pumpkin patch. Discuss and observe how pumpkins grow, their size, shape and color. Let the children pick a pumpkin to bring back to the classroom.

Fall-Autumn Journal Page

Read a book about fall or autumn then hand out a journal sheet with this question on it: "Why do leaves fall from the trees in the autumn time?" Record the children's responses and let them draw a picture to go along with their response.

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Autumn Fingerplay

Autumn winds begin to blow (blow).
Colored leaves fall fast and slow (make fast and slow motions with hands).
Twirling, whirling all around (turn around).
‘Til at last, they touch the ground (fall to the ground).

Fall-Autumn Lesson Plan

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