Autumn Theme

Autumn Theme
The Leaves are Falling Down
Lucky Leaves
Sung to: "Farmer in the Dell"
Yellow leaves tumbling,
(move hands like falling leaves)
falling through the air; (repeat action)
Falling in my front yard.
Falling everywhere.
Oh, that I could catch one (grab one in the air)
Before it blows away!
A yellow leaf, caught in the air,
Will bring my luck, they say!
The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
Red, yellow, green, and brown
The leaves are falling down
Leaves
Sung to: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"
All join hands and circle around
While we watch the leaves fall down.
See them twirling to the ground.
See them skipping here and there
See them flipping in the air.
Autumn leaves so peacefully
Falling, falling from the tree.
Leaves are Falling
Sung to: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"
Leaves are falling round the town
Watch them fall right on the ground
Autumn's coming, it is true
Then comes winter just for you
Leaves are falling round the town
Falling, falling all around.
Apple Seed
Sung to: "Eensy Weensy Spider"
Once a little apple seed
Was planted in the ground.
Down came the raindrops
Falling all around
Out came the bright sun
As bright as bright could be
and the little apple seed
Grew up to be an apple tree.
A Squirrel Song
Sung to: "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain"
I'll be gathering all the acorns till they're gone.
I'll be gathering all the acorns till they're gone.
I'll be gathering all the acorns, gathering all the
acorns,
Gathering all the acorns till they're gone.
(Children make collecting motion with their hands)
And I'll put them all inside my little home.
I will put them all inside my little home.
I will put them all inside, put them all inside,
Put them all inside my little home.
(children pretend to place nuts in tree house)
And I'll eat the nuts until the winter's gone.
I will eat the nuts until the winter's gone.
I will eat the nuts until, eat the nuts until,
Eat the nuts until the winter's gone.
(children pretend to eat acorns)
Then I'll do it all again come next fall.
I will do it all again come next fall.
I will do it all again, do it all again,
Do it all again come next fall.
(children make gathering motion with hands and
arms again)
Autumn Theme
My Oak Tree
Two Leaves
The oak tree just outside my door
Has its lovely leaves no more,
And now, I wonder, What's it for?
Not shade, nor home for birds to sing.
When leaves return, I'll welcome Spring!
Here is a leaf, yellow and brown
Here is a leaf that Johnny found
Put them together and you'll have two
One for me and one for you
I See Fall
Fall is here now, fall is here now,
How do you think I know...
The leaves are falling off the trees
That's how I really know
(repeat with other signs of fall)
I see Fall when the birds fly by.
I see Fall when the corn grows high.
I see Fall when the leaves turn brown.
I see Fall when the apples fall down.
I see Fall when the pumpkins glow.
I see Fall when the cold winds blow.
I see Fall when the fields are bare.
I see Fall everywhere!
Fall Tree
Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"
(Have your children act out the song with
their bodies, then pretend to go to sleep at
the end.)
Stand up tall and spread your limbs.
You're a fall tree in the wind.
Move your branches all around,
Pretty leaves falling down.
Some are brown and some are red.
Time for you to go to bed.
Busy, Busy Squirrels
Tune: "When Johnny Come Marching Home
Again"
The squirrels are busy running 'round, today,
today.
They are hiding all their nuts - away, away.
Up in trees, and in the ground.
Hiding nuts all around.
Oh, they work so hard.
So later, they can play.
Fall Is Here
It’s Autumn!
The leaves turn yellow,
The leaves turn brown.
The leaves turn red.
And they
All - - fall - -down!
The leaves turn yellow.
The leaves turn red.
They all fall down.
On top of my head!
Changing Seasons
Sung to: "I'm a little teapot"
I'm a little person who’s aware
Of the Change in the air
First the leaves turn brown and then they fall
Then the snow comes lightly down.
Autumn Winds
Sung to: "Ring around the Rosie"
Autumn Winds begin to blow
Colored leaves fall fast and slow
Whirling Twirling all around
Till at last they touch the ground
Autumn Theme
I'm A Silly Scarecrow
I'm a Nut
Sung to: "I'm a little teapot"
I'm an acorn, small and round,
Lying on the cold, cold ground.
People pass and step on me,
That's why I'm all cracked, you see.
I'm a nut, (clap, clap)
I'm a nut (clap, clap)
I'm a nut, (clap, clap)
I'm a nut. (clap, clap)
I'm a silly scarecrow made of straw,
Stand and waiting for the crows to caw.
I stand in the field all day long
Waiting and signing my song!
The Floppy Scarecrow
The Floppy, floppy scarecrow
Guards his fields all day.
He waves his floppy, floppy hands
To scare the crows away!
Repeat and replace Hands with arms,
toes, head, legs, etc…
Leaves Are Falling
Sung To: "Jingle Bells"
Leaves are falling
Leaves are falling
One fell on my nose
Leaves are falling
Leaves are falling
One fell on my toes
Autumn Winds
Sung to: "Ring around the Rosie"
Cut out different colored leaves
Autumn Winds begin to blow
Colored leaves fall fast and slow
Whirling Twirling all around
Till at last they touch the ground
Sway like a tree throughout the song and drop
leaves
Scarecrow
Sung to: "Teddy Bear, Teddy bear turn around"
Leaves are falling
Leaves are falling
Yellow, orange, and red.
Scarecrow, Scarecrow, turn around.
Scarecrow, scarecrow, jump up and down
Scarecrow, scarecrow, arms up high
Scarecrow, Scarecrow, wink one eye
Scarecrow, scarecrow, bend your knee
Scarecrow, scarecrow, flap in the breeze
Scarecrow, scarecrow, climb into bed
Scarecrow, scarecrow, rest your head
I'm a little Scarecrow
The Wide Eyed Owl
Sung to: "I'm a little teapot"
There's a wide-eyed owl,
with a pointed nose,
with two pointed ears,
and claws for his toes.
He lives high in a tree.
When he looks at you
he flaps his wings,
and says, "Whoo, Whoo, Whoo."
Leaves are falling
Leaves are falling
One fell on my head
I'm a little scarecrow stuffed with hay.
Here I stand in a field all day.
When I see the crows,
I like to shout
"Hey! You crows, you better get out!"
Use actions on each line that is appropriate.
Autumn Theme
Two Big Lemons
(Sung to: This Old Man)
Way up high, in a tree (hold hands up as high as possible)
Two big lemons smiled at me (put hand on cheeks smile)
So I shook that tree with all my power; (Pretend to shake a tree)
Down came the lemons, whoa, they were SOUR!! (make sour face)
Beaver All
Beaver One - Beaver All - Lets all do the Beaver call
(Ch ch ch ch ch ch ch)
Beaver 2, Beaver 3, Lets all climb the beaver tree.
(Ch ch ch ch ch ch ch)
Beaver 4, Beaver 5, Lets all dp the Beaver Jive.
(Ch ch ch ch ch ch ch)
Beaver 6, Beaver 7, Lets all go to Beaver heavan.
(Ch ch ch ch ch ch ch)
Beaver 8, Beaver 9. STOP. Its Beaver time
(Ch ch ch ch ch ch ch)
Signs of Autumn
When the birds fly south (flap arms)
And the wind blows cool (shiver)
And the green (hold up hands) on the trees turn red. (flip palms over)
And the days grow shorter (bring hands close together from far apart)
And the nights grow long (separate hands
from close together)
And Jack Frost freezes grass dead, (point fingers straight up, then curl slowly)
Then summer is gone (wave by-by, rub eyes)
And Autumn has come
To prepare us for winter's white bed.
Leaves, Leaves, Falling Down
Sung to: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"
Leaves, leaves falling down, (wiggle fingers downward)
Falling on the ground.
Red, Yellow, Orange and Brown,
Triangle, Oval and Round.
(With each thumb touching and each forefinger touching, make shapes.)
Autumn Theme
Falling Leaves
All the leaves are falling down (flutter fingers downward)
Orange, green, red, and brown. (flutter fingers)
If you listen, you'll hear them say, (cup hands around ears)
"Wintertime is on its way." (whispering)
Autumn Leaves
Sung to: "Mulberry Bush"
Summer leaves are hanging,
Hanging, hanging
Summer leaves are hanging
All day long. (stand with arms outstretched)
Autumn leaves are turning colors...All day long. (turn around)
Autumn leaves are falling down...All day long. (lower self to floor)
Autumn leaves are dancing....All day long. (dance)
Autumn leave are being raked.....All day long. (a few children can
gather the group closer)
Leaves on the Tree
(tune of "Wheels of the Bus")
The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown. . .orange and brown. .. .orange and brown
The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown
In the town.
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish. .. swish, swish, swish.. . .Swish, swish, swish
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish
Down to the ground
The leaves on the trees come tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down
The leaves on the trees coming tumbling down
Down to the ground
Pretty Leaves are Falling Down
Sung to: "London Bridge"
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 in a pile, in a pile, in a pile.
Let's rake them up in a pile, all around the town.
(make 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 circle)
Autumn Theme
Rain of Leaves
Raking Leaves
It's raining big,
It's raining small,
It's raining autumn leaves
In fall.
My poor back will surely break,
If one more leaf I have to rake!
Crusty, rusty brown leaves!
Dusty, blustery red leaves!
Crunching, bunching, scrunching beneath my
feet.
In a pile of crispy leaves, I'll find a welcome seat!
It's raining gold
And red and brown
As autumn leaves
Come raining down.
The Pumpkin Vine
It's raining everywhere
I look.
It's raining bookmarks
On my book!
I looked out my window and what did I find?
Green leaves a-growing on my pumpkin vine.
Green leaves a-growing on my pumpkin vine.
To Pumpkins at Pumpkin Time
Gree-een leaves, green leaves a growing
Gree-een leaves, green leaves a growing
Gree-een leaves a growing on my pumpkin vine.
Back into your garden-beds!
Here come the holidays!
And woe to the golden pumpkin-heads
Attracting too much praise.
Hide behind the hoe, the plow,
Cling fast to the vine!
Those who come to praise you now
Will soon sit down to dine.
Keep your lovely heads, my dears,
If you know what I mean.
Unless you want to be in pie,
Stay hidden or stay green!!
Five Leaves
Five little leaves so bright and gay,
Were dancing about on a tree one day.
The wind came blowing through the
town,
And one little leaf came tumbling down.
(Continue with 4 leaves, then 3, 2, & 1)
[You can hold pictures of leaves or real
leaves and drop them.]
...yellow flowers growing
...black bugs crawling
...pumpkins growing
You can add silly things that the children come
up with like.........
...apples growing
The Leaves on the Trees
Sung To: "The Wheels on the Bus"
The leaves on the trees are falling down,
falling down, falling down.
The leaves on the trees are falling down,
Red, yellow, orange, and brown.
(Have the child/children pretend they are
crunching leaves on the ground while singing this
verse.)
The leaves on the ground go crunch, crunch,
crunch
crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.
The leaves on the ground go crunch, crunch,
crunch.
All through autumn (fall).
Repeat verse 1
Autumn Theme
Five Little Leaves
Little Hoot Owl
Five little leaves, so happy and gay
(hold up five fingers)
were dancing about on a tree one day
the wind came blowing through the town
and one little leave came tumbling down
Sung To: "Six Little Ducks"
Four little leaves, so happy and gay
(put one finger down)
were dancing about on a tree one day
the wind came blowing through the town
and one little leave came tumbling down
Who-who, who-who, little hoot owl.
Who-who, who-who, little hoot owl.
Who-who, who-who, little hoot owl.
It's a little hoot owl with his owl eyesight
Three little leaves, so happy and gay
(put another finger down)
were dancing about on a tree one day
the wind came blowing through the town
and one little leave came tumbling down
Two little leaves, so happy and gay
(put another finger down)
were dancing about on a tree one day
the wind came blowing through the town
and one little leave came tumbling down
Oh, Fall Is Here!
One little leaf, so happy and gay
(put last finger down)
were dancing about on a tree one day
the wind came blowing through the town
and one little leave came tumbling down
The Leaves
Sung to: "The Wheels on the Bus"
BEFORE singing the song I give each child 1
laminated Red leaf and 1 laminated Orange
leaf. They both have long yarn stems. As we
sing the first verse each child holds one leaf in
each hand. As we sing the first verse they
raise the leaf who's color we are singing.
The leaves on the trees turn Orange & Red
Orange and Red, Orange and Red,
The leaves on the trees turn Orange & Red
All around the town.
Who flies around in the dark of night?
Who glides on wings o'er silent night?
Who eats his dinner by late moonlight?
It's a little hoot owl with his owl eyesight!
Sung To: "Oh, Christmas Tree”
Oh, fall is here. Oh, fall is here,
And wintertime is coming.
The squirrels get ready. Yes, they do.
They gather nuts to get them through.
The wintertime, cold wintertime,
It’s fall and winter’s coming.
Repeat the song, each time replacing
the third and
fourth lines above with a different verse
below.
The ducks get ready. Yes, they do.
They migrate south to get them through.
The bears get ready. Yes, they do.
They look for dens to get them through.
The moose get ready. Yes, they do.
They grow thick coats to get them
through.
Autumn Leaves
Sung To: "London Bridges"
Autumn leaves are falling down
Falling down, falling down
Autumn leaves are falling down
Red, yellow, orange and brown.
Autumn Theme
Frost
Autumn
Little Jackie Jack Frost pinched my nose.
Little Jackie Jack Frost pinched my toes.
But I ran in the house and shut the door,
And he couldn't pinch my nose anymore.
Sung to: "Ring around the Rosie"
Ring Around The Trees
All the leaves, come here
Summer’s gone till next year
Autumn, Autumn
We all fall down!
Sung to: "Ring around the Rosie"
Tickle Tree
Ring around the trees
Pockets full of leaves
Husha husha
We all fall down
This is my tickle tree,
As you can plainly see,
It will tickle you,
As it has tickled me.
So if you are not careful, this little tickle tree,
Will make you say Hee, Hee, Hee.
Rolling in the leaves
Rolling in the leaves
Rolling in the leaves
We all stand up
Frisky Squirrel
Sung to: "The Grand Old Duke of York"
Oh, the frisky little squirrel
He gathers nuts and seeds.
He hides them for the winter months
So he'll have all he needs.
Little Leaves
Sung to: "Ten Little Indians"
1 little, 2 little, 3 little leaves
4 little, 5 little, 6 little leaves
7 little, 8 little, 9 little leaves
Blow them all away. Whoosh!
Raking Leaves
Oh, up-up-up he goes
And down-down-down he comes.
He runs around - goes up and down.
His work is never done. (repeat refrain)
I like to rake the leaves
(raking motion with hands)
Into a great big hump
(pretend to pile leaves)
Then I move back a bit
Bend my knees and jump!
Scarecrow Song
Five Little Squirrels
Sung To: "Up On the Housetop"
Five little squirrels with acorns to store.
One went to sleep and then there were four!
Four little squirrels hunting acorns in a tree.
One fell down, and now there are three!
Three little squirrels wondering what to do.
One got lost, and now there are two!
Two little squirrels tossing acorns for fun.
One got tired, and now there is one!
One little squirrel playing in the sun.
He ran away, now there are none.
Refrain:
Out in the field in a row of corn,
Stands a scarecrow so forlorn.
Crows on his head and crows at his feet.
He's the saddest scarecrow you'll ever meet.
Can't scare the crows,
Oh, no, no!
Can't scare the crows,
Oh, no, no!
Out in the field in a row of corn,
Stands a scarecrow so forlorn!
Autumn Theme
Pumpkin poem
One day I found two pumpkin seeds.
I planted one and pulled the weeds.
It sprouted roots and a big, long vine.
A pumpkin grew; I called it mine.
The pumpkin was quite round and fat.
(I really am quite proud of that.)
But there is something I'll admit
That has me worried just a bit.
I ate the other seed, you see.
Now will it grow inside of me?
Squirrel Song
Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel
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)
(I'm so relieved since I have found
That pumpkins only grow in the ground!)
Fall Leaves
Sung to: "Are You Sleeping"
Jackie Jack Frost - Jackie Jack Frost
Climbs the trees; climbs the trees
Little Jackie Jack Frost; Little Jackie Jack Frost
Paints the leaves; paints the leaves.
Red and yellow - red and yellow
Orange and brown; orange and brown
Painting all the fall leaves; painting all the fall leaves
In the town; in the town.
Five Red Leaves
Five red leaves, five and no more (hold up 5 fingers)
The caterpillar ate one, now there are four (thumb down)
Four red leaves, that's easy to see.
Along came a rainstorm, now there are three. (index down)
Three red leaves, nothing much to do.
A big wind blew, now two! (middle down)
Two red leaves, that's not much fun.
I glued one on my paper (ring down)
Now there is one. (hold up pinky)
Hang on, pretty red leaf! Your branches won't break.
You're one less leaf for me to rake!
Autumn Theme
Leaves Poem
Leaves are dropping from the trees
Yellow, brown, and red.
They patter softly like the rainOne landed on my head.
Come out! Come out! The weather is clear.
Come out! Come out! October is here.
I'll show you some presents from Jolly Jack Frost.
They are hidden in the leaves that the wind has tossed.
The brown nuts are falling and squirrels are at play.
They are finding all the good ones to hide them away.
Crimson leave and yellow.
Apple red and mellow.
Golden pumpkins on the ground.
Sights of autumn all around.
Falling, falling autumn leaves are falling.
Falling, falling, falling to the ground.
Whirling, whirling autumn leaves are whirling.
Whirling, whirling, whirling to the ground.
Down down yellow and brown
the leaves are falling all over the town.
We stand up for the next verse - still holding our leaves. We make our leaves tumble to
the floor without letting go of the stem.
The leaves of the tree come tumbling down,
tumbling down, tumbling down,
The leaves of the tree come tumbling down,
All Around the town.
For this verse we "swish" our leaves across the floor.
The leaves of the trees go "swish, swish, swish,"
"swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish,"
The leaves of the trees go "swish, swish, swish"
All around the town.
For this verse we "gently" drop our leaves into the middle of the circle and jump in place.
We'll rake them in a pile and jump right in!
Jump right in, Jump right in!
We'll rake them in a pile and jump right in!
All around the town.
...watermelons growing ...etc!
Autumn Theme
When Fall Comes
(Tune: She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain)
Have children stand. Pass out red, yellow, orange, and brown paper leaves (one leaf per
child). While singing the words, act them out. (Don't forget to define the word "mellow"
to the children.)
Leaves turn red and yellow when fall comes
(hold up red and yellow leaves and make them dance throughout verse)
Leaves turn red and yellow when fall comes
Leaves turn red and yellow and the apples taste so mellow
(pretend to eat apple with one hand while leaf dances in other)
Leaves turn red and yellow when fall comes.
Leaves turn orange and brown when fall comes
(hold up orange and brown leaves and make them dance throughout verse)
Leaves turn orange and brown when fall comes
Leaves turn orange and brown, and they fly all over town
(hold onto leaves while pretending to make them fly about)
Leaves turn orange and brown when fall comes.
Leaves float to the ground when fall comes
(make leaves and bodies float slowly throughout verse, eventually landing on floor)
Leaves float to the ground when fall comes
Leaves float to the ground but they hardly make a sound
(everyone go shhhhhh....)
Leaves float to the ground when fall comes.
Seasons
The color of Fall is brown when leaves fall to the ground
The color of Winter is white when snow falls all around
The color of Spring is green in all the flowers and trees
But I like Summer best when sunny yellow shines on me.
Introduce the poem in the Fall and use pictures of the four seasons to give the children
visual reminders to go with the seasonal names. Then with each new season, you could
emphasize the poem again. Follow-up discussions could involve asking the children
which season they like best (language activity).
Autumn Theme
The Pumpkin Vine
I looked out my window and what did I find?
Green leaves a-growing on my pumpkin vine.
Green leaves a-growing on my pumpkin vine
Gree-een leaves, green leaves a growing
Gree-een leaves, green leaves a growing
Gree-een leaves a growing on my pumpkin vine.
...yellow flowers growing
...black bugs crawling
...pumpkins growing
You can add silly things that the children come up with like.........
...apples growing
...watermelons growing
...etc!
Harvest Poem
When all the cows were sleeping
And the sun had gone to bed,
Up jumped the pumpkin,
And this is what he said:
I'm a dingle dangle pumpkin
With a flippy floppy hat.
I can shake my stem like this,
And shake my vine like that.
When all the hens were roosting
And the moon behind a cloud,
Up jumped the pumpkin
And shouted very loud:
I'm a dingle dangle pumpkin........
Harvest Time
(tune: twinkle, twinkle)
Harvest time is here again
In the garden we must dig
Carrots, radishes, onions too
All so fresh and yummy too.
Harvest time is here again
Won't be long till you know when!! (thanksgiving)
Rain of Leaves
It’s raining big,
It’s raining small,
It’s raining autumn leaves
In fall.
It’s raining gold
And red and brown
As autumn leaves
Come raining down.
It’s raining everywhere
I look.
It’s raining bookmarks
On my book!
Autumn Theme
Fall Poem
A Leaf Pile
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!
I like to rake the leaves in fall
(pretend to rake leaves)
And pile them in a clump (make
piling motion with hands)
Then step back a little way (take
few steps back)
Bend my knees and jump! (bend
knees and jump)
I'm A Little Turkey
Sing to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot".
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.
Five Little Leaves
Five little leaves up in a tree (hold
up five fingers)
One little leaf said, "look at me!"
(hold up one finger)
The leaf let go and down he fell
(palms down to ground)
Now he doesn't feel so well (rub
bumped head)
This Is the Way We Rake the Leaves
(Tune: Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we rake the leaves, rake the leaves, rake the leaves
This is the way we rake the leaves, on an autumn morning
This is the way we pick the apples, pick the apples, pick the apples
This is the way we pick the apples, on an autumn morning
This is the way we feed the squirrels, feed the squirrels, feed the squirrels
This is the way we feed the squirrels, on an autumn morning
Autumn Theme
The Pumpkins Are Here
Sung To: "The Farmer in the Dell"
The pumpkins are here, the pumpkins are there.
The pumpkins, the pumpkins are everywhere.
The pumpkins are up, the pumpkins are down.
The pumpkins, the pumpkins are all around.
The pumpkins are in, the pumpkins are out.
The pumpkins, the pumpkins are all about.
The pumpkins are low, the pumpkins are high.
The pumpkins, the pumpkins all say good-bye!
Lots of Leaves
Sung To: "London Bridge Is Falling Down"
Lots of leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down.
Lots of leaves are falling down in a flutter.
Take the rake and pile them up, pile them up, pile them up.
Take the rake and pile them up in a mountain.
Run and jump and roll around, roll around, roll around.
Run and jump and roll around. Wee! It's autumn.
Five Little Squirrels
This little squirrel jumps from tree to tree. (Show index finger.)
This little squirrel hides from you and me. (Show middle finger.)
This little squirrel sits and looks around. (Show ring finger.)
This little squirrel finds nuts on the ground. (Show baby finger.)
This little squirrel scampers up and down. (Show thumb.)
Burying all the nuts he's found. (Use both hands and "dig" a hole.)
Squirrels
(Point to each finger in turn.)
This little squirrel said, "I want to play."
This little squirrel said, "Let's find nuts today."
This little squirrel said, "Yes, nuts are good."
This little squirrel said, "They're my favorite food."
This little squirrel said, "Let's climb this tree (Hold forearm up, run fingers of other hand up
arm.)
And crack our nuts--one, two
Autumn Theme
Fall Leaves
Leaf Tie Dye
Materials:
What You Need:
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Fall colored construction paper
fall colored paint
string
medicine dropper
playdough in fall colors
cinnamon and vanilla scents
cloves
apples
paint
mini pumpkins
acorn squash.
Descriptions:
1.
2.
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.
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 play
dough 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
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Leaves (various colors preferred) and
Flowers
Cloth (Light Color)
Sticking Instrument (Mallet or Hammer)
What You Do:
Put the leaves and Flowers out on the floor or
counter. Put the cloth on top of the leaves
and flowers. Then hit the cloth with the mallet
until the leaves and Flowers are ground up.
This will put a neat pattern on the cloth. If
you're brave you can let the children try it
Warning: This is Very Messy. Watch children
with Mallets closely
Tip: You can let children paint with leaves
(green leaves work best) it makes great
designs.
Leaf Tie Dye
What You Need:
 Coffee Filters (Cut out in the shape of
leaves)
 Water Droppers
 Dye or Paint Various colors)
What You Do:
Mix the Paint or Dye with water then put it in
the water droppers (different color for each
water dropper). Let the children create their
own leaves with the droppers The colors mix
together to make great, original looking
leaves.
Autumn Theme
3-D Trees
Leaf Wreath
Need: Q-tip, Fall colored paint, Toilet
paper tube, Paper plate, and scissors
What You Need:
Directions: Make a toilet paper tree. Cut
a slit in the top of one end of the t.p.
roll. Then using half a paper plate, slide
it into the "trunk" making a tree. Then
the children use Q-tips to paint leaves
on the tree part. You can also paint the
trunk a deeper brown.
Fall Tree
Need: Brown, Green, Yellow, Orange,
and Red Paint, White Construction
paper, Paint brush, and Wipes.
Directions: Paint child's forearm and
hand with brown tempera. Print onto
construction paper. This makes the trunk
and branches for a tree. Leaves can be
made Dipping the child’s Fingers into
green, yellow, orange, or red paint.
Then Print them on the branches of the
tree. You should do more yellow,
orange, and red, then green. This way
they look more autumn like.
Leafy People
What You Need:
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Leaves (Various Sizes)
Glue
Paper
Crayons
Markers, etc.
What You Do:
Give the children the materials and let
them create a picture of their families
using the leaves. They can use the
leaves for the bodies, for clothing, or
anything else they want to.
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Leaves (various colors preferred)
Paper Plate
Paste
What You Do:
Have your children collect interesting
leaves. Next, cut the center of the plate
out and let your children attach their
leaves. This makes a really cut Leaf Wreath.
Dried Leaf Art
Need: A cut out leaf from colored paper,
dried leaves, Glue, and a Paint brush
Directions: Provide a large leaf cut from
colored construction paper. Set out bowls of
dried fall leaves and have the children brush
glue on their leaf shapes and then sprinkle
with the dried leaves.
Leaf Rubbings
Need: Leaves, crayons, and thin paper
Directions: Use several different leaves and
MANY colors. Place a leaf on the table and
cover it with the thin paper. Take a crayon
and rub the paper. Do this with several
leaves.
Cornflake Tree
Need: Brown paint, crayon, or marker, Glue,
Paint Brush, and Cornflakes
Directions: Have the children draw or paint a
brown tree trunk and branches. Paint a small
leaf area with glue, drop on cornflakes; paint
another small area with glue and add
cornflakes until the leaf area is covered.
Option: Color the cornflakes with fall colored
paints.
Autumn Theme
Leaf People
Paper Bag Scarecrow
Need: Crayons, a leaf, glue, and
construction paper
Need: Small & medium brown paper bags,
colored paper, markers, crayons, newspaper,
tape
Directions: Each child chooses a leaf
to be the "body". Glue the leaf onto
construction paper and have the
children add arms, legs, head, etc.
with crayons.
Torn-paper Leaves
Need: Construction paper, and glue
Directions: Provide each of the
children with a "tree" outline cut from
construction paper. The children tear
small fall-colored "leaves" from
construction paper and paste on the
tree. Remember, the leaves are simply
torn paper.
Leaf Mobile
Need: fabric, heavy paper, string,
small branch
Directions: Glue colorful and different
fabrics to both sides of several pieces
of heavy paper. Cut leaves from this.
Tie a string on each leaf. Suspend the
leaves from a small branch. Hang
where the leaves will catch the breeze
and flutter.
Nature Prints
Directions: Assemble body by stuffing
medium brown paper bag with crumpled
newspaper. Fold the top closed and tape it
shut. Assemble head by filling small paper
bag with more crumpled newspaper about
2/3 full. Twist and tape shut. Make a hole in
the body to insert the twisted end of the
head into. Tape into place. Cut arms and
legs out of brown paper and glue or tape to
body. Make "hay" by cutting paper bags into
thin strips about 2-3" long (longer for hair).
Glue "hay" around neck, wrists and ankles.
Also glue longer strips to head for hair.
Decorate using markers or crayons and
colored paper to create a face for your
scarecrow and patches for his clothes.
Fall Face Picture
Need: White paper, glue, leaves, markers or
crayons
Directions: Cut a 41/2" circle out of white
paper. Have children glue circle on
construction paper. Ahead of time collect a
variety of leaves. Let children glue leaves on
circle for hair. Use markers or crayons to add
the facial features. You can also make a leaf
collage.
Need: nature walk objects, glue, paint
Leaf Shape Painting
Directions: Nature Prints to create art
using objects found on nature walk,
giving child choice of gluing, tracing,
painting or whatever idea comes to
mind, the art center is open for
children to use the materials they
choose.
Need: Tempera paint in fall colors, leaf
shapes in different sizes, paper, and a sponge
or a brush
Directions: The children paint a leaf in fall
colors. A brush or sponge may be used for
painting. Display in hall or windows.
Autumn Theme
Leaf Silhouettes
Water Leaf Prints
Need: An empty pump spray bottle, liquid
tempera paint, water, newspaper, white or
colored paper and leaves.
Need: Paintbrushes and small buckets
of water
Directions: You may want to do this outside
when the wind is calm. If you do this inside, lay
down several pieces of newspaper first. Fill the
spray bottle with diluted paint (one part paint
to two parts water). Use as many colors as you
have spray bottles. Ask the children to choose
leaves whose shape they like and arrange
them on a piece of paper. If needed, help the
child aim the spray bottle at the leaves to spray
around them. The child can then lift the leaves
off and see the silhouettes they leave behind.
Variations: Try making leaf silhouettes with water
and leaves on a dry sidewalk. You could also try
diluting fabric paint on an old T-shirt.
Golf Ball Leaf
Need: Paper, a pan or Box lid, Paint and a golf
ball
Directions: Cut a large leaf out. Put it in a pan.
Use 3 colors of paint: yellow, orange, and red.
Dip a golf ball in one color one at a time. Let
kids move ball around the pan.
Switch colors.
Leaf Prints
Directions: The children paint fall
leaves with water, then press them on
the cement. Observe the pattern the
print makes. Point out and discuss the
vein in the leaf. This can be done
indoors by using tempera paint instead
of the water. The children paint the
leaves and then press them on white
construction paper.
Paper Bag Owl
Need: Paper bag, constructions
paper, crayons, newspaper, and twigs
Directions: Then we made an owl out
of a paper bag. You cut an upside
down U in the open end of the bag to
leave 2 feet. You add 2 pointed ears,
a diamond mouth and two eyes. Have
the children color lines for his hair and
add two black claws. Stuff the bag
with some newspaper. That day we
went on a walk and we each looked
for a twig. We used that twig to perch
the owl on. Just put the twig near the
bottom of the owl and staple the bag
together.
Need: paint, dish soap, leaves and paper,
Sponge Painting
Directions: Combine paint and a little dish soap.
Then paint leaves. Press on a piece of paper.
The kids love to see all the lines in the leaves.
Need: brown paper, paint, sponges
Nut Painting
Need: a Nut, box lid, paper, and paint
Directions: Use nuts like marbles for painting.
Directions: Cut a leaf shape on brown
paper (paper bags). Let the children
sponge paint the leave with fall colors.
These look beautiful on a tree on the
wall.
Autumn Theme
Pressed Leaves
Autumn Handfuls
Need: Leaves, wax paper, crayon shavings,
cloth or a towel, and an Iron (Adult only)
Need: Brown paper, yellow paper,
Bingo markers
Directions: Have the children collect autumn
leaves in various colors. They arrange the
leaves on a square piece of wax paper, along
with colorful crayon shavings.
Directions: Place child's arm on
sheet of brown construction paper
(fingers should be spread apart).
Trace arm to near elbow and hand
and cut out. Glue cutout to a sheet
of yellow construction paper and let
the children use colored BINGO
markers to make leaves for their
hand tree. (Red markers would
make orange leaves, etc.) These
can be used to decorate a bulletin
board, or just displayed as art.
Place an identical piece of wax paper over it.
An adult places the square between two
pieces of cloth and iron to seal the papers
together.
Miniature Fall Trees
Need: Branches, old playdough, fall colored
tissue paper, and brown paper
Directions: We used little branches, (more like
twigs ), stuck them in a ball of old play dough
and then glued bits of fall colored tissue on
them for leaves. We wrapped the ball in a
piece of brown paper and tied a label on with
yarn.
Paper Plate Owl
Need: Paper plates (the kind with the ridged
edges), circles of orange construction paper
for eyes, V-shaped pieces of orange
construction paper for bills and claws, a magic
marker, brown tempera paint, and glue.
Directions: Using the magic marker, draw
cutting lines on each paper plate at 10, 2, 5
and 7 O'clock, and along the inner edge of
the ridges (these will be the wings). Have the
children cut their plates on the lines, then have
them paint the pieces of the paper plate with
brown tempera paint and let dry. Staple the
owl's wings to the bodies for the children (or
use brads for more moveable wings). Have the
children glue the eyes, beaks and claws onto
their owls.
Tissue Cord Leaves
Need: Tissue paper in fall colors,
construction paper of same colors,
glue, cotton swabs, scissors, pencil,
leaf patterns, and yarn or string.
Directions: Using patterns, cut
construction paper into leaf shapes.
Set aside. Select one color of tissue
paper for each leaf. Cut into strips
approximately 1 inch wide. Wrap
tissue paper strips tightly around a
long piece of string. These strips will
be cut to create veins inside leaves.
Smaller children may have an easier
time simply using colored yarn. Dip
cotton swab into glue and outline
edges of construction paper leaves.
Spread glue inside outline in the
natural vein patterns of real leaves.
Make a thick line of glue down the
center of leaf onto stem. Attach
tissue paper cords to glue outlines
cutting off as edge of leaf is
reached. Let dry.
Autumn Theme
Corncob Printing
Leaf Splatter Painting
Need: Corncobs, paper towel, paint,
shallow container, and paper
Need: A box lid, wire screen, tape, a
toothbrush, leaves and paint,
Directions: Wash corncobs and allow
them to dry for several days. Make
paint pads by placing folded paper
towels in shallow containers and
pouring on yellow tempera paint. Have
the children first roll the corncobs on
the paint pads. Then let them roll the
cobs across their papers to make prints.
Directions: Use a lid from a box that is
approximately 9 by 12 inches. Cut a
rectangle from top of lid leaving a 1 1/2 inch
border. Invert the lid and place a wire screen
over the opening. Tape the screen to the
border. Arrange the leaves on a sheet of
paper. Place the lid over the arrangement.
Dip a toothbrush into thin tempera paint and
brush across the screen. When the tempera
dries, remove the leaves.
Variation: Use a serrated knife to cut
the corncobs in half. Let the children
dip the cutoff ends into the paint and
press them onto their papers to make
yellow corncob flowers.
Pumpkin Seed Collage
Need: Pumpkin Seeds, glue, and paper
Directions: Wash and dry pumpkin
seeds and place them in the art area
with glue and paper. The children can
make pumpkin seed collages.
Make Squirrel Tracks
Need: Potato, paint and a paint roller
Directions: Cut a potato into paw
prints. Use potato like a stamp. If you
use the footpads you need to roll the
paint on with little paint rollers.
Splatter Paint Leaves
Need: Leaves, paper, spray bottle, paint
Directions: Arrange one or more leaves
on a sheet of construction paper.
Partially fill a small spray bottle with
diluted tempera paint and spray lightly
over the leaves. When the paint dries, lift
the leaves to reveal the design.
Harvest time Centerpieces
Need: a small pumpkin, squash, or gourd, a
Nail, (for an Adult) greenery, leaves, and
other natural items
Directions: Pumpkins, gourd, and squash
make beautiful centerpieces. With a nail
poke several holes in a small pumpkin,
squash, or gourd for each student. Allow
each youngster to select the vegetable he
would like to use to create a centerpiece.
Have students collect greenery, leaves, and
other natural items, then insert the selected
items into the holes.
Apple Tree
Need: Brown paper, green paper, red paint
Directions: Cut out Brown trees with Green
leaves and have children dip the fingers in
red paint and dot apples all over the tree.
Soft Squirrel
Need: Pattern of a squirrel, dryer lint, glue
Directions: Children glue the lint onto the
squirrel for a soft gray squirrel.
Autumn Theme
Apple Core
Another Fall Tree
Need: A Paper plate, scissors, red paint, and
watermelon seeds or small black beans
Need: Fall color tissue paper, paper
plate, paper tube,
Directions: Take a paper plate and cut out
both sides with jagged scissors. It will look kind
of like an hour glass. Use red tempera paint
and paint both ends of the plate. Then get
watermelon seeds (dry them) and glue three
in a triangle in the center of the paper plate.
Wa la, an apple core.
Directions: Make a colorful stand up
fall tree! Crumple small pieces of
red, yellow, and orange art tissue
paper and glue them to a large
paper plate. When the glue is dry,
cut slits in one end of a toilet tissue
roll (or paper towel roll cut in half.)
and insert the paper plate.
Autumn Wreath
Need: Sponges, paint, brown bag, paper,
plate, and yarn
Directions: Have children sponge paint fall
colors (red, orange, yellow) onto a brown
paper bag. When dry cut out leaf shapes. Cut
a circle out of the middle of a paper plate to
make a ring, paint the ring green. Glue the
leaf shapes onto the ring. This is a really nice
project, we punched a hole in the top when
we finished and tied a piece of yarn to hang.
Rain on Leaves
Need: Yellow paper, Powder paint, rain or a
spray bottle
Directions: Trace and cut out a great big
yellow leave. Then sprinkling them with
powder paint. Red, orange, yellow, green,
brown, whatever you want. The children can
mix colors or use one color. I save those cake
sprinkle containers and fill the bottles so just a
little comes out. Then we are going to let the
RAIN paint them. Oh make sure you sprinkle
with the paint outside and just leave their
leaves outside till blended. They turn out
pretty. Then bring inside to dry. You can
crumble the leaves up and then un-crumble
them. That makes them more dense.
Stained Glass Leaves
Need: Fall leaves, wax paper, warm
Iron (adult only), paper, scissors, and
glue
Directions: Gather some colorful fall
leaves. Place a few leaves in an
interesting arrangement between
two pieces of waxed paper. Lay a
piece of newspaper over the
waxed paper. Press gently with a
warm iron (Adult Only). The waxed
paper melts together, sealing
around the leaf. Trim the waxed
paper and glue a construction
paper frame around it. These look
great in windows, so the sun can
shine through.
Paper Plate Pumpkin
Need: Paper plate, construction
paper, glue
Directions: Using torn up orange
construction paper and glue it to a
paper plate. Use black construction
paper to make the eyes and mouth
of the pumpkin. Add green stem.
Autumn Theme
Squirrel
Pumpkin Pie
Need: Squirrel pattern, brad, shredded
wheat, glue, and crayons
Need: Aluminum pie plates, orange paper,
glue, pumpkin spices
Directions: Find a cute squirrel with an
attached tail (brad) . The bigger the
better. Give the kids a square of
shredded wheat and let them
crumble it all up to shreds (they love
this part) and then they can glue this
to the busy tail or all over whatever
they want. My kids can cut out the
squirrel but little ones may need the
squirrel already cut.
Directions: Cut out from orange construction
paper a circle that will fit the center of the
pie plate. Next give the children glue and let
them cover the paper center. Then give the
children shakers filled with spices such as
nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, pumpkin spice.
Have them really shake it onto the glue. Tap
off excess and let dry. Enjoy the fragrance.
Tissue Paper Leaf
Need: Fall color tissue paper, heavy
paper or tag board, glue, scissors
Directions: Cut a leaf pattern out of
heavy paper. Then cut fall colored
tissue paper into small squares. Glue
the squares onto the leaf or crumple
the squares into small balls and glue
them onto the leaf. Hang when dry.
Pumpkin Seed Painting
Need: Paper, paint, pumpkin seeds,
paper, Pringles can.
Directions: Cut a piece of paper to the
height of a Pringles can. Put a small
spoon full of paint inside the can. Pour
in a few seeds. Then slide the paper
into the can.
Put lid on can and shake well. The
seeds make a cool design. If you want
to do another color, wait for the paper
to dry then use another can and a
different color paint and do it all over
again.
Leaf Shadow Paintings
Need: Construction Paper, Scotch tape,
Paper Leaf cutouts, Paint brushes, Paint
Directions: Cut out leaf shapes, enough for
2-3 per child. Scotch tape leaves to
construction paper. Give each child a paint
brush and paint and encourage them to
paint over and around the leaf. When the
paint is dry, carefully remove the leaves and
the scotch tape to reveal leaf shapes.
Mr. Pumpkin Head
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.
Fall Tree
Make 3-4" cuts down from the top of a
brown lunch bag, open it, then twist it for a
great stand up tree. Have children glue
tissue paper leaves on it. It's great for "fall
trees" projects.
Autumn Theme
Pumpkin Patch Di-vine!
Fall Leave Place Mats
Promote body awareness and
stimulate discussion about the
uniqueness of each child's
fingerprints with this preschool
activity.
Materials: Contact paper, leaf patterns, crayons
suitable for "rubbing" in Fall colors and white
construction paper.
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.
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
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:
The leaves are falling down.
The leaves are falling down.
Red, yellow, green and brown.
The leaves are falling down.
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.
Comments: It is fun to have the children go out to
collect the leaves to be used.
Autumn Theme
Fall Wreath
Small Fall Trees
Materials: Leaves, acorns, pine cones,
bow, brown paint and paper plates.
In advance, hang pictures of fall trees in
the Art Center and provide drawing
materials (crayons, colored pencils,
markers, etc). Also in advance, draw a
tree trunk on each child's 5x7 piece of
paper. During Free Choice Play, allow
children to "draw" their own versions of the
leafy part to the tops of the pre-drawn
trunks.
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.
Old Phone Book Projects
1.
Cut various sizes and types of leaf shapes
from the pages of old phone books and
place them in the Art Center for children to
use in their creative "Fall" projects.
2.
Although phone book pages aren't quite
as thin as tissue paper, children can still
"scrunch" pieces into smaller shapes to
create 3-dimensional looking "fall leaves" or
"fall tree" projects. ("Scrunching paper" is a
great fine motor activity.)
Autumn Leaves
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.
Easel: Creative Art
After having discussed Fall, provide several
fall colors of paint and simply suggest, "Can
you use all these beautiful colors to paint a
picture about Fall." Praise whatever they
paint, ask them to tell you about their fall
picture, print their exact words on their
papers, and read it back to them.
Blocks Center: Place real fall leaves in a
small box and then put it in the Blocks
Center for children to play with as they
choose.
Autumn Theme
Fall Colors Match
Using markers in the same colors,
print fall color words on small
business-sized cards (red, yellow,
brown, orange, etc). Place them in
a basket along with construction
paper leaves in those same colors.
Children match the leaves to the
color word cards. (To make the
game more interesting, cut different
sizes of leaves.)
Nature Walk Cornstarch Impressions
While on a nature walk with the
children in the fall, encourage them
to pick up leaves, twigs, dried flowers
or other nature objects.
To make Cornstarch Impressions:
In a saucepan, mix together 1 cup
cornstarch; 2 cups baking soda; and
1 1/4 cups water. Cook over medium
heat until the mixture thickens. Cool,
then flatten mixture between sheets
of waxed paper. Let the children lay
their found items on top of the
cornstarch mixture and press them
down firmly. Then they can remove
their objects and see the detailed
impressions they made!
Mr. Pumpkin Head
Place a small pumpkin on a table,
with washable markers, a damp
sponge, and accessories - hats,
eyeglasses, scarves, wigs, etc. Let the
children draw faces with the markers,
and dress up Mr. Pumpkin Head. They
can erase their work and start again,
by using the damp sponge!
Falling Leaves
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leaves cut from construction paper (fall
colors)
Circles (9" in diameter) cut from brown
construction paper
scissors
tape or glue for each child
Draw a spiral on the brown circles and have
the children cut along the spiral line of the
circle. When they are finished ask them to
lift the cut circle to see the results!! Provide
pre-cut leaves (or materials for them to cut
them). Glue or tape the leaves along the
spiral. Hang the decorated spirals from the
ceiling of the room.
Autumn Theme
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.
Garden Stone
What You Need:
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1 cup of sand
1/2 cup of cornstarch
1 teaspoon powdered 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.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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.
Autumn Theme
Fall Tree
Fallen Leaves
Need:
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. It's
a lot of work, but the children love their
room.
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Large tree cut out
Leaf cut outs approx. 7" sq.
Photo of each child
Decorate the tree with paper leaves and
place a picture of each child on a leaf
with their name printed on the leaf under
their picture. The board helps the children
associate the name with the picture of
the child, thus learning names. It also helps
them know that they are part of the class.
Autumn Tree
This bulletin board involved direct
participation of the children and they
loved it! Cover the bulletin board with
white paper, then paint a tree trunk and
branches on the paper. Have each child
and teacher at our center paint one hand
as many colors as they want and leave a
hand print along the branches. (I had to
add some extras in order to attach all the
"leaves" to the tree.) As a border, cut
strips of pictures finger painted in autumn
colors and put them through a paper
crimper.
Nuts about School
Covered a bulletin board with orange
paper and trim it with fall leaves trim. Cut
out large acorns out of brown
construction paper and write each
student's name on one. Entitled the
board, "Our preschoolers are nuts about
school" in die-cut letters, with the letters of
the word, "nuts", eschewed. Then
scattered the paper acorns about the
board, accenting them with smaller die
cut leaves and acorns of construction
paper, and add a squirrel looking on from
the corner.
Cooperative Leaf Mural
Enlarge several different leaf patterns
onto separate sheets of white
construction paper (we did one for each
child). Provide the children with sponges,
and tempera paint (red, orange, yellow
and brown) in tins and their leaf. Have
each child sponge paint their leaf and
allow to dry. Take a large sheet of white
bulletin-board paper and title it "Welcome
Autumn". After the leaves have dried,
help each child glue their leaf onto the
white bulletin- board paper. Then they
can write their name on their leaf with a
black permanent marker.
Fall Harvest Bulletin Board
Cover the board with orange paper. Use
yellow or brown strips of paper to weave
what will look like a basket. Cut out letters
to spell 'Fall Harvest'. Trace leaf and acorn
patterns on assorted colors of
construction paper. Cut out the patterns.
Tape or staple the 'basket' to the board
with the top part slightly open. Have
children draw or paint pictures of fruits
and vegetables. When done or dry, cut
out the fruits and vegetables and arrange
them in the basket. Use real leaves,
acorns and pine cones as a border, and
arrange letters as desired.
Autumn Theme
Classroom Tree
The Family Tree
Advance Preparation: First, make a bare
(leafless) tree out of brown construction
paper (about 2 1/2 ft wide and 3 ft in
height). Cover it with clear contact
paper in order to reuse it. Place it on
your bulletin board (or wall). Purchase
white pellon interfacing, and trace leaf
shapes onto it (the pellon) and cut them
out (I use oak, maple, or elm leaf
shapes). Trace enough for each child to
have two leaf shapes. (Don't forget to
print their names on them, perhaps on
the stem.)
Have the children bring pictures of their
family to class. Let the children draw a tree
on the poster board. Next have the children
paste the pictures on the tree. Now you have
a cute family tree.
To do the actual activity: Create leaf
colors by mixing water and food coloring
(yellow, red, green) into containers and
place eye droppers in each color. The
children then use the eyedroppers to
squirt colors onto their leaf shapes in any
way they see fit 'til the white area is
covered. (As the colors bleed together,
there usually are some brown areas
which is ok as it's also a fall color.) When
they are done, lay them flat on trays
covered with wax paper to dry. When
they are dry, thumb tack them to your
bare tree until it is covered (overlapping
all the branches).
**This is the same concept as using
colored water on coffee filters except
that, by using pellon, the colors are
much more vibrant when dry (unless a
child drenches the pellon with colored
water.)
**Skills practiced for this activity include:
Color recognition, fine motor, creativity,
science (changing of the seasons, color
combinations), and there's always plenty
of language going on during the
activity.
Autumn Window Paint
Paint an autumn scene on your windows with
the following recipe. It is easily removed with
a solution of water and vinegar.
Window Paint:
 2 tablespoons powdered tempera paint
 1 tablespoon warm water
 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap
Measure powdered tempera paint into a
container. Mix in water thoroughly to achieve
a smooth paste. Add liquid dish soap, mixing
completely, but gently to avoid making suds
(if too many suds form place paint in the
freezer for a few minutes). This paint dries on
the window in about 5-10 minutes.
Autumn Theme
Wind Warm-Ups
Walnut Hunt
Have the children imagine that they are
beautifully colored autumn leaves swaying in
the autumn breeze. Tape long crepe paper
streamers to one child's arms so that she
becomes the breeze, winding her way through
the leaves. The leaves begin to flutter as the
wind comes closer. When the breeze is full and
hard, the leaves break away from the tree and
fall to the ground. Let the children see how
many different ways they can fall to the ground
- gently floating, spinning, swaying, bouncing,
and so on.
Hide walnuts in the play yard. Suggest
that the children be squirrels hunting for
walnuts. Have the children put their
nuts into a community basket. When all
the walnuts are found, help the
children count them.
Raking Leaves
Next ask your children to pretend that they are
out raking the autumn leaves. Have the children
rake all the leaves into a large pile. How will the
activity end? Let the children might want to play
in the leaves
 rolling, sliding, and tossing.
 Perhaps the wind will pick up again and
undo all their hard work. The children can
all wear streamers now and be the wind.
 The children can stuff the leaves in large
"bags". The children choose partners. One
child is the giant bag, holding his arms in a
wide open circle. The other child picks up
armfuls of leaves and stuffs them into the
"bag."
Squirrel and Nut
One child is chosen to be "it" and is given a nut
to hold. The other children form a circle, sitting
on the floor. They extend one hand and close
their eyes. "It" tiptoes around the inside of the
circle and puts the nut into one of the
outstretched hands. The one who receives it
jumps up and chases after the other until he
catches "it". He/she then becomes "it" and the
games proceeds as before. The children open
their eyes as the chase begins.
Song for Walnut Hunt
Sung to: "Ten Little Indians"
Little gray squirrels
Huntin' for walnuts
Little gray squirrels
Huntin' for walnuts
Little gray squirrels
Huntin' for walnuts
Storing them away for winter!
Nut Hunt
Check for Nut allergies first! Depending
on the age group of the children
involved, select several types of nuts
(be sure to use larger nuts for smaller
children). Before your day starts, hide
nuts around your home or child care
area. Demonstrate to the children
how you can act like a squirrel, and
how you're looking for the missing nuts
which you had harvested. Enlist their
"squirrely" help in finding them!
Bean Bag Leaf Toss
Make several loosely bean bags in leaf
shapes, red, green, orange and yellow.
Set a bushel basket a few steps away.
The children stand behind a line and
try to toss their bean bags into the
basket.
Autumn Theme
Scarecrow Movements
Apple Board Game
Playing all types of instrumental music
(classical, jazz, modern, etc.) have the
children move the way they think a
scarecrow would move in rhythm to the
music.
Cut out an apple tree shape from brown and
green construction paper; laminate for
durability. Cut out apple shapes from red
construction paper. Make small cards and
number from 1 - 5. The children can take turns
choosing a card and placing the correct
number of apples on the tree.
Colored Leaf Game
Cut leaf shapes out of selected colors of
construction paper and place them in a
paper bag. Have the children sit in a
circle. Let one child at a time reach in
the bag and take out a leaf. Explain that
in order to keep the colored leaf, the
child must name something that is a
matching color (a red apple, a yellow
banana, my blue shirt, etc.). Continue
the game as long as desired, making
sure that everyone ends up with the
same amount of leaf.
Leaf Toss
Take a sheet, or a parachute. Gather
real leaves, fabric leaves, or paper
leaves. Place them in the middle of the
sheet. Gather around the sheet and
have the children lift the sheet slowly
and then quickly to see how all the
leaves "float".
More Ideas
*
Rake up piles of leaves and jump in
them.
*
Make a scarecrow by stuffing
clothes with leaves.
Apple Lacing
Construction paper or foam, hole punch, yarn,
scissors and tape.
Make an apple for each child. Have red,
green and yellow apples with leaves on them
and put holes all around the apple. Give each
child some yarn and ask them to lace around
the apple (put tape on each end of the string
to make it easier for them to lace the apple).
Hide Nuts
Hide them throughout the room children
pretend to be squirrels and gather the nuts fun
by tasting the nuts that have been discovered.
Nut are good for sorting... as far as shape, size
and color.
Squirrel and Nut Game
One child is chosen to be "it" is given a nut to
hold. The other children form a circle, sitting on
the floor. They extend one hand & close their
eyes. "It" tiptoes around the inside of the circle
& puts the nut into one of the outstretched
hands. The one who receives it jumps up &
chases after the other until he catches "it".
He/she then becomes "it" & the games
proceeds as before. The children open their
eyes as the chase begins.
Autumn Theme
Measuring with Cornmeal
Leaf Match
Pour yellow cornmeal into a plastic
dishpan and provide a set of measuring
cups. Let the children take turns
experimenting with measuring. They will
soon discover that it takes four quartercups or two half-cups to fill the one cup
container.
Weighing Acorns & Pine Cones
Use a glue stick to glue leaves plucked
from 4-6 different trees on to a poster
board. Cover with clear contact paper.
Sandwich leaves of the same size and
variety between two pieces of clear
contact paper. Trim around each leaves
leaving a ¼ " sealed edge. Set the board
and leaves on a tray. The children match
the leaves.
A scale, acorns and pine cones can be
added to the science center.
Leaf Math
Leaf Math
Out of construction paper or tagboard,
prepare pairs of various shaped leaves.
The children can match the identical
leaves.
Match the Leaves
Go out to the nearest woods and pick
leaves from several different kinds of
trees. Next put these leaves in a box and
have your children group the leaves with
similar ones. Leaves can be laminated in
order to make them last longer. You can
also do this with different pictures of
leaves.
Nut Sorting
Set out a large basket of unshelled nuts
(several varieties). The children sort the
nuts into smaller baskets according to
their kind. Afterwards count how many
nuts there are of each kind.
Take laminated colored paper in red,
orange, yellow, green and brown. I cut
out leaf shapes in two different sizes.
These are put in the sorting tray. The
children can sort by color and size. Then I
also cut out a larger leaf shape. The
children then use these leaves to count
with. Later on I use a "sharpie" to add
numerals to the leaves. Then the older
pre-K students put these in order. As a
class project I pass out the leaves with
the numbers on them, then the children
put themselves into order. This is great
fun and they learn from each other.
Fall Sorting
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 Theme
Autumn Leaves
Author: Ken Robbins
Summary: This book is all about the colors of leaves.
Age Range: 3 to 6 years old
Campfire Reading: When the
seasons change to cooler
temperatures, I invite the children
to gather around my circle time
campfire for some cozy reading. I
create a campfire by adding real
logs to the rug. I tuck
red/orange/yellow posterboard
flames in and around the logs. I
invite the children to grab their
rest-time pillows and blankets and
"cozy up to the fire."
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
Summary: Discover the life cycle of the maple tree by following its changes throughout
the year through the eyes of a child. Brilliant bold illustrations will captive you.
Written by: Lois Ehlert
The Giving Tree
Summary A moving story about a boy's relationship with a tree that gives everything it
has to him as he grows from a child into an old man.
Written by: Shel Silverstein
Fall Leaves Fall! by Zoe Hall.
Leaves! Leaves! Leaves! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
The Falling Leaves by Steve Metzger (and it's sequel)
The Biggest Leaf Pile by Steve Metzge
Autumn Theme
Leaf Observation
Acorn Exploring
Collect leaves from a variety of trees.
Place them and a magnifying glass
on the science table for the children
to explore.
If you live in an area where acorns are readily
available, have youngsters help you collect
some for these activities. As a safety
precaution, have students wash their hands
after handling the acorns.
Temperature Watch
Place a thermometer outside. A large
cardboard thermometer can also be
constructed out of tagboard with
movable elastic or ribbon for the
mercury. The children can match the
thermometer on the cardboard with
the outdoor one.
Weather Calendar
Construct a calendar for the month.
Record the changes of weather each
day by attaching a symbol to the
calendar. The symbols could include
sun, clouds, snow, rain, etc.
Color Change Sequence
Laminate or cover with contact
paper, several leaves of different
colors. The children can sort, count
and classify the leaves.
Grow a Tree
If you have a place. Plant a Tree in
the Spring and Once a week let the
children go see the progress. You can
also let the children draw their own
baby tree.
Changing Tree
Put up a tree in your classroom. Over
time change a few leafs a day to
orange and brown. See how long it
takes for your children to notice.
Here are things you can do with an Acorn:
 Sort and classify the acorns into
categories: big/little, cap/no cap, dark
color/light color.
 Weigh the acorns on a balance scale.
 Crush an acorn to see what's inside. Use
a hand lens to observe it.
 Encourage a child to make acorn
impressions in play dough.
 Do acorns float? Find out at the water
table.
 Roll a large die; then count out the
corresponding number of acorns.
First Day of Fall
Did you know that you can make a raw egg
stand on it's end using nothing to help stand
it up on the first day of fall? Every first day of
fall (and for some reason it only happens
then) I bring an egg to school. We go
outside on the sidewalk and set up the egg.
It may take a few tries to get it into a
standing position, but it will! We graph the
hours as they go by and see how long our
egg will stand. I think this has something to
do with the earth's balance...but I'm not
positive of the scientific explanation.
Autumn Theme
Adopt a Tree
Fall Feely Box
When doing a Unit on Trees have your class go
outside and adopt a tree. Then you can take
walks to the tree and do activities with the tree.
Some activities include:
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.
 Measuring how many children (with hands
joined) it takes to go around the tree
 Talk about what animals could live in the
tree
 Draw pictures of the trees
 Take pictures of the tree (monthly) so the
children can see the tree change over
time
 In conjunction with the book A Tree Can
Be, talk about what a tree can be to your
students
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.
How to Preserve Fall Leaves
Water & Sand Play
To preserve real leaves for leaf rubbing....Brush
the leaves on each side with vegetable oil.
Place the oiled leaves between layers of
newspaper. Place a heavy object on the
newspaper for about three days. You will have
beautifully preserved leaves for leaf rubbing!
*Add small animals to the sand
table for preparing for winter.
*Fill the table with different types
of fall leaves.
Autumn Theme
Baked Apples
Pumpkin Punch
Use several baking apples (rome,
winesap, starr, Jersey red, or greening).
Core the apples and remove a 1 inch
strip of skin around the middle of the
apple or pare the upper half of each.
Place the apples in a baking dish and
pour 1/2 cup water around them. Fill
the center of each apple with 1
tablespoon honey chopped raisins, 1
teaspoon butter and 1/8 teaspoon
cinnamon. Bake 30-40 minutes at 375
degrees until tender. (Children under
12 months should not have honey.)
Scoop out the inside of a large pumpkin. Put a
mixing bowl inside. Fill the bowl with apple cider,
orange punch or any other beverage.
Pumpkin Muffin
Need:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar or honey
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease
the muffin pans. Measure and mix the
ingredients. Batter should be lumpy. Fill
the cups 2/3 full and sprinkle 1/4
teaspoon sugar over each muffin.
Bake 18-20 minutes. Makes 12.
Orange Milk Sherbet
Need:
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
3 cups milk
2 cups half and half
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
yellow and red food coloring
In a saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over 1 cup of the
milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until
gelatin dissolves. Set aside. In a large bowl,
combine the rest of the milk with the remaining
ingredients. Gradually stir in gelatin mixture. Pour
into cake pans, cover with foil.
Leaf Cookies
Obtain a leaf shaped cookie cutter and have
the children help you make leaf cookies.
Decorate them with red, orange, yellow and
brown frosting.
Leaf Jello
Obtain a leaf shaped cookie cutter. Make Jello
jigglers from yellow, red or orange Jello.
Eating Leaves
Discuss the food that we eat that are leaves, like
lettuce, or cabbage. Have the children try these
food items.
Autumn Theme
Cornbread
Pumpkin Seeds
In a large bowl, mix together 1 cup flour, 1
cup yellow cornmeal, 1/2 teaspoon salt
and 1 tablespoon baking powder. In a
blender container, place 1/2 cup unsweetened frozen apple juice concentrate,
1 egg, 1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup vegetable oil,
and 1 sliced banana. Blend well and stir
mixture into dry ingredients. Pour batter into
a greased 9 inch baking pan and bake at
400 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes. Makes
16 small squares.
Need:
Apple Banana Frosty
Need:
Need:
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1 golden delicious apple, diced
1 peeled sliced banana
1/4 cup milk
3 ice cubes
Blend all ingredients in a blender. Serves 4
children.
Apple Salad
Need:
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6 medium apples
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup white grape juice
Peel and chop the apples. Mix well
and add the remaining ingredients.
Serves 10 children
Leafy Snack
Make sandwiches and use leaf cookie
cutters to create leaf shaped sandwiches
Alternatively use Jell-O, to make Leafy
Jigglers
 2 cups pumpkin seeds
 1 teaspoon salt
 1 1/2 tablespoon butter (melted)
Clean seeds well. Mix the above
ingredients and spread onto a cookie
sheet. Bake at 275 degrees F. until
golden brown, about 35 minutes.
Leaf Piles




6 cups cornflakes
1 cup Karo syrup
1 cup peanut butter.
You will also need some Wax paper
to lay your leaf piles on.
Directions: In a microwave melt the Karo
and peanut butter together. Pour over
the cornflakes and place them in piles
on wax paper. Let them cool and dry.
No Bake Pumpkin Pie
Individual recipe:
Small custard-sized pie crusts
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
1 tablespoon marshmallow cream
1 tablespoon prepared whipped
topping
 Sprinkle of cinnamon




Mix all ingredients together and pour
into the crust. The recipe is then ready to
eat; if you wish, it may be refrigerated or
frozen.
Autumn Theme
Spicy Pumpkin Shake
 2 cups frozen apple juice
concentrate, undiluted
 1 cup milk
 1 cup pumpkin puree
 1 cup vanilla ice cream
 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Place all of the ingredients in a large
blender or food processor and blend until
well mixed and smooth. Pour into chilled
glasses and serve immediately.
Pumpkin Bread
Need:




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



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3 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup oil
4 eggs
2/3 cup water
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 cups pumpkin
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups pecans
Mix the ingredients until smooth. Pour in a
greased loaf or bunt pan. Bake one hour
at 350 degrees F. Fill pans half full
because they rise quite a bit. Makes
three to four loaves, or 2 bunt pans.
Bread Leaves
I love letting the children cut out leaf shapes
from pieces of bread and then spreading on
peanut butter before eating a brown "fall
leaf." (Beware always of nut allergies.)
Easy Pumpkin Pudding

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


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.