Fall Field Trip

 This is a field trip the kids always look forward to!  The kids got to do a lot of activities including playing on the jumping pillow, playing on the playground, digging in the giant corn box, going on a wagon ride, and going in the mini hay maze.  We made lots of fun memories for sure!

Fall Math

 As part of fire safety month we used firestation mats with bean "dalmations" to practice counting.

We also did some patterning with fall themed pattern cards. 

Celebrating Fall

Making a leaf "pin poke picture".  These are great for fine motor control and when the kids are finished, it is so rewarding for them to hold them up to the window and see the leaf shape with light shining through the holes. 

Exploring Fall with our senses!  Lots of fun fall objects to discover and observe.  This one included beans, fake leaves, fake apples, acorns, pine cones, and scoops for pouring skills and mathematical connections.

Pumpkin pie art with real pumpkin spices to make them smell good and help enhance sensory learning!

Leaf Silhouette Pictures

I love that with these open ended art projects, the kids have so much fun, they don't even realize that they are learning!  I had them tape dried fall leaves on their paper first with painters tape so it wouldn't tear.  Next I gave them scrub brushes and fall colored paint to explore with (more color mixing fun).  I taught them how to stamp the paper around all the leaves and when they were all dry we lifted the leaves off for a fun leaf silhouette effect. I think they turned out really pretty!

Leaf Pin Poke Picture

I couldn't have been more proud of these kids for this activity which is fairly difficult for attention spans at this age.  Basically I just had the kids use a push pin to punch around a leaf template onto orange construction paper.  The kids meticulously and tediously worked on these which took a little time and those who weren't finished insisted on working on them during free play time.  They were so excited to see the finished product held up to the window!  I was really surprised at their ability  to focus on this one.  Again another great activity to help develop fine motor control which is so important for school skills such as writing, coloring, cutting, glueing etc. 

Fall Themed Sensory Tub

This tub came complete with mixed beans in fall colors, fabric fall leaves, real pinecones and acorns, small red, brown & gold plastic acorns and leaves, and lots of scoops, a rake, shovel etc.   A fall scent would be something fun to add another time.  (Pumpkin spice/apple cider/peach cobbler etc)

We Are Thankful!

I know I'm Thankful to get to teach this cute bunch of pilgrims! What a great, great bunch of kids! I am also thankful to all the mom's for helping to contribute to our feast!  The kids had so much fun sharing with their friends.  Don't you love the cute apple turkey's?  I especially love that they are also healthy.  And the pumpkin rolls are gorgeous and to die for!   The kids also got to make pilgrim hats out of cookies and peanut butter cups.  What a fun party we had!  

Let the games begin!

We played lots of turkey games starting out with the classic pin the feathers on the turkey.. .We thought he looked pretty silly when we were done! I love the feathered feet!  The kids had fun laughing about the first foot so I'm still a little suspicious how both feathers look so strategically placed.  

 Hide the turkey...Watch out Tom!  This farmer is the real deal.  He means business!

 The turkey strut!  We have some professional strutters in our class this year.  They know how to get their waddle on like no other.  They always make me smile!  We also did the "Turkey Dance" AKA the "Chicken Dance" but changed for obvious reasons. The joys of the song never change.  The kids loved the part where they got to lock elbows with a friend and polka around in a circle.

And last but not least a game of Pilgrim Pilgrim.

Thanksgiving Memory

So for this guessing game I would hide one item and see if the kids could figure out which item was missing from the delicious Thanksgiving feast.  

Pinecone Turkeys

Thank you to one of my wonderful mother helpers for coming and bringing this darling craft for the kids and helping us in the classroom!  What a bunch of perky little turkeys.  

Stuff The Turkey

What's a Thanksgiving party with out the turkey?  And just as important....The stuffing.  So that's exactly what we did we filled up poor old Turkey Tom with scrunched up paper balls (mmm yummy).  In the process I think we got out a few wiggle worms as well.  Also good for gross motor development.  

Leaf Size Sorting

We used these sorting mats to determine whether the leaves were large, small or medium.