Great to make with kids! (Also visit our 'Pumpkin Theme' with games, art, crafts, science and more...)

 

PUMPKIN DIP #1 

4 c. powdered sugar
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese
1 can (30 oz.) pumpkin pie filling
2 tsp. cinnamon and 1 tsp. ginger
Combine sugar and softened cream cheese until well blended. Beat in remaining ingredients. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator.
This dip is good with gingersnaps!

___________

PUMPKIN DIP #2 (Almost like above but with orange added)

1 - 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioner's sugar
1 - 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon pure orange extract
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Gingersnaps cookies, apple slices

Blend cream cheese and confectioner's sugar until smooth in food
processor. Remove cover;add pumpkin and remaining ingredients. Blend
thoroughly.Chill 30 minutes or until ready to serve. Serve with cookies and/or
apple slices. Recipe: Soniatasteshawaii

_________

 PUMPKIN DIP #3

Ingredients
2 cups Pumpkin Puree - canned or fresh
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
1 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 pkg. Cream Cheese, softened
Directions:
1. Place pumpkin puree and cream cheese into alarge bowl and mix together.
2. Add all other ingredients
3. Mix ingredients together until smooth and
creamy.
4. Refrigerate at least four hours or overnight.
5. Serve with ginger snaps, crackers, apples, celery, carrots, etc.
Recipe Source: pumpkinnook

________________

TIP: RECIPE FOR 'PUMPKIN PIE SPICE'...
Of course you can purchase the spice--but you can also make your own!

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons ground cinnamon and 4 teaspoons ground nutmeg
4 teaspoons ground ginger
3 teaspoons ground allspice
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Store in air tight container.

_____________

PUMPKIN PUDDING
Ingredients
1 cup Canned Pumpkin
1 pkg. (4 serving size) Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
1 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 1/4 cups Skim Milk or 1% Milk

1. Mix all ingredients together.
2. Place in individual bowls or glasses and chill until set.
3. Serve cold.
Makes 4 servings

____________

 

CROCK POT PUMPKIN PUDDING by Adria Stone Sims

(Just like pumpkin pie without the crust )

Ingredients:
1 can ( 15oz.) pumpkin puree' or filling
1 scant tbsp of pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp of vanilla
1 can  evaporated milk
3/4 cup of sugar ( Adria used 1/2 white, 1/4 brown)
1/2 cup of biscuit mix/bisquick
2 tbsp butter
2 eggs

OPTIONAL:
Whipped cream or Cool Whip
Individual pie crustsl
Graham crackers

1. Spray crock pot with non-stick spray

2. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl - use an electric mixer at low speed & mix until smooth. -Pour into crockpot

3. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours (at about the 4 hour mark check it;c rock pots cook at various temps) Pudding is done when it's similar to a pie or mousse. The sample was more like a firm'whipped mousse'.

** Adria put 2 paper towels, layered, across the top of the CP before she put the lid on to catch the moisture.....you may not have to do that. Serve in bowl with cool whip, or in individual pie crusts, or in a bowl with cool whip and graham crackers crumbled......It all depends how you like to eat " pumpkin pie"

TIP: if you like to eat your pumpkin pie cold-put in a dish and refrigerate til ready to eat. Source 'Crock Pot Girls' page on face book

________

MICROWAVE PUMPKIN BUTTER

Ingredients:
Scant 1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon clove
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups (15 oz) canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling mix)
Adjust all to your taste.

Combine everything except pumpkin in microwave-safe bowl. Mix well, and microwave on high for three minutes.
Carefully remove from microwave;stir well.
Stir in pumpkin and microwave on high 5 minutes.
Remove from microwave -- stir, and let cool.

Pumpkin is not butter but sweet, spicy, and dense. It's great on toast or pancakes. Also-makes nice holiday gifts!

_____________

CROCK POT-SLOW COOKER PUMPKIN BUTTER
Ingredients:
2 cups of cooked, pureed pumpkin (or you can use a 15oz can of pumpkin if you don't want to use fresh)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 Tbsp. finely grated fresh ginger
1/8 tsp ground cloves

Combine all ingredients in crock-pot and stir to mix well.
Cook on Low for 5 hours, stirring occasionally. It will thicken as it cooks.
Do not let it burn or stick.
Store in the refrigerator or freeze.

_____________

NO-COOK PUMPKIN PIE (Individual servings)

Give each child a cup. Into their cup put a large scoop of canned pumpkin, marshmallow crème, cool whip, and pumpkin pie spices. Children then mix and  spread it on graham crackers and eat. (Idea of Dare-to-Disturb)

_____________________

NO BAKE PUMPKIN PIE
Individual recipe:
Small custard-sized ready to eat--pie crusts
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
1 tablespoon marshmallow creme
1 tablespoon prepared whipped topping
Sprinkle of cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together and pour into the crust. The recipe is then ready to eat; it may be refrigerated or frozen.

______________

MINI PUMPKIN PIES
Place a wafer cookie in the bottom of a cupcake paper.
Fill with pumpkin filling--top with miniature marshmallows.
Bake for 10-15 minutes.

__________

FROZEN PUMPKIN DESSERT
1  can pumpkin (15 oz)
1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Soften the ice cream. Combine pumpkin and other ingredients. Fold ice-cream with pumpkin mixture.  
Pour into a 9" by 13" pan. Top with chopped nuts. Freeze overnight. This can also be put together weeks ahead. 
Warm at room temperature slightly before serving so pieces will easily cut. Top with whipped cream if desired.

____________

 

TWO INGREDIENT PUMPKIN CAKE

Ingredients
1 box any flavor cake mix (Spice is recommended-I used chocolate)
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Generously grease a 9x13 or 9X11 inch baking pan.
 
1. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and canned pumpkin until well blended. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
2. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes , or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
3. Cool and serve, or store in the refrigerator.

NOTES: We tasted this warm--but agree that it tasted better cold--if fact it tasted better the next days! After reading a lot of reviews in several places about adding ingredients--I DID add 2 eggs. Othes have said how difficult it was to mix the ingredients--but using a hand mixer, it was no more difficult than mixing a regular cake. There was one piece oF cake left that was well wrapped in the frig--after one week it still tasted moist! (We went on vacataion LOL-it was nice coming home to it!)

(Next time I'll try it with NOT adding the two eggs and will update this post.)

For the photo-I melted canned cream cheese frosting. For ourselves and the rest of the cake--chocolate frosting was used. (Tip: Did you know that you can take any canned frosting-put it a bit in the microwave and you have a wonderful glaze or dessert topping?!!! I especially like using this quick method to frost bundt cakes... Barb)

_________________________

 PUMPKIN CHIPS #1
When it comes to Fall recipes, this is one you should try!

Ingredients:
Peeled Pie pumpkin (a regular Jack-o-Lantern or field pumpkin can also be used)
Salt

Preheat deep frying oil in a fryer to 375 degrees.
Slice pumpkin pulp as thinly as possible, no more than 1/8" thick.
Carefully, drop a few chips at a time into the hot oil.
Fry until crisp.
Remove chips from the oil and place on paper towels to drain.
Salt to taste. Serve warm.

FRIED PUMPKIN CHIPS #2
Need:
1 pumpkin
Salt and pepper
Flour
Electric skillet
Spatula
Sharp knife
 
Slice pumpkin into thin strips.
Salt and pepper the strips, then dust them with flour.
Fry, turning occasionally, until the strips are browned.

PUMPKIN CHIPS #3
Ingredients:
Fresh pumpkin- seeded, pared, and cut into 2x4 inch sections
Vegetable oil for frying
Salt or garlic salt

1. Slice the pumpkin sections with the slicing disk.
2. Soak slices in water for 1 hour.Remove and pat dry.
3. Fry a few slices at a time in oil at 360 degrees F.(Approx. 2 minutes or until lightly browned.Drain on paper towels.
4. Sprinkle with salt or garlic salt or a mixture of salt, ginger, and nutmeg. A mixture of garlic salt and curry powder is also good.

___________

FRIED PUMPKIN BLOOMS  

Gather pumpkin blooms.
Wash and roll in batter made of egg, flour and milk.
Put in hot oil and fry until light brown.
Salt and pepper to taste.

___________

PUMPKIN SHAPED CAKE
Make or purchase two bunt cakes. To create your pumpkin--put the two cakes together. You may want to use frosting between the cakes to hold together. (You also may have to shave a bit off the bottom cake to sit on the plate and stay level) Cover with orange frosting and decorate as desired!

______________

LEFT-OVER  PUMPKIN SEEDS from Autumn Pumpkins!

You can quickly make pumpkin seeds in your microwave. The shells are edible --- and a good source of fiber. You can also use this method with other seeds such as acorn squash and butternut squash.

Ingredients:
1 cup pumpkin seeds, 1 Tbsp. Olive oil or butter, Salt, seasoned salt, garlic /onion powder or other seasonings to your choice.

Rinse pumpkin seeds. Remove all the pulp. Drain the seeds and discard the pulp. Spread out on paper towel on a cookie sheet and dry them over-night. Place butter or Olive Oil l in a microwave-safe, baking dish.

Microwave on high about 7 to 8 minutes or until seeds are toasted a light golden color. Be sure to stir every 2 minutes as they are cooking. When done, sprinkle with your choice of seasonings. Coat evenly. Cool them before eating or storing. They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 months or refrigerate up to 1 year.

If you like your toasted pumpkin seeds extra-salty, soak them overnight in a solution of 1/4 cup salt to 2 cups of water. Dry an additional day, and follow the above directions.

______________

 POPCORN PUMPKINS (Not made from pumpkins-but look like pumpkins!) 

1. Microwave and melt 1/4 c. margarine/butter and 10 1/2 oz. of mini marshmallows for 1-2 min.

2. Stir in a 4 serving size orange Jell-O; after it is combined, pour it over 3 qts of popped popcorn (12 cups)

3. Grease/butter hands and form the popcorn into pumpkin-shaped balls.

4. Complete pumpkin features witha green spearmint candy for the top stem and chocolate chips and M&Ms for the face. (Or just add a leaf for a plain pumpkin)

___________

SPICED PUMPKIN MOUSSE

1 envelope unflavored gelatin (2 1/4 teaspoons)   
1/4 cup cold water   
1 (15-ounce) can pure pumpkin   
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar   
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon   
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg   
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger   
1/8 teaspoon salt   
2 1/4 cups chilled heavy cream   
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, divided   
Garnish: ground cinnamon (optional)   
Equipment: 8 (8-ounce) glasses   
Directions
Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small saucepan and let soften 1 minute. Bring to a bare simmer, stirring until gelatin has dissolved. Whisk together gelatin mixture, pumpkin, brown sugar, spices, and salt in a large bowl.

Beat 1 cup cream with vanilla until it holds soft peaks, then fold into pumpkin mixture gently but thoroughly.

Spoon about 1/2 cup pumpkin mixture into bottom of each glass. Chill until set, at least 2 hours.
Beat remaining 1 1/4 cups cream with remaining 1 tsp vanilla until it holds soft peaks. Dollop each with whipped cream before serving. Courtesy: kitchendaily

__________

AUTUMN SOUP IN A PUMPKIN

Need: A Pumpkin and two cans soup of your choice...

Clean out the pumpkin and don't cut a face.
Make the soup and pour it in the pumpkin...
Easiest directions you'll ever get!

____________

EASY PUMPKIN SOUP
Ingredients
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) Progresso Chicken Broth
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup heavy whipping cream

In a large saucepan, saute onion in butter until tender. Remove from the heat; stir in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in broth, pumpkin, brown sugar, salt, pepper and nutmeg; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cream; cook for 2 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 6 servings.

NOTE: People that have made this soup say it's really good. All say to adjust seasoning as you like. One says she added Saigon cinnamon and doubled the nutmeg. She also sprinkled additional grated fresh nutmeg on top. Another says...This soup is wonderful. I altered it by adding 1/8 tsp of cinnamon and doubled the nutmeg. I also used 99% fat free chicken broth and reduced the whipping cream to 3/4 cup to lower the calories. This tastes like the pumpkin soup at UNO's. Very easy to make.

__________

PUMPKIN DRINKS...

PUMPKIN PUNCH
Thouroughly clean out and scrape the sides of a pumpkin. Line the inside with Saran Wrap. 
Fill with vanilla ice cream and ginger ale. (Or your favorite fall punch recipe)

______________________

PUMPKIN SPICE HOT COCOA - Wonderful for Autumn evenings!

6 cups of milk
6 packets of powdered hot chocolate OR ½ lb. of dark chocolate bits
1 1/2 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
Lots of whipped cream
Cinnamon

Heat milk to almost boiling. Place hot chocolate mix into mugs and thoroughly mix in ¼ T of pumpkin pie spice in each cup. Pour in hot milk and stir well. Load on the whip cream. Sprinkle cinnamon on top. Recipe and photo thanks to No Fuss Fabulous Serves 6

_________________________

PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE
4 servings, about 1 cup each
1 qt. (4 cups) milk
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Butterscotch Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
1/2 cup vanilla ice cream, softened
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1. Place all ingredients in large pitcher with tight-fitting lid; cover. Shake vigorously 1 minute or until well blended.
2. Pour evenly into 4 glasses. Serve immediately. (Mixture thickens as it stands. Thin with additional milk, if desired.) From Kraft Food Website

_________

 ZESTY PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup vanilla yogurt
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
4 ice cubes
Directions:
Combine ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve immediately with drinking straws.

___________

You may also like the Autumn/Fall Pumpkin Theme: Games, Art, Crafts, Science, Poems, Songs and Finger Play

________________

 

 

Planning your Autumn/fall curriculum can be so easy! Base it around  the 'Month of____and Day of _____! Visit Doing the Days: September, October, November  There are activity ideas on the pages of each month!!!

____________

COLORFUL FALL PUZZLE TREE An easy activity for fall!
We all have puzzles that have missing pieces (such as the 100 piece puzzle that only has 80 pieces left)
Cut out the trunk of a tree with limbs; glue or staple the trunk to a piece of background paper. Pre-paint the puzzle pieces in fall leaf colors (or they may already have a fall look) Glue the puzzle pieces to the branches of the tree.
(Also good for spring)

__________________ 

CLAY LEAF PRINTS
Use a rolling pin to flatten clay or DRYING TYPE dough. Lay a leaf on the clay & roll over it. Remove the leaf & let the clay dry. Paint the clay with fall colors of tempera.
"Air dry and bake recipes" are on this site in the Play Dough Thread!

________________________

LEAF MOBILE IDEAS:

Glue colorful and different fabrics to both sides of several pieces of heavy paper. Cut out leaves from this. Tie a string on each leaf. Suspend the leaves from a small branch. Hang them where they might catch a breeze.

You can also make the mobile with leaves cut out of construction paper or found outdoors. Preserving the leaves in the glycerin mixture found in the Fall Nature Category would make the leaves look fresh for quite awhile.

_____________________

SUN PRINTS with PAPER TAPED TO WINDOW...
MAKE LEAF PRINT ART...

Materials: Colored construction paper (make sure you use paper that will fade), leaves gathered from yard, glue stick, masking tape
Optional: picture frames.

1. Dab a bit of glue onto the back of a leaf, and attach to a piece of construction paper
(If you are going to frame--you can pre-trim the paper to fit a 5"x7" frame--frames can be made from foam, cardboard or card-stock).

2. Tape the paper to a sunny window, with the leaf facing out. Leave up for THREE TO FOUR days, or UNTIL YOU NOTICE that the paper's color has faded. (Some directions say a week or longer--I think this time estimate would be more accurate--you'll know by the fading)

3. Remove from the window and gently peel the leaf off to reveal the print. Frame and hang.
This version from Parents Magazine, August 2005

____________________ 

FUNNY FACED GOURD
Use acrylic paints to make a face on a gourd. The gourds naturally have characteristics that create a funny face

________________________

CORNSTARCH IMPRESSIONS
Materials: Cornstarch, baking soda, water, saucepan, waxed paper, and nature objects such as leaves, twigs and flowers...

• 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, and then flatten mixture between sheets of waxed paper.
• Have the children lay leaves, twigs, flowers or other nature objects on top of the cornstarch mixture and press them down firmly.
• Have them remove the objects to see the detailed impressions they made.

____________________

WINDOW PAINTING
Paint a fall/harvest scene on your window. Use the following recipe and the paint is easily removed. Give each child (Or group of children) a window to decorate.

• Window Paint: 2 Tbsp powdered tempera paint, 1 Tbsp warm water, 1 tsp Joy dish washing liquid Measure powdered paint into a container.
• Mix in water thoroughly to achieve a smooth paste. Add JOY, mixing completely, but gently, to avoid making paint too sudsy.
•  Dries on windows in 5 - 10 minutes. Washes off easily with a solution of water and vinegar.

_____________________

TOOTHPICK TREE
Have the children make a tree by gluing toothpicks on a piece of paper. Use a sponge and fall colors of red, orange and yellow tempera paint...add leaves to the top of the tree.

________________________

AUTUMN NECKLACES Collect fall seeds and beans (even a milkweed pod or  two) and string them into necklaces. This necklace is made from colored pumpkin seeds

Materials:
Assorted seeds, beans, corn, bowl of hot water, colander, heavy thread, embroidery needle

• The first step is to soften up the "beads" by soaking them in water. If you're using Indian corn kernels or dried beans (black and kidney beans work well), soak them overnight.
• For seeds--try sunflower, pumpkin, squash and watermelon--first rinse, then soak them in hot water for about 15 minutes or until soft enough to poke a needle through the center. Drain and pat dry.
• Double-thread the needle to the needed length of children’s necklaces (big enough to fit over their heads), then knot the ends together, leaving a tail.
• Children can string the seeds and beans onto the thread.
• Leave enough room to tie the end of the thread to the tail.
• Let necklace dry in a sunny spot for a day or two.

NOTE: Directions for Pumpkin coloring seeds are included in the 'Pumpkin Seed Mosaic Art'...it is 3/4 down this page)

________________________

NUTTY WIND CHIME Use fall tree seeds or nuts to make a wind chime.

Color a design on a tissue paper tube. Thread a length of yarn or string through the tube and knot the ends together to create a hanger. Next, wrap and glue one end of a length of ribbon aaround each nut you choose to use. Wrap and glue the opposite end of each ribbon around the cardboard tube. Hang the wind chime one glue completely dries.

___________

YARN SHAPED LEAVES...
Materials:
Leaves
Thin cardboard
Pencil or pen
Scissors
Tacky glue
Colorful yarn
Adhesive magnet strips

• Trace some leaves onto thin cardboard and cut them out.
• Coat one side of the cardboard with tacky glue and let the glue dry after covering the shape with yarn.
• Attach a strip of adhesive magnet to the back.
• You can also us colored foam (green, red, yellow, orange), that is peel-and-stick. Peel the backing off and "paint" the yarn right to the foam, much easier and neater than glue.
• Cut out the leaf shapes and paste them to background paper.
• You can add heads, arms, and legs. Suggest that children have the leaf people engaged in some activity.

Click here for an entire LEAF/LEAVES THEME...

_________________________

 LEAF PEOPLE --Glue a leaf to a sheet of paper and draw features to make them into leaf people and animals... put arms, legs, necks, heads, tails, etc. when complete draw a scene around your leaf person!
__________________
LEAF PEOPLE #2 IDEA
Place your leaves UNDER sheets of white paper. Rub the sides of red, orange and yellow crayons on the paper -- Rub over the leaves until leaf shapes appear.

________________________

LEAVES AND MELTED CRAYONS

• Collect leaves and arrange them on a piece of wax paper.
• Add wax crayon shavings and apply another piece of wax paper on top.
• Iron the wax paper together until crayon shavings have melted.
• Let cool. Trim into desired shapes and hang in windows.

___________________

LEAF BOOKMARK
Materials: construction paper, contact paper, leaves, scissors.
Cut the construction paper into 3x6 inch pieces. Have children collect leaves on a nature walk ---and then arrange the leaves on the contact paper. Put the construction paper over the contact paper and cut around the edges. (See a very pretty leaf bookmark on clear contact paper here...)

______________________________________

COFFEE FILTER LEAFED TREE

• Take coffee filters and cut them into the shapes of leaves.
• With cups of liquid watercolors in orange, yellow, red, and brown have the children use eye droppers to place watercolors on the filter leaves.
• The colors blend together for wonderful fall leaves.
• Create a tree trunk out of brown wrapping paper or butcher paper. Add leaves to the branches and also at the base of the tree.

_________________

LEAF RUBBING
Have children place a variety of leaves -underside up - under a piece of light colored construction paper. With the sides of crayons that have had the paper covering removed, make crayon rubbing of the leaves. This works better with green leaves. Great way to see the veins and differences in leaves!

________________________

THREE FALL WREATHS

A FALL WELCOME WREATH FOR YOUR ROOM! (Easy)

• Put toilet paper rolls, paint and brushes on a covered table.
• When each child comes to the table; have them paint a TP roll using fall colors of red, orange and yellow. As the children finish, stand the rolls up on their ends--- to dry completely.
• When the rolls are dry, string them on a long piece of yarn and tie.
• Wreaths can be any size!
  ___________
  FALL WREATH USING TISSUE PAPER SQUARES
  Cut the centers out of paper plates (save center for another project)
  Have the children glue crumpled red, orange and yellow tissue paper squares covering the entire plate rims. Attach yarn or ribbon loop to hang them!
  ___________________
  MAKE A FALL NATURE WREATH (A little more work)
  Materials: Paper plates, leaves, pine cones, acorns, bow, brown paint.
  • Go for a nature walk and gather fall leaves, acorns and pine cones.
  • To start the project, cut out the center of the paper plate. Paint the paper plates brown.
  • When the plates are dry, have children glue the items of fall nature. You can use a hot glue gun to glue any loose pieces and the bow.

__________________________

FALL FACES...
Cut 4 1/2 inch circles out of construction paper. Collect a variety of fall leaves. Glue the circles on paper and glue some leaves around the circles to make hair. Complete the faces by adding facial features with markers or paint.

____________________________

LEAF PLACEMAT

 

Have children glue several different leaves on a light-colored sheet of construction paper. Apply transparent Contact paper onto the leaf side and then the backside of the construction paper. Trim excess contact paper from the ends, and seal all the way around the outer edges with colored tape. (This sample is at PreschoolRock.com)

____________________________

ALUMINUM FOIL LEAVES
You need:
Pieces of aluminum foil, leaves, glue, construction paper

• Set out pieces of aluminum foil and a variety of fall leaves.
• Have each child select a leaf, place it under a piece of foil, and gently press and rub the foil with their hand to get a leaf print.
• Have  children glue their leaf prints to the construction paper

____________________

PINECONE OWLS
Need:
Large pinecones
glue
googly eyes
brown and yellow felt or craft foam sheets

 

Find pinecones that are flat enough to stand upright or snip off a small amount from the bottom so that it is flat enough to stand the cone on end.
Cut out circles from the brown felt or foam. The circles should be a little larger than the size of your googly eyes.
Glue the googly eyes onto the circles.
Cut out triangle shaped ears from the brown felt or foam and triangle shaped beaks from the yellow felt or foam.
Glue the eyes, ears and beaks onto the pinecones

______________

 

NOT A CRAFT BUT A  WONDERFUL IDEA FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND YOUNG AT HEART!

MAGIC PUMPKIN SEEDS 

Materials: Pumpkin seeds, small paper bag and small pumpkins

• 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 (or your yard) where they 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 and put small pumpkins in their place.
• Take the children outside and delight them with the 'magical' pumpkins that have grown.
  If you have enough pumpkins, the children can take the pumpkins home and/or first decorate and paint them to add to theme of your space.
  Idea adapted from preschoolrainbow.org

________________

CORN ART IDEAS!
After eating corn on the cob, save the husks and corncobs, and let them dry. Have the children use them for art activities. You can also purchase feed corn on the cob at the local feed store. 

   • Children roll the corn in paint and then roll or press it onto paper.

   • The ends of these cobs also make pretty flower prints.

   • Hang them and see if families can guess how they were made.

    • When all done with the project--rinse the corn cobs and leave them outside for the squirrels---no waste!

____
#2  CORN COLLAGE
Need:
Yellow and green construction paper
Glue
Un-popped popcorn

• Cut a "corn cob" and "husks" out of paper.
•  Glue the "husks" around the "cob".
• Spread the glue on the "cob" and cover it with un-popped popcorn

_______ 

#3 AUTUMN CORN WELCOME SIGN...
Materials:
Leaf cutouts
Glue
Dried kernel corn
Write a greeting on a sheet of card-stock such as Happy Autumn...
Have the children glue the corn to form the letters of the words.
Glue leaf cutouts around the rest of the picture for decoration.

If you're looking for a short CORN THEME...check out ideas here!

____________________________

 HAND PRINT TREE

• Using colored construction paper (red, orange, brown, green, yellow) trace the child's hand onto several sheets of several colors. Cut out. (Children can also use their painted hand-prints)
• Next cut out a tree trunk with branches in proportion to the amount of leaves.
• Have the child glue the hand shapes to the tree to form the leaves of the tree.
• Consider having children think of things to be thankful for -- and label the leaves.

______________________ 

From the 5 Minutes for Special Needs website comes this FINGER PRINT TREE...Place child's entire hand and arm in brown paint. Place the painted arm and hand on the art paper to make the trunk and branches. With a variety of colorful finger paints-finger print leaves around and on the entire tree. Add some 'leaves' falling and swirling to the ground!

___________________

STRING OF LEAVES
Make a string of leaves to decorate a room. These simple-to-make strings make a great Fall or Thanksgiving decoration. You can drape the strings across rooms, over windows and from the chandeliers.
Need:
Construction paper (orange, red, yellow, brown, and other earth tones)
Crayons or markers
Scissors
Glue, tape, or staples
A long piece of green or brown yarn or string

• Draw a leaf on a piece of construction paper. Make sure to draw a thick stem on the top (your leaf will hang from this stem, which will be folded over.) It would be a good idea to make a few leaf templates for the children to trace and cut the shapes.
• Cut out the leaf. Draw the leaf veins if you wish.
• Fold the leaf's stem in half.
• Attach the leaf to a long string using tape, glue, or staples. Make more leaves and attach them to the string.
• Hang your string of leaves across the room for a wonderful Fall decoration. Source: KinderCrafts

____________________________

                                         From Our Little Nature Nest comes this wonderful pumpkin seed mosaic art! Jenn from the site explains it best! She says...

You can use any large seeds like those from a pie pumpkin, or hard squash that you may have from cooking this fall. Dying them is simple. All you need is dried pumpkin seeds, food coloring, and vinegar. Place 1/4 to 1/2 cup water in small cups. Add a TBS of vinegar, and several drops of food coloring to the cups. Allow the dried seeds to soak in the colored water for 2 to 4 hours, then remove them from the water & allow them to dry over night. You then have a colorful, natural, free, craft item. You can make mosaics or necklaces with them. Some will dye a solid color & others will be speckled. Use a nice heavy paper like poster board or card stock to glue the mosaics to.

_______________________________

***In many parts of the country---there is warm weather for much of the year! If you're one of those fortunate people, check out the Activities for Summer. There are many ideas that you may be able to use!

____________________________

  FALL TREE THAT CHANGES WITH THE SEASONS

  • Make the tree trunk by cutting up brown paper bags. Wrinkle the paper and shape it into a tree trunk by stapling it to the bulletin board.

  • If if this is for a mural on a wall -- attach it with lots of tape doubled over. If you want a plain painted tree--the following still is good!

  • FOR FALL... cut out paper apples and staple them on tree branches. Write the children's names on the apples.....And/Or... add tons and tons of leaves with names written on some of them. Add bushels of apples, and pumpkins... If up all year--as you change the tree--also change what is around the tree to go with the season!!! Go from bushels filled with apples, pumpkins, a scarecrow... to snowflakes and snowmen... to a spring scene with kites, butterflies and flowers!

• This can be adapted to ANY SEASON. LEAVE THE TREE SCENE UP ALL YEAR... AND CHANGE IT AS THE MONTHS CHANGE! With a good tree base, you can take your apples and leaves off and have a BARE TREE for winter--add snow flakes, etc.---Then a spring tree and so on. I did one in a school hallway, on a wall space of about 8 feet long; it was wonderful all year! The school loved it! (Barb)

_________________

VISIT THE AUTUMN CENTERPIECES & DECORATING that are good from early October to Thanksgiving... 

 Back to top of page

You may also be interested in the Autumn Leaf/Leaves Theme and/or the Autumn Pumpkin Theme...

________________________

 

STUDY LIFE CYCLES!

  • The animal world is full of amazing transformations. Have students experience them first hand through life cycle studies. Hang a Butterfly Rearing Kit in the room so they can observe the day-by-day changes from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly.

  • For something less familiar, get a LADYBUG Habitat and show them the incredible change from strange alligator-like larvae to the ladybugs we all recognize.)

  • IN THE SPRING, students can search for their own tadpoles and caterpillars.
They will love caring for the live creatures and watching their progress every day. Encourage them to carefully observe and journal about the changes they see.

 _______________________________

***Get a FROG HATCHERY kit! Children can then watch tadpoles grow legs and become frogs.

 ______________________________

CATERPILLARS

All a caterpillar does is eat, so it is very important to collect the leaves that you found it eating for food. Caterpillars COLLECTED IN THE SPRING will finish their cycle in a month or so.
FALL caterpillars will not hatch out of their pupa stage until the following spring.

Make sure that you add a stick to your jar and that you keep a fresh supply of leaves until they have gone into their pupa stage. Leave a wet cotton ball in the jar. They need moisture in order to hatch. After your butterfly or moth has hatched, let it go.

_______________________

HATCH A BUTTERFLY GARDEN!
We have started one of the Butterfly Gardens that you can buy in science stores or catalogs. We got ours from amazon.com--- It is a HUGE hit. This is a wonderful experience from 3 to 30!!!

1. The caterpillars arrive in a sealed container with everything they need--all you have to do is observe them.
2.  After a week, we placed the cocoons in the habitat, and out hatched five gorgeous butterflies. We have only had them for two weeks, and the butterflies have tripled in size; they are spinning "silk' that the children like to call cob webs. We'll soon let the Monarchs go...
Tips: If you live where it's cold--be sure to order more towards springtime--I received my order in a couple days. They change very quickly, so watch each day and take photographs! From Sara in Oakbrook

___________________

***Idea: As director of a day care--I find that the children really like taking care of live pets. We have pet hermit crabs in our science area. We care for them and also observe shell changes, molting, and speed of movement. The older children chart the changes and seasons.

There is also an area that has live plants and the children are assigned to water and care for these. Also remember--cooking and baking is science. I think on this site there a reminder that turning "liquid into solids with cooking" is science. We do a lot of cooking with the kids. From pre-k to school age--cooking is scheduled in weekly activities!
From: Jenny in Michigan

_______________________

 SPIDER WEBS
For Pre-K to Grade 4.9

  • Have  children describe a spider's web. Probe for how and why a spider makes a web. On chart paper, list  responses. Invite  children to make sketches of a web. Post these on the chart.

  • Help the children research spider webs. Working in small groups,  children compile their findings. Each group decides on changes they would make to the chart The group makes and displays a revised chart. Give each group a copy of "A Spider." Read it to the class and discuss their chart.

A SPIDER POEM to read with above...
It crawled into a corner wall. Around and round it spun. It made a web of silk this big... And it was having fun.
It stopped to watch a tiny fly. Around and round Fly flew,
Then it landed on that sticky web.
With flying, Fly was through!
From your Green Pages: Teaching Pre K-8, Feb 1994

____________

SUGGESTION: At this point, please visit the Garden/Gardening Theme. There are two pages of wonderful ideas. Most of the below is also in that category with MUCH, MUCH more! (It was written after this page was written) Gardening is also science! The science of Horticulture!

______________________

 

 ________________________ 

PLANTS...

PLANT GROWTH IN LIGHT VERSUS COMPLETE DARKNESS

Plant two seeds each in their own clean cup with potting soil. Cover one with a black bag or a box over it. Only open it to water it and then re-cover it immediately. Plant the other one and place it near a window or under a grow light.
Ask what the children predict? After 2 weeks---see what happened!

_________________

SPROUTING SPROUTS

 1.  Take a small zip-lock bag and using a needle, punch a few holes in the bottom seam of the bags.
2.  Get some alfalfa or mung bean seeds and place a teaspoon of seeds in each bag.
3.  Zip the bag closed and have children place the bag in a bowl of warm water.
4.  Soak the seeds overnight.
5.  The next day, take the bag out of the water and let it drain; have it sit in indirect sunlight the rest of the day. For the next few days, have children dunk the bags in water for a few seconds and then drain and put back in indirect light. 6.  On the fourth day, have your child set the seeds IN THE SUN.
Have fun watching the sprouts turn green.
7.  BE SURE TO USE THE BEANS! When ready eat the sprouts by sprinkling them on top of a green salad, on a sandwich or on top of cream cheese spread on crackers.

____________

GREEN BEANS

Have each child plant their own green beans. It's a great way to introduce children to gardening and the connection between food and the earth.

You need is  bean seed, small garden pot (3 inch across) some soil and water. You will also need a place  to put the pot where it will get 4-6 hours of sunlight. Fill the pot with soil; make a small hole using the little finger about 1/4 inche deep--put in the bean-- cover over-- water.

Place the pot in a sunny spot and watch it grow. Be sure the planter has drainage and be sure to place a saucer to catch the excess water.

If children are younger--end the activity with READING JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

______________

THE MIGHTY SEED

Learn about: exothermic reactions- Observe the power of seeds when you try to limit their growth!
Materials:
Clear plastic cup
5 tablespoons of Plaster of Paris
2 or more tablespoons of water, Plastic spoon for mixing, Dropper
3 soybeans

1. Put the plaster of Paris in the plastic cup
2. Add 2 tablespoons of water and mix.
3. Continue to add drops of water until the mixture has the consistency of a very thick milkshake.
4. Push the soybeans into the plaster until they are covered and then smooth the surface.

Now, explore! What do you think will happen to the soybeans? Make regular observations. What happens? Why?

5.  The next day add a tablespoon of water to the cup and continue to make observations. What happens? Why?  What's Going On?

• Seeds require moisture and warmth to germinate. In this case the seed absorbs moisture from the plaster mixture.
• As the seed absorbs water it increases in size and applies pressure to the surrounding plaster. This force, combined with the strength of the germinating sprout, causes the plaster to crack and allows the shoot to grow up through the plaster.
• This strength and ability to grow in adverse conditions allows plants to survive in a wide range of environments.
• You may also notice that when water is mixed with plaster the cup becomes warm. A chemical reaction which gives off heat like this is known as an "exothermic reaction." Source: cosi.org

_______________________

#1 SODA BOTTLE GREENHOUSE...
Materials:
2 clear 2-liter bottles (soda)
Sand
Dirt
Seeds
1.  Cut one bottle so that the bottom is approximately 4" high--this creates the bottom and base of the green house.
2.  Next, cut the second bottle so it's about 9" high this will be the "lid" or top for your house.
3.  Place small aount of potting soil in the bottom of the 4" base.
4.  Add soil and seeds. Water the seeds--- then slip the top over it to create a “greenhouse”.
5.  Put in sunny place and plants will appear in 2-5 days -- depending on the seeds you use.

 ________________

#2 SODA BOTTLE GREENHOUSE

 1.) Thoroughly wash and dry the clear plastic bottle. A clear juice bottle or 2-liter soda bottle works. With the scissors, cut all the way around the bottle to carefully remove the top one-third of the bottle.

2.) Place about 1 inch of loose grave in the bottom of the bottle, then add about 3 inches of potting soil.

3.) Make small holes in the dirt and plant the small plants or seedlings in the soil, just deep enough to cover the roots.

4.) Add a few drops of water in the bottle, but do not soak the soil. As the bottle will be almost an enclosed garden only a little bit of water is necessary.

5.) Gently place the top part of the bottle back in place on top of the planted section. Use the wide clear tape to secure the 2 parts of the bottle together. (You may need an extra pair of hands for this part.) Once the sections are back together and in place, if you desire, you can decorate the bottle with sticky-backed ribbon to cover the joint where the bottle sections are taped together.

 6.) Place the green house in a sunny warm location and water only when necessary. You do not need to keep the lid on the bottle as the air and condensation will give the plants all the nutrition they need to grow into healthy, thriving plants. Source: Source:eHow.com

_________________________

SWEET POTATO VINE #1
Need: One healthy sweet potato; 2-litre, clear soda bottle; three tooth picks or wooden skewers, water, clean stones or gravel.
Easy Instructions:
1.  Cut the top off your bottle (start cut with a sharp knife, then use scissors).
2.  Place stones or gravel in bottom of bottle.
3.  Suspend your potato, narrow end down, into the bottle. Use toothpicks, punched into potato and resting on sides of bottle, to hold in place.
4.  Fill bottle with water so that at least half of your potato is submerged.
5.  Your sweet potato vine should show new roots within a week or two. Leafy purple sprouts will appear shortly after. Use a magnifying glass to see tiny root hairs and to examine little sprouts. Ask students to PREDICT what will happen next.

TIP: A sweet potato purchased from a natural foods store or farmers' market may sprout sooner than one from a supermarket--because it's less likely to have been sprayed with a sprout inhibitor.

EXTENSION IDEA:
Before you prepare your experiment, ASK students what plants eat. The general answer to this question is "nutrients collected from soil by roots." But what about plants grown in water? Students may guess that there are nutrients in what appears to be pure, clear water. Are there enough to support a whole, big plant?

WHAT IS YOUR VINE EATING?

• A sweet potato is a root tuber, a fleshy root that stores food for a plant and produces adventitious shoots or shoots growing from unusual positions--in this case, out of the sides of the root.
• What's happening to the potato, itself?  Your vine will continue to grow for months if you are careful to replenish water and/or change it when your bottle becomes cloudy.
• You may wish to plant your sweet potato outdoors in the spring, after danger of frost. It may not survive but, on the other hand, you may find a small crop of sweet potatoes in the fall.
• Dig up the plant and use one of the new potatoes to grow another vine.
  ______________________________________

SWEET POTATO VINE #2
1.  Using four toothpicks have child suspend the vegetable on the rim of a jar or mug filled with water.
2.  Make sure the bottom half - the pointed end - is under water.
3.  Place in a sunny spot and change or add water as needed.
4.  In a few days, roots will form below the water. And, two to three weeks later, leaves and stems will sprout from the top.
5.  Continue to grow the plant in water or, after a month or two, pot the sweet potato in a houseplant potting mix.
6.   Keep the soil moist.
7.  The stems are weak, so help children tie them to strings, wire or a stake.
8.  Feed once a month with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer such as 20-20-20. As the vine grows, cut it back a few inches to force the plant to grow bushy. Some are treated with heat to keep them from sprouting on grocery-store shelves, but most grow roots in a matter of days after being placed in water.

 _____________

CARROT TOPS

As the project is written, it is geared to GRADES 6 to 8; however, it can be adapted to ANY grade level.
QUESTION: Can a plant grow from just the top of a carrot?
RESEARCH: What kind of root does a carrot have? Why is the root so big? What is needed for a plant to grow?
HYPOTHESIS: Can the carrot top provide what is needed for the plant to grow?
MATERIALS: Shallow container, 4 carrots

1. Cut about half an inch off the end of the carrot that has the leaves. Cut the leaves off close to the base of the carrot.
2. Put the carrots into the container with the cut side down.
3. Add enough water to cover about half the carrot top.
4. Place the container in a well-lighted window.
5. Observe the carrot tops each day for any changes. Remember the changes may start out small and change slowly. Look for new leaves and roots.
6. Use a metric ruler to measure any growth you may observe.
7. Continue your observations for six days and write your report on the sixth day. For younger children---just have fun observing the carrot, while making observations along the way!

TEACHER/CAREGIVER SECTION FOR CARROTS:
POSSIBLE HYPOTHESIS: No growth will occur since the carrot is not living-OR Leaves will grow since even this small part of the plant is still living.
POSSIBLE CONCLUSION: The carrot top should show some new growth each day. The student should discuss the possible reasons for the growth.
Adapted from Judy Schneider

 ______________________

 
CARNATION SCIENCE
Here is a great little "science" project that will amaze younger children.
1.  Get a white carnation.
2.  Leave it out of water to 1 - 2 hours until it starts to wilt a bit.
3.  Cut 1" from the stem.
4.  Place carnation in red-colored (or other color) water made by adding red food coloring to water. Cover 6" of stem with water. Observe what happens to the carnation.

_____________

RED WHITE AND BLUE CARNATIONS...
Make tie-dyed looking red, white and blue carnations. These flowers look great for any red-white & blue theme!.
You’ll Need:
2 glasses
Water
Red and blue food coloring
White carnations
Green thread
1.  Pour water into a glass of water. Add 7 to 8 drops of red food coloring to the glass.
2.  Pour water into another glass and add 7 to 8 drops of blue food coloring to the glass.
3.  Cut the stem of a white carnation lengthwise. This will make the carnation stem into two thin stems.
4.  Set the two glasses of colored water together. Put half of the stem of the carnation into the red water and the other half into the blue water.
5.  Let the carnation sit for a few hours. The carnation will begin to change gradually into red and blue.
6.  Take the flower out of the mixture in just a few hours before the colors can change the white carnation entirely. You want it so that some of the white is still on the carnation.
7.  Wrap the stems together with green thread and place the carnation into a clear vase of water. Make several flowers and show off your beautiful red, white and blue flowers in a vase.

____________

OSMOTIC CELERY...

Cut the bottom of celery stalks and set them in glasses of tinted water (using food coloring); the longer the stalks are in water, the deeper the color will be. The stalks will absorb the color and then the kids can eat them!

ANOTHER CELERY IDEA: HOLIDAY COLORS AND FOOD...

  • Discuss the colors of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or a coming-up holiday with the children.

  • Take a stalk of celery and slice it up the center leaving it connected at the top. Place the celery stalk in two containers of colored water. Example: Put one side in red, and the other in orange. Leave it for a day or two and watch how the veins in the celery turn color as it takes up the water. You can also include a discussion of plant life with this activity.

________________ _________

GROWING POPCORN IN A BAGGIE
Instructions: Take a plastic zip-loc baggie, put cotton balls in it and saturate cotton balls with water. Put popcorn kernels into the bag, seal it and tape to a window. Add water as needed and watch the plants grow. Transfer to potting soil later.

____________________ 

MAKE A TERRARIUM

A terrarium is a sort of living landscape inside an enclosed plastic container or jug.
To start, put a layer of pebbles or charcoal at the bottom of the container for drainage.
Cover that with two inches of topsoil.
Add a few rocks, some twigs or branches, moss,and small plants.
Moisten the terrarium with water, but don't overdo it. Cover the opening with a sheet of plastic wrap.

_________

________________________________________

WONDERFUL IDEA! PLANT A CIRCLE OF TREES...
In the January issue of Exchange, Rusty Keeler contributed the article, "A Spring Playscape Project: Building a Tree Circle", which he introduces with...  "If you are dreaming of adding nature to your yard, this project may be perfect for you. The Tree Circle is a green gathering area for children made by planting trees in a circle."

• For children, the Tree Circle becomes a magical place for dramatic play, quiet retreat, or lively nature exploration.
• For teachers and parents it becomes a shady grove for snacks and stories.

The trees create a sweet spot that changes during the seasons and grows over time. A beautiful addition to a child’s life — and yours too!" You can read the instructions of the tree circle in its entirety. Click here
 _________________________

OUTDOOR GARDEN
Here's a good idea if you can't dig up a plot for a garden!
   1.  Get a a small swimming pool and be sure to punch holes for drainage.
   2.  Fill with dirt---plant seeds, or small flowers, water, fertilize and watch the flowers grow!
   3.  The kids will love to work their "garden"

• With container gardening you control the soil and drainage; you can avoid most garden pests.
•  In 3- to 5-gallon pots, you can grow beans, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, corn, broccoli, cabbage, kale, leeks and even melons.
• Pots as small as 4- to 6-inches are fine for growing peas (choose shorter peas, ones that grow to about a foot), lettuce, spinach and Swiss chard.
• Choose medium size pots for beets, eggplant and cherry tomatoes. Of course, all of your pots will need plenty of sun and water.

________________

Continue on to the Gardening Theme pages... It's the Science of Horticulture...

Science Categories...

Back to top of page

_____________________________