LEAF, PUMPKIN, CANDY CORN & GOURD GAMES
Good for late September through November

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 PIE EATER TAG GAME!
Good for October to December because of apple and pumpkin pies!

• Split the students into two different groups; one is apple pie and the other group is pumpkin pie.

• Have one student be the pie eater, who will be standing on the center line. The pie eater can only move from side to side on the center line.

• All the students say to the pie eater, "Pie eater, pie eater are you hungry?" The pie eater responds with a 'yes or no' answer.

• If the answer is no, the pies (students) ask again.

• If the answer is yes, then the pies ask again, "What kind of pie would you like?"

• The pie eater then says apple or pumpkin and that pie tries to make it to the other side.

• If the pie is tagged, then they become a pie eater.

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BEAN BAG TOSS
Use a large piece of cardboard or a large, unfolded box…. Cut one or two leaf shapes out of the cardboard. Paint the cardboard orange, red and yellow. When dry have the children throw bean bags through the LEAF SHAPED holes.
Be sure to save for next year!

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LEAF BLOW GAME
Have a leaf race! In this, the children blow a leaf across a table with a straw. The first one across is the winner...

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HARVEST DASH (Outiside Game)

• Set up a fall relay with the kids. Fill large containers with sunflower seed bird feed. Have smaller, clear containers at the opposite end.
• Kids fill cup with seeds and race to dump it in the empty container.
• They sprint back to the start and hand-off the cup to the teammates.
•  Goal of the race is to be the first team to fill up the small container with the seeds.
• As an extra challenge, give the kids an over-sized soup ladle instead of a cup. Don't worry if the seeds spill; that's part of the fun! The birds will easily find them later.
• Tip: Try a dollar store for inexpensive clear containers. They usually stock plastic ones in apple or pumpkin shapes in the fall. Popcorn or candy corn also can be used in place of seed. 

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 GOURDS...

GOURD ROLL Have each child take a turn rolling a small, round gourd. Try to find one with lots of bumps for extra craziness! The kid with the longest roll wins. Play on a sloped driveway or a small hill for extra fun.

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GOURD BOWLING
Set up 'bowling' using empty two-liter soda bottles. If preferred, the bottles can be weighted with seeds or water. Use a round, bumpy gourd as the ball.

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GOURD RACE  Set up start and turn around lines… (About 10 feet apart) Dived children into equal teams…

• At the signal, first players walk from starting line to turn-around line and back to the stating line while holding a spoon with a gourd on it. Child then hands it off to the next in line.
• If the gourd falls off the spoon, players must stop and pick up the gourd with the spoon to continue.
• Continue until each child has had a turn. With many children—have many lines)
  

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PLAY RING TOSS AS RING AROUND THE GOURD
Assign different point values to different sizes of gourds, pumpkins, or dried Indian corn.

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GAMES USING PUMPKINS and more...

 • PUMPKIN AND FOOT RACE
Set up starting and finish lines and have the children race to see who can get their smallish pumpkin over the finish line. Only feet can be used to push pumpkins along. There can be no kicking; if any kicking is observed, that child goes back to their starting line. This would also be a good team relay race.

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PUMPKIN & BROOM RACE (Can be played in  outdoors or gym!)

• This is a simple race but since pumpkins are not smooth balls and refuse to roll in straight lines, you'll need plenty of room! You need medium pumpkins and sturdy sticks (or brooms); Use one pumpkin and stick/broom for each team.
• The racers line up on the starting line with the pumpkins turned on their sides.
• On the signal, the racers use the stick to roll the pumpkins to the finish line.
• Younger players may want to use their hands instead of the stick.
• If you want to play this as teams, make it a relay race.
• When playing inside use smaller pumpkins.

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PASS THE PUMPKIN RELAY
Line up into 2 teams.

• The first person passes the pumpkin OVER his/her head to the next person in line.
• The next person passes the pumpkin UNDER his/her legs to the next person, and so on.
• When you get to the end of the line the last person runs up to the front and starts it all over again. 
• Whoever has the first person that was in line at the beginning of the game--- in the back of the line WINS.

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FIND THE PUMPKIN
Supplies:
   Ten pieces of white paper
   Five pieces of yellow paper
   Five pieces of orange paper
   A crayon
   Scissors
Directions:
1. Draw ten white pumpkins, five yellow pumpkins, and five orange pumpkins. (Or adjust the numbers to reflect the number of you group)
2. Cut out all the pumpkins.
3. Decorate each pumpkin with a funny face.
4. Write the number 1 on the backs of the white pumpkins.
5. Write the number 5 on the backs of the yellow pumpkins.
6. Write the number 10 on the backs of the orange pumpkins.
7. Hide all of the pumpkins.
8. Youth try to find as many pumpkins as you can before the adult says "Stop!"
9. Players will add up the numbers of collected pumpkins. The player with the most points wins! This can also be played in teams.

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PUMPKIN BOWLING!
Supplies: 3 small pumpkins, 30 empty 2 liter clear soda bottles (less if your group is smaller!), a bag of gravel or pebbles placed in bottom of bottles

• Ask parents to save empty, clean 2 liter soda bottles for your game.
• Add about a cup of sand or pebbles in each bottle so they will stand without falling over.
• Divide kids into several teams of 3-8 kids each...line up and take turn at bowling!
• The small pumpkins are the bowling balls. If it's for a party- consider prizes.
• The kids that get a Strike receive another turn to bowl a strike. If they  bowl another strike, they receive a prize. When using prizes BE SURE EVERYONE GETS SOMETHING for playing!

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PUMPKIN HUNT – While the kids are out of the room - hide paper or small gourd pumpkins around the room. Challenge kids to find them all! When they have found all pumpkins you can serve a special snack or give each child a ‘goodie’.

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PUMPKIN BOCCE BALL- Object of Game: Roll a pumpkin closest to the big pumpkin. You need a large pumpkin. Also purchase several miniature or round sugar pumpkins. To play: Place the big pumpkin several feet away. Give each player a small pumpkin. Each player rolls (No tossing or throwing) their pumpkin and tries to be the closest to the big pumpkin. The player closest wins ...

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THROW PENNIES IN THE PUMPKIN

• Carve out a pumpkin (Do NOT make it a Jack-O-Lantern); line the inside with plastic or aluminum foil.
• Make the top opening large. Option is to use small plastic pumpkins which are quicker and not messy!
• To play the game---place the pumpkins a couple feet away.
• Give each player about ten pennies...and try to get them in!
• Each time one gets in--a point is earned... (You could also use a plastic Halloween pumpkin container)

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GUESS THE PUMPKIN'S WEIGHT!
Need: Large pumpkin
Bathroom or science class scale
Slips of paper

• Have children write their estimates of the pumpkin's weight on a slip of paper. Kids write their names on the paper, fold them, and place in a box. At the end of the time-frame, weigh the pumpkin and award a prize or the pumpkin to the child with the closest guess.

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PUMPKIN RACE (Like the above Pumpkin Race-- but using sticks instead of brooms)

Can be played in a yard, garage or even inside using small pumpkins!
This is a simple race but since pumpkins are not  smooth balls and refuse to roll in nice straight lines, you will need plenty of room!

You need two large pumpkins and two sturdy sticks.
The racers, line up on the starting line with the pumpkins turned on their sides.
On the signal, the racers use the stick to roll the pumpkins to the finish line.
Younger players may want to use their hands instead of the stick.
 If you want to play this as teams, make it a relay race.

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PUMPKIN WALK
This is like a regular cake walk except instead of numbers, place pictures of several fall items on the floor for the children to walk on and call out the names of the items instead of numbers. Award the child that lands on the picture of a pumpkin---a small/miniature pumpkin! Use fall themed music such as "Turkey In The Straw" or "Jimmy Cracked Corn".

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WIN THE PUMPKIN!

Place children in a circle.
Start some music and pass a mini pumpkin from one person to another.
When the music stops-the person holding the pumpkin is out. 
The last one left keeps the pumpkin!

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MR. PUMPKIN HEAD
Do you have Mr. Potato Head game pieces???! The kids can have some Fall fun using them with small pumpkins!
Using a smallish to medium sized pumpkin, poke some holes where the eyes, nose and mouth would be (include hat and ears). Have the children decorate "Mr. Pumpkin Head" using Mr. Potato Head pieces.

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If you like Autumn Pumpkins-check out the entire PUMPKIN THEME! (It's NOT a 'Halloween/Jack-O-Lantern Category' but only Pumpkin Ideas!)

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NOT A GAME-- BUT WONDERFUL FOR YOUNG KIDS AND THE 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

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FLOATING PUMPKINS (Party Game)
Number the bottom of the small gourds that look like miniature pumpkins and float them in water for the children to choose one for small prizes. 

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POPCORN RELAY RACE – (Because October is National Popcorn Month-see Popcorn Theme --and also-popcorn is fun all year!)

All it takes are two big bowls of popcorn and some small cups per team. Have kids run and get a cupful of popcorn and transfer it to the bowl across the room. The first team finished wins. Because of potential popcorn mess, this would be good played outside! The critters can eat what isn't’ swept up! (Play in gym if you’re brave!)

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PUMPKIN SEED TOSS
Number and line up 5 small baskets or containers; have children stand 3 feet (or farther depending on ages) in front of the first container and toss seeds into them in sequence. Small prizes can be given for each container seeds get in.

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Idea***Have a 'PUMPKIN SEED SPITTING CONTEST' OUTSIDE!

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DRESS A SCARECROW AND RUN
Stock up on over-sized plaid shirts, goofy pants, floppy hats and any other clothing that a scarecrow might wear.  Make piles containing one of each item. The number of piles is determined either by the number of kids or teams participating.

• Line up kids and let the game begin!
• The children run to the pile, put on the outfit, and dart back to the starting line.
• If doing it as a team game, they  then switch the outfit with their teammate--who run out and back.
• First team with their last team member dressed as a scarecrow wins.

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CANDY CORN RELAY RACE

• Designate a starting line and a finish line.
• Set out a bowl full of candy corn for each player at the starting line and an empty bowl at the finish line.
• The players must use a large spoon to scoop candy corn out of the full bowl and then carry it to the empty bowl and fill it.
• They cannot spill any candy corn or use their hands!
• If any candy corn falls off the spoon, they must immediately pick it up and bring it back to the back to the starting line bowl and start over with that scoopful.

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PASS THE CORN GAME (Ages 4 - 10)
Divide the children into two teams (or as many as you need) and have them form two lines. You will need a cob of dried Indian corn for each team.
 
1. At the signal "go", the corncob is to be passed from child to child. The catch is that they can use any part of their bodies, except their hands.
2. If the corn touches the ground at any time, it must go back to the beginning of the line again.
3. Whichever team manages to get the corn to the end of the line first wins the game.
4. The corn can also be used in a relay, with the kids putting the corn between their knees, and racing "crab" style".

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TURN EVERYDAY GAMES INTO  FALL GAMES

 • LEAF, LEAF, PINECONE

The Leaf, Leaf, Pinecone is a version of the classic "Duck, Duck, Goose" with a nature-friendly twist.
This game is best played outdoors, but you can also gather pinecones and play this traditional game inside on a rainy day.

 Whoever is "it" must not only touch the heads of the other players, saying, "Leaf, leaf, leaf," but must also drop a fresh pinecone in the lap of the child they choose before running back around the circle without being tagged. The person trying to tag "it" can touch "it" with a hand above the waist or with the pinecone below the waist. For Thanksgiving play "Turkey, Turkey, Stuffing"!

•Instead of Simon Says, play the Scarecrow Says or the Witch Says, The Turkey Says, etc.

• APPLE-APPLE-PUMPKIN GAME
Just like duck-duck-goose---Play Apple, Apple, Pumpkin!  Same game with fall flair.

• "Musical Hats" ...Play "Musical Pilgrim Hats" in November

• Large-sized AUTUMN TIC-TAC TOE
Take a large piece of poster board and draw the tic-tac-toe lines on it; laminate it if possible.
Cut-two different leaf shapes; then simply play tic-tac-toe.

• THREE LEGGED SACK RACES – Add an autumn touch by creating an obstacle course using pumpkins, corn stalks and bales of hay.

• BINGO
Use candy corn as game pieces.

• In October play "Put the Wart on the Witch" or Put the "Nose on the Pumpkin". In November play "Pin the WATTLE on the Turkey" instead of Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

• PARACHUTE LEAF TOSS (For younger children)
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".

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MISCELLANEOUS HARVEST TYPE GAMES...

FLOATING PUMPKINS
Number the bottom of the small gourds that look like miniature pumpkins and float them in water for the children to choose one for small prizes.

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TURKEY IN THE STRAW
Fill a wading pool with straw and hide a small picture of a turkey in it for groups to dig through to see who can find it first.

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THE SQUIRREL GAME - Let the kids pretend they are squirrels gathering nuts for the winter. Give each a small paper bag, then toss out several unshelled nuts onto the floor and let the kids race to see who can collect the most. Older and younger children should be separated for this game. Another way to play this game, (if you have a way to corral a large quantity of leaves) is to hide nuts beneath a large pile of leaves and give the kids a set amount of time to find as many nuts as they can.

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PICKING APPLES
A regular sucker pull can become "Apple Picking." Make a large apple tree with lots of red apples out of construction paper; then connect the tree to peg board. Mark the tips of the handles on only a few caramel apple suckers then poke them through the peg board holes; poke several unmarked suckers around the marked suckers; then let the kids pick an apple. Have prizes ready for those who get the marked suckers, but everyone gets to keep the sucker they pulled.

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There are '20 APPLE THEMED' GAMES (near bottom of page) in the Apple Category... Click here  Great in the Fall!!!

OTHER AUTUMN GAMES:

 • HALLOWEEN GAMES HERE...

• THANKSGIVING GAMES HERE...

Back to top of page 

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AUTUMN-FALL PUMPKIN FUN!  Games, Arts and Crafts, Science, Poems/Songs, Centerpieces, Books, and Home Decorating Ideas...

This theme is comprised of Pumpkins (NOT Jack-O-Lanterns) Please visit the 'Halloween pages' if looking for Jack-O-Lanterns and Halloween...Pumpkin Recipes/Snacks are in their own category...

GAMES...

PUMPKIN AND FOOT RACE
Set up starting and finish lines and have the children race to see who can get their smallish pumpkin over the finish line. Only feet can be used to push pumpkins along. There can be no kicking; if any kicking is observed, that child goes back to their starting line. This would also be a good team relay race.

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PUMPKIN ROLLING
Divide  children into two or more teams.
Have a start line and turnaround line, 20 ft apart.
The first child in each line rolls a pumpkin from the start line, to the turn-around line and back.
The next person does the same, etc. The first team to have everyone play wins!

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PUMPKIN & BROOM RACE (Can be played in  outdoors or gym!)

• This is a simple race but since pumpkins are not smooth balls and refuse to roll in straight lines, you'll need plenty of room! You need medium pumpkins and sturdy sticks (or brooms); Use one pumpkin and stick/broom for each team.
• The racers line up on the starting line with the pumpkins turned on their sides.
• On the signal, the racers use the stick to roll the pumpkins to the finish line.
• Younger players may want to use their hands instead of the stick.
• If you want to play this as teams, make it a relay race.
• When playing inside use smaller pumpkins.

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PASS THE PUMPKIN RELAY
Line up into 2 teams.

• The first person passes the pumpkin OVER his/her head to the next person in line.
• The next person passes the pumpkin UNDER his/her legs to the next person, and so on.
• When you get to the end of the line the last person runs up to the front and starts it all over again. 
• Whoever has the first person that was in line at the beginning of the game--- in the back of the line WINS.

_________________

FIND THE PUMPKIN
Supplies:
   Ten pieces of white paper
   Five pieces of yellow paper
   Five pieces of orange paper
   A crayon
   Scissors
Directions:
1. Draw ten white pumpkins, five yellow pumpkins, and five orange pumpkins. (Or adjust the numbers to reflect the number of your group)
2. Cut out all the pumpkins.
3. Decorate each pumpkin with a funny face.
4. Write the "number 1" on the backs of the white pumpkins.
5. Write the "number 5" on the backs of the yellow pumpkins.
6. Write the "number 10" on the backs of the orange pumpkins.
7. Hide all of the pumpkins.
8. Kids try to find as many pumpkins as they can before the leader says "Stop!"

Players  add up the numbers on their collected pumpkins. The player with the most points wins! This can also be played in teams.

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PUMPKIN BOWLING!
Supplies: 3 small pumpkins, 30 empty 2 liter clear soda bottles (less if your group is smaller!), a bag of gravel or pebbles placed in bottom of bottles

• Ask parents to save empty, clean 2 liter soda bottles for your game.
• Add about a cup of sand or pebbles in each bottle so they will stand without falling over.
• Divide kids into several teams of 3-8 kids each...line up and take turn at bowling!
• The small pumpkins are the bowling balls. If it's for a party- consider prizes.
• The kids that get a Strike receive another turn to bowl a strike. If they  bowl another strike, they receive a prize. When using prizes BE SURE EVERYONE GETS SOMETHING for playing!

__________________

PUMPKIN HUNT – While the kids are out of the room - hide paper or small gourd pumpkins around the room. Challenge kids to find them all! When they have found all pumpkins you can serve a special snack or give each child a ‘goodie’.

_____________________________________

PUMPKIN BOCCE BALL- Object of Game: Roll a pumpkin closest to the big pumpkin. You need a large pumpkin. Also purchase several miniature or round sugar pumpkins. To play: Place the big pumpkin several feet away. Give each player a small pumpkin. Each player rolls (No tossing or throwing) their pumpkin and tries to be the closest to the big pumpkin. The player closest wins ...

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THROW PENNIES IN THE PUMPKIN

Carve out a pumpkin (Do NOT make it a Jack-O-Lantern); line the inside with plastic or aluminum foil.

• Make the top opening large. Option is to use small plastic pumpkins which are quicker and not messy!
• To play the game---place the pumpkins a couple feet away.
• Give each player about ten pennies...and try to get them in!
• Each time one gets in--a point is earned... (You could also use a plastic Halloween pumpkin container)

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PUMPKIN RACE (Like the above Pumpkin Race-- but using sticks instead of brooms)

Can be played in a yard, garage or even inside using small pumpkins!
This is a simple race but since pumpkins are not  smooth balls and refuse to roll in nice straight lines, you will need plenty of room!

You need two large pumpkins and two sturdy sticks.
The racers, line up on the starting line with the pumpkins turned on their sides.
On the signal, the racers use the stick to roll the pumpkins to the finish line.
Younger players may want to use their hands instead of the stick.
 If you want to play this as teams, make it a relay race.

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CHALLENGE THE KIDS with how many words they can come up with letters in the word 'PUMPKIN' ? This can be an individual challenge, or two or three kids teamed together. 
(Nip, pup, ink, pink, mink, in, pin, kin, pun, nun, pump, up, nip, )

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WIN THE PUMPKIN! 

Place children in a circle.
Start some music and pass a mini pumpkin from one person to another.
When the music stops-the person holding the pumpkin is out. 
The last one left keeps the pumpkin!

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RING THE PUMPKIN
Line up three large pumpkins with stems, to form a ring toss.
Use embroidery hoops or make hoops with rope and duct tape.
Mark a throwing line on the floor and take turns trying to ring a pumpkin stem.
Variation: Try to ring an entire large pumpkin with a hula hoop!

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MR. PUMPKIN HEAD
Do you have Mr. Potato Head game pieces???! The kids can have some Fall fun using them with small pumpkins!
Using a smallish to medium sized pumpkin, poke some holes where the eyes, nose and mouth would be (include hat and ears). Have the children decorate "Mr. Pumpkin Head" using Mr. Potato Head pieces.

 

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NOT A GAME BUT WONDERFUL FOR YOUNG KIDS AND THE 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

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TRADITIONAL GAMES WITH A TWIST...

1. Instead of Simon Says, play 'THE PUMPKIN SAYS...'

2. Instead of Duck-Duck-Goose---'Play APPLE-APPLE-PUMPKIN'

3. Play 'PASS THE PUMPKIN'  like Hot Potato. Use a tiny pumpkin…

4. Instead of playing Pin the tail on the Donkey---PLAY 'PUT THE STEM ON THE PUMPKIN'

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PARTY GAMES...

FLOATING PUMPKINS

Number the bottom of the small gourds that look like miniature pumpkins and float them in water for the children to choose one for small prizes. 

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PUMPKIN SEED TOSS
Number and line up 5 small baskets or containers; have children stand 3 feet (or farther depending on ages) in front of the first container and toss seeds into them in sequence. Small prizes can be given for each container seeds get in.

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PUMPKIN WALK
This is like a regular cake walk except instead of numbers, place pictures of several fall items on the floor for the children to walk; call out the names of the items instead of numbers. Award the child that lands on the picture of a pumpkin---a small/miniature pumpkin! Use fall themed music such as "Turkey In The Straw" or "Jimmy Cracked Corn".

____________________ 

Idea***Have a PUMPKIN SEED SPITTING CONTEST OUTSIDE! Clean seeds, dry, save and then play...

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SCIENCE...

 

GUESS THE PUMPKIN'S WEIGHT!
Need:
Large pumpkin
Bathroom or science class scale
Slips of paper
Have children write their estimates of the pumpkin's weight on a slip of paper. Kids write their names on the paper, fold them, and place in a box. At the end of the time-frame, weigh the pumpkin and award a prize or the pumpkin to the child with the closest guess.

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GROWING IN A PUMPKIN!
Start this about two weeks before Halloween
Materials:
1 small pumpkin for each child or experiement
Paint
Cotton Batting
Mustard, Watercress or birdseed
Water

Cut the top off the pumpkin and and clean out the seeds.
Paint a face on the pumpkin. (If it is Halloween project--if it is for Fall/Autumn, leave natural) 
Fill the pumpkin with cotton and spray with water.
Sprinkle the seeds on the batting.
Keep the batting moist, and seeds will sprout in about 2 weeks or sooner....just in time for Halloween!

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LEFT-OVER  PUMPKIN SEEDS!

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.

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DOES A PUMPKIN SINK OR FLOAT?

Fill a large clear storage container or aquarium with water. (If the weather is warm, you can do it outside). Have children make predictions of what will happen and graph the predictions. Do the experiments to determine if they were right or not.

 

Make it interesting and get a few pumpkin sizes.
You may hear predictions that the smaller pumpkins will float and the large will sink. (Pumpkins float)

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PUMPKIN EXPERIMENT
Prepare the experiment by cutting two pie pumpkins in half. (This will give you four halves.)
Place each pumpkin half in a plastic bag that is mostly closed (the environment needs to be moist, yet allow some fresh air to enter).
 
Set one bag in a sunny spot, one in a shady spot, one in the refrigerator, and one in a location of the students' choosing.
Ask kids to predict which pumpkin will grow the most mold over the course of the experiment.

Set aside time each day for students to examine the pumpkin halves and record their observations.
Then ask students: Where is the best place to keep a jack-o-lantern in order to keep it from spoiling?

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 After doing the above---here is a TIP FOR KEEPING THOSE CARVED-OUT PUMPKINS FRESH!

 

Some say that coating the inside of the emptied/carved pumpkin with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) should help preserve and keep the pumpkin from shriveling/getting moldy.

Trying various methods myself--the pumpkins that stayed freshest the longest were those sprayed with "Clorox Cleanup" (or a mixture of bleach and water).

 

Spray the bleach and water inside of the pumpkin daily. Killing off mold spores with a bleach solution helps preserve the pumpkin. If your pumpkin starts to look as if it needs rehydration-- (wilting or caving in)-- fill a large container with cold water and 2 or 3 tablespoons of bleach. Good results should be achieved when soaked overnight.

Pumpkins kept outdoors in very cool weather should last a week without any treatment...

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Cooking and making playdough is also science. Liquid that turn to a solid is science. See the Pumpkin Play Dough recipes in the below 'Arts and Crafts' section of this page.

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PUMPKIN ARTS AND CRAFTS...For Autumn/Fall Season

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."

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PUMPKIN PIE PLAYDOUGH...

 

Ingredients:
5 1/2 cups flour
2 cups salt
8 teaspoons cream of tartar
3/4 cup oil
1 (1 1/12 ounces) container pumpkin pie spice
Orange food coloring (2 parts yellow, 1 part red)
4 cups water

Combine dry ingredients in a non-stick pan.
Add oil, water, food coloring and stir until smooth.
Cook and stir over medium heat until all lumps disappear.
Knead the dough on a floured surface until it's smooth.
Store in an airtight container.
Dough will keep in a plastic bag for about a week...and it smells wonderful!
Image source: Pepperpaints

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NO COOK PUMPKIN PIE PLAY DOUGH
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 cup water
Mix together and knead until smooth.

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.

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AUTUMN SMELLING 'PUMPKIN VOTIVE'

Cut the top off of a small pumpkin.
Clean and carve the pumpkin.

Sprinkle pumpkin pie spice on the inside of the lid and cut a small hole in the top to make a chimney.
Light a votive candle and set inside. Replace the lid.
Results are a pumpkin pie scented votive!

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 PAPER BAG PUMPKINS...

Directions most often seen...
1. Starting with a lunch size paper bag-- crumble-up some paper and stuff the lunch bag.
2. Tie the top with string leaving about 2 inches of space at top.
3. Paint the bottom portion with orange tempera paint and the top brown (for the stem).
Copy a leaf pattern on green paper, felt or foam -- cut it out--glue or staple it to base of stem.

Optional but nice: Wrap green or brown pipe cleaners around the pumpkin stem for vines. (Give the pipe cleaner vine a curly look by spiraling it around a pencil and then twisting it onto the stem. You can make a jack-o-lantern by painting or drawing a face on your orange paper bag.

Tip:
I prefer to make these by first painting the paper bag orange. Have the kids open the bag  and place it on their hand (like a puppet) They will be able to then paint all sides. 
Leave the top 1- to 2-inches of the bag brown.
While you are waiting for the paint to dry, cut a couple of leaf shapes out of green felt, craft foam, or construction paper...and proceed from there. (Barb)
Images: Thanks to About.com  (image with pipe cleaner vines) and Kaboose

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REAL PUMPKIN STAMPING!
Buy several small, real pumpkins. 
Cut them in half. 
Have children dip the pumpkin halves into paint to make prints.

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WHEN YOU'RE COLORING AND CUTTING OUT PUMPKIN ART...To give it some texture...
Peel the paper wrapping off an orange Crayon.
Place a textured item such as plastic bubble wrap or a dish mat UNDER a large piece of white construction paper.
Rub with the side of the crayon over the entire paper to create a pumpkin's bumpy surface. Continue with your project.

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AUTUMN PUMPKIN BALL

 6" Styrofoam Ball
18" Square of Fall Fabric
2 Green Pipe Cleaners
2' Raffia
Rubber Band
Scissors

Use a serrated knife to slice the end off a Styrofoam ball so it will stand flat without rolling.
Wrap the ball with fabric, gathering the ends at the top of the ball. Secure fabric with a rubber  band.
Twist two pipe cleaners together. Wrap it around the rubber banded fabric and twist to keep in place.
Twirl ends around a pencil. Finish off the pumpkin with a raffia bow.

Would be cute grouped together in a bowl on a tray...and...each one only takes about 10 minutes to make! Source: Cindy of Pittsburg PA.

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MAKE A PUMPKIN PAPER CHAIN
Take a strip of orange construction paper about 3 inches wide
fold into an accordion about 3 inches square.
When all folded-- cut the shape of a pumpkin leaving the side with the fold NOT cut.
When you open you will have a chain of pumpkins.

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START WITH A PUMPKIN SEED (ART)

Put out photographs of pumpkin patches at various stages. The children can use this as a guide in their art work! Have the kids then...

1. Glue a pumpkin seed onto paper. (This will be  'underground')
2. Paint an imaginary plant with the roots growing FROM the seed UNDERGROUND.
3.  Paint the leaves, and flowers/fruit of the plant above the ground level.

To go along with the art project!

GROWING  STEPS OF A PUMPKIN...
1. Leafy vines grow from pumpkin seeds.
2. Yellow-orange flowers bloom on the pumpkin vine, then wither.
3. The flowers' ovaries (at the base of the flower) swell and become tiny green pumpkins.
4. The pumpkins grow larger and change color... 
5. In four months after planting, they're ready to harvest.

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 PUMPKIN PATCH FIELD TRIP...

Can you take your kids on a field trip pumpkin patch?

1. Read books about 'Growing Pumpkins' and 'Pumpkin Patches'  before the trip.

2. Have children each pick out a pumpkin to take back. (If budgets are tight-have parents pay for their child's pumpkin) While at the patch--observe how the pumpkin are growing on the vine. Look at variations in color, size, shape, quality and weight!

3. Children can take their pumpkins home--or decorate them with you. Put out paint, yarn for hair, google eyes, and other decorating materials. How creative can they get?!

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PUMPKIN SNACKS & RECIPES...

 

PUMPKIN SUCKER BOUQUET/CENTERPICE

This is a party snack and craft in one...wonderful for a dessert table!

I purchased a Styrofom pumpkin and simply inserted the sucker sticks into the pumpkin. Result is an extremely quick and cute sucker-holder decoration!

This version will take you from early October through November--it's a nice 'Autumn' piece. Using a black 'sharpie,' a Jack-O-Lantern face could also be painted on it for Halloween! (Image by KidActivities.net)

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Yikes! There are so many easy Pumpkin Snacks and Recipes, that they are now in their own category!  Be sure to visit it to complete your theme...(There is also a link at page bottom and top)

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 PUMPKIN POEMS & SONGS...

PETER, PETER, PUMPKIN EATER

Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater
Had a wife and couldn't keep her...

Put her in a pumpkin shell
And there he kept her very well.

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PUMPKIN POEM #1

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?

(I am so relieved since I have found
that pumpkins only grow in the ground!)

PUMPKIN POEM #2
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.

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FIVE ORANGE PUMPKINS (Also nice for early math!)
  
Five orange pumpkins rolling down a hill,
Once they started rolling, they couldn't keep still.
One hit a rock and couldn't roll any more,
How many pumpkins left?  Now there are four.

Four orange pumpkins a-rolling and a-bumping,
I hear them clumping, I hear them thumping.
One fell into a hole next to a tree,
How many pumpkins left?  Now there are three.

Three orange pumpkins rolling on the grass,
Watch them tumble and roll so fast.
One rolled until it bumped right against my shoe,
How many pumpkins left?  Now there are two.

Two orange pumpkins still rolling really fast,
Will they ever slow down and stop at last?
One pumpkin hit a tree, its rolling now is done,
How many pumpkins left?  Now there is one.

One last orange pumpkin rolling toward me,
Now it's stopped rolling, look and see.
Now how many pumpkins are rolling in the sun?
Did you guess zero?  You're right, there are none.

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FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS SITTING ON A GATE

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate,
The first one said,
"Oh my, it's getting late."

The second one said,
"But we don't care."

The third one said,
"I see witches in the air."

The fourth one said,
"Let's run, and run, and run."

The fifth one said,
"Get ready for some fun."

Then whoosh went the wind,
and out went the lights,
And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

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I'M PULLING A PUMPKIN ON A VINE

I'm pulling on a pumpkin on a vine.
It's so big and fat and fine.
I'm pulling on a pumpkin on a vine.
Snap! It's mine!

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PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN

Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
Sitting on the wall.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
Tip and fall.
 
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
Rolling down the street.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
Good to eat!

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PUMPKIN SONG
Tune: Have You Ever Seen A Lassie?

Have you ever seen
A pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin,
Have you ever seen
A pumpkin that grows on a vine?

A round one, a tall one,
A bumpy one, a squashed one.
Have you ever seen a pumpkin
That grows on a vine?

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MR. PUMPKIN SONG
Tune: Where is Thumbkin

Mr. Pumpkin,
Mr. Pumpkin,
Round and fat,
Round and fat.
Harvest time is coming,
Harvest time is coming.
Yum, yum, yum.
That is that!

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I'M A LITTLE PUMPKIN SONG
To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot

I'm a little pumpkin
Orange and round.
Here is my stem,
There is the ground.

When I get all cut up,
Don't you shout!
Just open me up
And scoop me out!

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TEN LITTLE PUMPKINS
Tune: Ten Little Indians

One little,
Two little,
Three little pumpkins...
 
Four little,
Five little,
Six little pumpkins...

Seven little,
Eight Little,
Nine little pumpkins...

Ten little pumpkins in the
Pumpkin Patch!

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WHERE IS PUMPKIN
Tune: Where is Thumbkin?

Where is Pumpkin?
Where is Pumpkin?
Here it is!
Here it is!
This one has a happy face,
This one has a scary face!
Roll away!
Roll away!

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PUMPKIN FACTS for lesson plans...

• Pumpkins are a fruit not vegtables.
• It takes 3-4 months for a seed to become a pumpkin
• Pumpkins are 90% water.
• 80% of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October.
• Pumpkins range in sizes from less than a pound to over 1,000 pounds.
• Pumpkins contain potassium and Vitamin A.
• Pumpkin flowers are edible.
• Pumpkin seeds can be roasted for a snack.
• Pumpkins can vary in color from white or green to yellow to orange.
• Pumpkins are an ingredient in pies, breads, soups, and other foods.
• Pumpkins are used as feed for some farm animals
• Carved pumpkins only last about four days but uncut pumpkins, keptin a cool place, remain firm forseveral months.

Pumpkins are believed to have originated in North America. Seeds from related plants have been found in Mexico dating back to 7000 to 5500 B.C.

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A FEW PUMPKIN DECORATING IDEAS! They'd be wonderful the entire Autumn season--from September to November! Many other ideas on Autumn Decorating Page...

YOUR ADDRESS--THE PUMPKIN WAY!

•Select one pumpkin per house number and cut a hole in the top of each.

•Clean pumpkins out--saving the tops--wipe exteriors dry. Center paper stencil number (these are 5 inches tall) on the first pumpkin and adhere with painter's tape.

•With a marker, trace the stencil outline, then carefully carve just outside the line with a small handsaw or heavy-duty craft knife. Repeat for each number.

•Arrange a few tea lights inside each pumpkin, then line up or stack in proper order. Replace top on the highest pumpkin. Illuminate tea lights using a long-handled lighter through the holes.
Source:  sunset.com

THE FAST WAY...You wouldn't be able to insert tea lights--but a similar effect could be achieved by painting on the numbers!

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 PUMPKIN CONTAINER CENTERPIECES...

Thoroughly clean/carve out a small to medium-sized, round pumpkin. Line the interior with tin foil or saran wrap. Place a block of florist's foam inside the scooped pumpkin; place an assortment of harvest-themed artificial berries and flowers, available at arts and crafts stores, into the foam block. Abundantly fill the foam block so that you cannot see the opening of the pumpkin.

This makes a festive Fall and Thanksgiving centerpiece!  As you see, it also makes a nice candle holder.

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PUMPKIN TOPIARY
Materials:
4-inch terra-cotta pot
Styrofoam piece to fit in pot
Wooden dowel or small tree branch
Miniature pumpkin
Hot-glue gun and hot-glue sticks
Dried beans or peas
Raffia

1. Use hot glue to secure the Styrofoam into the pot.

2. Make the "tree." Sharpen the end of the dowel or branch (trimming it to size if necessary). Push it into the bottom of the pumpkin. Push the other end of the dowel into the Styrofoam. Hot-glue the dowel to secure if necessary.

3. Add the finishing touches. Spread dried beans or peas over the top of the Styrofoam, gluing if desired. Using raffia, tie a bow around the dowel just below the pumpkin.

TIPS: you can replace the miniature pumpkins with small gourds. If you want your topiary to last for more than two weeks, use artificial vegetables or fruits.

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FALL FOLIAGE PUMPKIN

 

Nice from October to Thanksgiving! First paint your pumpkin a white/off-white color.

Find different types of leaves, trace the shapes on the pumpkin, and paint. (Source: Better Homes and Gardens --they are many fantastic pumpkin decorating ideas there...a few for fall and several for Halloween)

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Visit the Autumn Decorating and Center Piece page for some wonderful ideas...great for 'September to Thanksgiving'!

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BOOKS ABOUT PUMPKINS & not Jack-O-Lanterns... 
Note: Some books included in this section make reference to Jack-o-Lanterns and/or Halloween. If you do not wish to familiarize your children or students with this holiday, please check the Amazon.com reviews before purchasing any of the following books.

•The Runaway Pumpkin
by Kevin Lewis The Baxter brothers find a wonderful pumpkin for Fall, but first they must catch up with it when it rolls down the hill

•Pumpkin Jack
by Will Hubbell
In the course of one year, a jack-o-lantern, discarded after Halloween, decomposes in the backyard and eventurally grows new pumpkins from its seeds.

•In a Pumpkin Shell: Over 20 Pumpkin Projects for Kids.
by Jennifer Gillis BProvides instructions for a variety of projects involving pumpkins, such as growing them, using them for crafts, and using them in some great recipes.

•It's Pumpkin Time
by Zoe Hall 
A sister and brother plant and tend their own pumpkin patch so they will have jack-o-lanterns for harvest time.

•The Pumpkin Patch
by Margaret McNamara Katy find what she thinks is the perfect pumpkin on a class field trip to a pumpkin patch, but after her classmates tease her about how small it is, it is up to Katy's father to show her how perfect her pumpkin can be. 
 

•Pumpkin Day!
by Nancy Wallace A bunny family picks pumpkins at a local farm and learns pumpkin facts in the process
 
•The Garden That We Grew
by Joan Holub Children plant pumpkin seeds, water and weed the garden patch, watch the pumpkins grow, pick them, and enjoy them in various ways. 
 
•Kids' Pumpkin Projects: Planting & Harvest Fun
by Deanna Cook Provides instructions for fifty projects and activities involving pumpkins, including growing them, using them in recipes, and making things out of them. 
 
•The Pumpkin Book
by Gail Gibbons Describes how pumpkins come in different shapes and sizes, how they grow, and their traditional uses and cultural signigicance. 
 
•From Seed to Pumpkin
by Jan Kottke Illustrates and describes with simple text how a pumpkin seed grows into a plant that

•Apples and Pumpkins (Ages 3-8)
Written by Anne Rockwell; illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell
In simple language, a young girl tells of her family's trip to a farm where they picked apples and pumpkins. The family samples fresh apple cider and returns home to carve the pumpkin into a Jack-o-Lantern, just in time for Halloween.

•It's Pumpkin Time! (Ages 3-7)
Written by Zoe Hall; illustrated by Shari Halpern
This story follows a brother and sister as they plant a tiny seed in the spring and watch it grow into a great big pumpkin by fall. The story ends with the parents helping the children to carve it into a Jack-o-Lantern

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Looking for books about Jack-O-Lanterns and Halloween?  Be sure to check out the Autumn Book List Category--fantastic lists which  include books about Jack-O-Lanterns, Scary, and Halloween!

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Easy Pumpkin Snacks/Recipes- Click Here...

 

GUESS THE PUMPKIN'S WEIGHT!
Need:
Large pumpkin
Bathroom or science class scale
Slips of paper

Have children write their estimates of the pumpkin's weight on a slip of paper. Kids write their names on the paper, fold them, and place in a box. At the end of the time-frame, weigh the pumpkin and award a prize or give the pumpkin to the child with the closest guess.

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YOUNG CHILDREN'S FALL 'TASTING PARTY'
Pre-K to grade 1

You need:
Canned pumpkin
Grapes (green and red seedless)
Apples (various kinds
Pears
Canned corn
Table knives
Paper plates
Optional: Oak tag/card stock paper, Tacks or push pins

1. Help children cut the fruit and vegetables into small pieces and place on paper plates.
2. Ask children to observe and comment on the differences and similarities of texture, color, size, shape. etc.
3. Give each child a paper plate. Let them select from the variety of foods to taste. Encourage children to tasted the unfamiliar as well as favorites.
4. Have a discussion after the tasting party.
Talk about how they look, taste, smell and feel. Encourage the use of such words as sweet, sour, bumpy, smooth and so on.

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DOES A PUMPKIN SINK OR FLOAT?

Fill a large clear storage container or aquarium with water. (If the weather is warm, you can do it outside). Have children make predictions of what will happen and graph the predictions. Do the experiments to determine if they were right or not.

 Make it interesting and get a few pumpkin sizes.
You may hear predictions that the smaller pumpkins will float and the large will sink. (Pumpkins float)

• Talk about why they float... If older kids know the answers... have them run the activity. The pumpkin (and watermelon) will float because its mass is less than the mass of water it displaces. This is due primarily because the inside of the pumpkin and melon are hollow. It is mostly air, which has a much lower mass than water.

 YOU CAN ALSO ADD OTHER AUTUMN ITEMS such as canned pumpkin and cranberry sauce, nuts, acorns, pine-cones,  cranberries, bark, corn, stones, grass and sticks. etc.

Pumpkins are fun. A pumpkin (watermelon too) will float because its mass is less than the mass of water it displaces. This is due primarily because the inside of the pumpkin and melon are hollow. It is mostly air, which has a much lower mass than water.

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GROWING IN A PUMPKIN!
Start this about two weeks before Halloween
Materials:
1 small pumpkin for each child or experiment
Paint
Cotton Batting
Mustard, Watercress or birdseed
Water

Cut the top off the pumpkin and  clean out the seeds.
Paint a face on the pumpkin if it is Halloween project. If it is for Fall/Autumn, leave it natural. 
Fill the pumpkin with cotton and spray with water.
Sprinkle the seeds on the batting.
Keep the batting moist, and seeds will sprout in about 2 weeks or sooner....just in time for Halloween!

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LEFT-OVER  PUMPKIN SEEDS!

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 also.

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 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.

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SPROUTING INDIAN CORN

Place the Indian Corn on its side in rectangular baking dish or similar container.  Put water in to cover the bottom of dish and then place it in a sunny spot. The corn will sprout in about a week. A good idea to provide a magnifying glass for close inspection. As corn sprouts some of the kernels fall of...this activity gives children a chance to handle and closely observe the sprouting corn. Kids like this one!

NOTE: I tested this activity with Indian corn that was about six years old--and it still sprouted! (The corn was part of my fall decorating collection...) Image by KidActivities.net

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SPROUTING POPCORN KERNEL- Place dirt in a small zip lock bag. Add water and a few kernels of popcorn. Seal the bag and hang in sunny window. The popcorn kernels will begin to sprout in about a week.

 

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PLANT  BULBS IN THE FALL

With the approach of fall, now is the time to get those bulbs in the ground for spring blossoms such as tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and lilies. When flowers welcome next spring-you'll be happy that you did!
For the best results:

• Plant before the first frost.

• Dig a trench and place the soil on a plastic sheet.

• Place the bulbs in the trench according to your design, but don't let them touch. Make sure they are facing the right way up.

• Replace the soil.

Now all you have to do is wait for spring to see healthy green sprouts that will grow into colorful flowers!

• Water thoroughly. You can also add a layer of mulch to keep the bulbs moist.

 

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TURN A PROTECTED SECTION of your program, home, or school yard into a nature shelter...

In the cold weather- birds, squirrels and other small wildlife are in constant search of food, fresh water and safe shelter. Set up a bird feeder, bird bath and bird house where you and the children will be able to quietly observe. Youth enjoy watching different animals seek the food and water and your bird house will be there when needed.

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AUTUMN SUNFLOWERS
Celebrate sunflowers by planting several varieties and sizes.
Cut up seed catalogs to visually plan the garden.
 
Turn the  garden into a bird-feeding haven for the fall.
Add a bird bath, bird ornaments, and birdhouses. (See SUNFLOWER CATEGORY for other ideas)

FYI: In a warm temperate climate sunflowers grow from seed to flowering stage in about three months --and another six weeks until the seeds mature in the flower head. This relates to the giant flowering types-some of the smaller varieties are quicker to mature.

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COLLECT LEAVES...
Go on a nature walk and collect different kinds of leaves. Sort the leaves by color, size or type of leaf. Place them on your science table.

Extension Ideas: GRAPH THE LEAVES
1. Have children count the number of leaves collected from each type of tree. Graph the results.

2. Get young children thinking about what they collected. Ask questions such as:

• What can you tell me about these leaves?  What is the same about these leaves?  What is different about some of these leaves?
• What colors are the leaves?  Look through the magnifying glass, what do you see? (veins, colors, size of the leaf seems to change)
• How can we measure this leaf? Can someone demostrate (show me) how to measure this leaf?  How long it is?  How wide it is?  (This leaf is __ inches/centimeters in length and __ in width.)

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PRESERVING LEAVES

THE OLD FASHIONED WAY:

• Place your autumn colored leaves between two layers of wax paper.
• Cover with a cloth rag. Using a warm (not too hot) iron, press down on the wax covered leaves, sealing the wax paper together with the leaf in between.
• Cut your leaves out, leaving a narrow margin of wax paper around the leaf edge.

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MICRO-WAVE METHOD
You can preserve fall leaves in your microwave oven.

• Choose fresh leaves with the bright colors. Avoid fallen leaves that have already begun to dry.
• Place separate leaves in the Microwave oven on top of two pieces of paper towel. Cover them with one sheet of paper toweling.
• Run the oven for 30 to 180 seconds. Microwaves vary so watch carefully. The drier the leaves, the less time they will need.
• Be careful, if the leaves "cook" too long you could actually start a fire.
• If the leaves are curled on the edges they need more time.
• Let the leaves dry for a day or two and then finish the leaves with a sealant, such as an acrylic craft spray.
  Source: Amazingmoms.com

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NATURE ART

NATURE COLLAGE
Find: Twigs, leaves, small pine cones, nuts, etc.
Glue them onto tag board cut into wreath shape (or any design). This shows children how to collect items from the ground without damaging the environment.

• You can also peel off the backing of contact paper and adhere the nature items to the sticky side.
• Cut cardboard and frame either method.

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USE LEAVES AS PAINT BRUSHES
Collect leaves with long stems. Have children paint with the leaves, using the leaves as brushes and the stems as handles.
Or...Collect leaves and tape them to a small stick and use them instead of brushes for painting.

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COLLECTING TIP!
FALL IS THE TIME to collect the leaves, pine cones, seeds, sticks, etc. for your craft projects for Fall and Winter!  Gather all you can…You’ll be glad that you did!

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FALL NATURE BRACELETS

 

1. Wrap a piece of masking tape (sticky side out) around each child's wrist. Go on a nature walk and have children collect a leaf from each of several trees---sticking it on their leaf bracelet.

2. Get a Book with a variety of leaves to compare “finds” when you return.

3. will also be able to go home and see what leaves they find there! As shown, you can take clear packing tape and make bracelets with a variey of nature finds--as well as some wonderful bookmarks!

Photographs are courtesy of Angela at Colorfool  blogsite...Thank you Angela! Angela shares that flat items adhere better than bulky.

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 THE EARTH'S WONDERS

Display natural earth wonders such as :
Sea shells, rocks, crystals, geodes, pine cones, seeds, twigs, etc.
Encourage children to add to the collection. Provide magnifying glasses to study the items at this center...Photograph courtesy of Restoration Place.

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You may also want to check the Fall Art and Craft Category  There are many ideas using nature items of leaves, seeds, etc.

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IF YOU FIND A CATERILLAR in late summer to late fall, put fresh leaves in a tank or fish bowl with a few twigs on which to make a chrysalis.

Ask children what they think happen? Ask them what will happen later?

We have done this with our group in the fall. They found a caterpillar outside in early October and brought it in. We put it in a large clear bowl and after the week-end it had made a chrysalis hanging from a twig. Kids  eagerly waited for spring so the butterfly could hatch! Sarah/Oakbrook

 

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CONTRAST LEAVES...

COLLECT GREEN LEAVES and place them on a tray to dry.... Over time they'll turn brown; without chlorophyll the leaf loses his green color.

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GLYCERIN LEAVES
Place a small branch with fall leaves on several layers of newspapers. With a hammer tap the end of the stem until it is slightly crushed.
Place the branch in a jar or baking dish with one part glycerin to two parts water. Keep it for 2 weeks. The leaves will be thicker to touch, colors will have changed & they will not disintegrate or fade..

In the autumn, you can also gather branches of oak, beech, and maple leaves just as the colors began to turn. Submerge them in vases filled with a solution of equal parts of water and glycerin. Over the next week, watch the color metamorphose as the chlorophyll ceased production, triggering the release of pigments. The glycerin, an emollient, fills the cells, rendering them supple and leathery. Leaves will last for years this way, more so if pressed.

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FALL SCIENCE AND NATURE FUN WITH APPLES!

 GUESS THE NUMBER OF SEEDS IN AN APPLE!

• Discuss the growth of an apple tree from seed to tree--- to apple and back.
• Show the apple and have the kids guess the number of seeds in it.
• Cut open the apple and find out how many there really are.
• You can have apple slices for snack! (Try them spread with peanut butter or sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar)

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'APPLE SEED' GUESSING CONTEST!
You can also turn the above into a contest, by LEAVING THE APPLE OUT...HAVE THE CHILDREN GUESS THE NUMBER OF SEEDS in the apple---- and then put their guesses in a container. After all have guessed—proceed as above.

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  APPLE TASTING AND CHARTING...

 Bring in LARGE VARIETY of apples. (During peek season there are many-many!) Have children taste them and see which one they like the best. With older kids you can chart and tally the results. You can also do this with applesauce (flavored vs. unflavored and also taste test cider vs. apple juice.
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APPLE GRAPH - Math for the young

• Make a chart by putting a picture of three different colored apples at the top.
• Have each child's name written down the left hand margin.
• Pass out a slice of each type of apple and then have each child tell you which was his favorite apple. (red, yellow or green)

Tally up the results and make a total at the bottom of each column. You can get the colored sticker labels from the stationery store for the children to use to put on the chart. If they like a red apple, they place their red circle sticker under the red, yellow circle sticker under the yellow apple, etc. They enjoy doing this because they get to use stickers---but they also get to taste a variety of apples!

Click here for tons of 'Apple Fun' Ideas...Games, Art, Crafts, Snacks, and so much more!

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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!!!

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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)

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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!

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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.

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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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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...

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 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!
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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.

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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.

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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...)

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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.

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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!

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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!
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  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!
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  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.

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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.

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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#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

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#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!

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 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.

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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!

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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

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                                         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.

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***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!

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  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)

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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...

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Games, Art and Crafts, Science, Snacks/Recipes, Poems /Songs, Book List...all with a Leaf Theme!

Updated September, 2012

GAMES...

LEAF BLOW GAME
Have a leaf race! In this, the children blow a leaf across a table with a straw. The first one across is the winner...

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LEAF, LEAF, PINECONE
The Leaf, Leaf, Pinecone is a version of the classic "Duck, Duck, Goose" with a nature-friendly twist.
This game is best played out-doors, but you can also gather pinecones and play this traditional game inside on a rainy day.

Whoever is "it" must not only touch the heads of the other players, saying, "Leaf, leaf, leaf," but must also drop a fresh pinecone in the lap of the child they choose before running back around the circle without being tagged. The person trying to tag "it" can touch "it" with a hand above the waist or with the pinecone below the waist

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BEAN BAG 'LEAF BOX' TOSS
Materials: Cardboard box and bean bags...

Depending on the size of your cardboard box, cut One to large leaf shapes into the cardboard.
Paint the cardboard colors of fall--yellow, red, orange, gold...
to play--children throw bean bags through the leaf shaped holes.

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PARACHUTE LEAF TOSS (For younger children)
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".

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Large-sized AUTUMN OR SPRING TIC-TAC TOE

Take a large piece of poster board and draw the tic-tac-toe lines on it; laminate it if possible.
Cut-two different leaf shapes; then simply play tic-tac-toe.

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HIDE THE LEAF AND SEEK...

1. While children are out of the room (or if in room have them cover their eyes) hide a leaf. (The leaf can be 'real' or draw on cardboard and cut out.) Hide the leaf where the children will need to search--but not too difficult to find.

2. Instruct the kids to sit down in a pre-designated spot when they see the hidden leaf.

3. After all children are sitting--the first child to 'spot' the leaf hides it for the 'next game'.

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ART AND CRAFTS

  

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

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 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. (Preserving leaves is also near page bottom in Science)

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LEAF PEOPLE

YARN SHAPED ... (Can be made into people)
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.

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LEAF PEOPLE #2 --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!
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LEAF PEOPLE #3 
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. Cut out leaf shapes and paste them to  background paper. Add heads, arms and legs. It would be fun if the leaf people were engaged in some activity.

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FALL FACES...#4
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.

NOTE: Be sure to check out the leaf fox/dog image a couple entries below!!! Soooooo cute!

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 STAINED GLASS...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. Wonderful 'Image Mosaic' is from ArtfulParent

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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!

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USE LEAVES AS PAINT BRUSHES
Collect leaves with long stems. Have children paint with the leaves, using the leaves as brushes and the stems as handles.
Or...Collect leaves and tape them to a small stick and use them instead of brushes for painting.

 

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START WITH A LEAF AND LOOK WHAT YOU GET!

How cute is this?!!!  Image was found on Pinterest and is originally from stranamasterov

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TOOTHPICK TREE

Have the children make a tree by gluing toothpicks on a piece of paper. Use a sponge, finger tips or smal paint brush-- and fall colors of red, orange and yellow tempera paint. Using your paint choice of color application -- add leaves to the top of the tree. The tooth picks were also painted brown before the leaves were added. The leaves were made by dipping fingers in paint.) Image by KidActivities.net

TIP: Instead of using toothpicks for the branches--pretzel sticks, pasta, or twigs can be used!

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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.

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LEAVES BLOWING IN THE WIND

1. Draw leaves on construction paper with Crayola Markers or Crayons. Or gather fallen leaves from outside and trace them. (Wash hands thoroughly afterward.) Draw veins and other designs on the leaves.

2. Cut out leaves.

3. Spread newspaper over your craft area. Dip your finger tips in Crayola Washable Finger Paint. Spread the paint in swirling motions--like the wind--over white construction paper. Wash hands.

4. While the paint is still wet, place leaves on the paper. Arrange them in different directions so they appear to be blowing in the wind. Leaves stick to the paper when the paint dries.

5. Extension: Look at leaf patterns in a science book or collect real leaves. Draw different examples such as maple, beech, and oak. Use red, brown, orange, and yellow paper to make leaves for an autumn scene. Source: Crayola

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SIX THINGS TO DO WITH PAINTED PAPER LEAVES...

Give  children white paper and have them paint using red, and yellow paint. They can mix the paints to create orange.

When the papers are dry, using templates, draw leaf shapes on the back. Cut out the leaves.
With these children can...

  • Make a leaf mobile
  • Make a leaf collage
  • Hang them from the ceiling
  • Glue onto a paper. Make a trunk of a tree--glue on the leaves
  • Put up on a bulletin board
  • Hang them from a classroom size tree...

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LEAF PRINTS USING PAINT

With a brush, paint red, orange and yellow tempera paint onto the front side of leaves. Press the painted side onto paper. For a variation, place the paint on the back side of the leaf and press down--you might see more distict markings on this print.

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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.

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LEAVES IN PLASTIC

Place leaves on the sticky side of clear self-adhesive plastic. Cover it with another sheet of plastic and press. Cut around the leaves. Punch holes in them and thread yarn or ribbon for a leaf hanging. Also...cut a single leaf and use it as a bookmark. 

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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 long-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  

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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! Image by KidActivities.net

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PLACEMATS

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)

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FALL NATURE BRACELETS

Wrap a piece of masking tape (sticky side out) around each child's wrist. Go on a nature walk and have children collect a leaf from each of several trees---sticking it on their leaf bracelet.

Get a Book with a variety of leaves to compare 'finds' when you return. Children will also be able to go home and see what leaves they find there!

As shown, you can take clear packing tape and make bracelets with a variey of nature finds--as well as some wonderful bookmarks! Photographs are courtesy of Angela at Colorfool  blogsite...Angela shares that flat items adhere better than bulky.

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COLORFUL FALL PUZZLE TREE

We all have puzzles that have missing pieces (such as the 100 piece puzzle that only has 80 pieces left)

1. Either draw a tree trunk and leaves... or cut out the trunk of a tree with limbs. If cutting out a tree trunk, glue or staple the trunk to a piece of background paper.

2. Pre-paint the puzzle pieces in fall leaf colors (or they may already have a fall look.)

3. Glue the puzzle pieces to the branches of the tree.

This tree didn't need the puzzle pieces painted--as most pieces were already in shades of red, yellow, orange, and brown)... This idea is also good for spring--using 'spring' colors. (Puzzle Tree Image by KidActivities.net)

 

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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 Category!

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MAKE LEAF GLITTER
Gather old brown leaves--and crumbel them up!
Draw your pictures (leaves or a fall scene would be nice)----apply a light coat of glue or wet paint--sprinkle with you leaf glitter!

You could also paint the leaves before you crumble them to make different colored glitter.

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 MAPLE LEAF PASTA MAGNET OR PIN

Materials:
Uncooked spaghetti
Adhesive-backed magnet
Green food coloring
Cardboard
Recycled clean margerine container
Styrofoam vegetable trays
Spoon
Paintbrush and Scissors 
 
 
1. Draw and cut out a maple-leaf shape on a piece of cardboard. (Good idea to make a template for the kids to trace)
 
2. Pour 1/4 cup (50ml) white glue into an empty margerine container. Add 2-3 drops of green food coloring to the glue. Mix well, until the color is a shade you like.

3. For a good work surface--Place cardboard leaf into a styrofoam vegetable tray. Paint the entire surface of the leaf with the colored glue.

4. Break spaghetti sticks in half. Line up the spaghetti sticks in a single direction on the leaf. Be sure the spaghetti is adhering to the glue. Leave the spaghetti untrimmed at this point.

5. Cover the untrimmed spaghetti with glue-coloring so that it is completely colored.
 
6. Let the leaf dry on a clean styrofoam tray. Once the glue has dried, carefully cut around the edges of the cardboard shape to remove the excess spaghetti. It is helpful to turn the leaf 'spaghetti-side down' while cutting the spaghetti.

7. Repair jagged edges with glue and pieces of trimmed spaghetti. Allow to dry a second time.

8. Adhere two magnets to the center of the cardboard back.
This project also makes a great lapel pin. Just use a pin backing instead of a sticky-backed magnet!
Adapted from TeaPartyCrafts

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 SCIENCE...

 COLLECT LEAVES...
Go on a nature walk and collect different kinds of leaves. Sort the leaves  by color, size or type of leaf. Place them on your science table.

Extension Ideas: GRAPH THE LEAVES
1. Have children count the number of leaves collected from each type of tree. Graph the results.

2. Get young children thinking about what they collected. Ask questions such as:

• What can you tell me about these leaves?  What is the same about these leaves?  What is different about some of these leaves?
• What colors are the leaves?  Look through the magnifying glass, what do you see? (veins, colors, size of the leaf seems to change)
• How can we measure this leaf? Can someone demostrate (show me) how to measure this leaf?  How long it is?  How wide it is?  (This leaf is __ inches/centimeters in length and __ in width.)

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DISPLAY AUTUMN LEAVES ON YOUR SCIENCE OR COLLECTION TABLE along with other "Earth Wonders'...

 

Display natural earth wonders such as :
Sea shells, rocks, crystals, geodes, pine cones, seeds, leaves, twigs, etc.
Encourage children to add to the collection. Provide magnifying glasses to study the items at this center...Photograph courtesy of Restoration Place.

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PRESERVING LEAVES MICRO-WAVE METHOD...
You can preserve fall leaves in your microwave oven.

• Choose fresh leaves with the bright colors. Avoid fallen leaves that have already begun to dry.
• Place separate leaves in the Microwave oven on top of two pieces of paper towel. Cover them with one sheet of paper toweling.
• Run the oven for 30 to 180 seconds. Microwaves vary so watch carefully. The drier the leaves, the less time they will need.
• Be careful, if the leaves "cook" too long you could actually start a fire.
• If the leaves are curled on the edges they need more time.
• Let the leaves dry for a day or two and then finish the leaves with a sealant, such as an acrylic craft spray.
  Source: Amazingmoms.com

 THE OLD FASHIONED WAY...

• Place your autumn colored leaves between two layers of wax paper.
• Cover with a cloth rag. Using a warm (not too hot) iron, press down on the wax covered leaves, sealing the wax paper together with the leaf in between.
• Cut your leaves out, leaving a narrow margin of wax paper around the leaf edge.

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CONTRAST LEAVES...
COLLECT GREEN LEAVES and place them on a tray to dry.... Over time they'll turn brown; without chlorophyll the leaf loses his green color.

GLYCERIN LEAVES
Place a small branch with fall leaves on several layers of newspapers. With a hammer tap the end of the stem until it is slightly crushed.
Place the branch in a jar or baking dish with one part glycerin to two parts water. Keep it for 2 weeks. The leaves will be thicker to touch, colors will have changed & they will not disintegrate or fade..

In the autumn, you can also gather branches of oak, beech, and maple leaves just as the colors began to turn. Submerge them in vases filled with a solution of equal parts of water and glycerin. Over the next week, watch the color metamorphose as the chlorophyll ceased production, triggering the release of pigments. The glycerin, an emollient, fills the cells, rendering them supple and leathery. Leaves will last for years this way, more so if pressed.

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IF YOU FIND A CATERILLAR in late summer to late fall, put FRESH LEAVES in a tank or fish bowl with a few twigs on which to make a chrysalis.

Ask children what they think happen? Ask them what will happen later?

We have done this with our group in the fall. They found a caterpillar outside in early October and brought it in. We put it in a large clear bowl and after the week-end it had made a chrysalis hanging from a twig. Kids  eagerly waited for spring so the butterfly could hatch! Sarah/Oakbrook

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 MATH --LEAF COUNTING-- Pre-K to Grade 1

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THE LEAVES ARE FALLING DOWN

By June Haggard
(Sing to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell")

The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
School is here and fall in near
The leaves are falling down.

The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
Some are red and some are brown
The leaves are falling down.

The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
They tickle your nose and touch your toes
The leaves are falling down.
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A LITTLE ELF

A little elf
Sat in a tree
Painting leaves
To throw at me.

Leaves of yellow
And leaves of red
Came tumbling down
About my head.

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I LOVE FALL

I love fall! Fall is exciting.
It's apples and cider.
It's an airborne spider.

It's pumpkins in bins.
It's burrs on dog's chins.
It's wind blowing leaves.
It's chilly red knees.

It's nuts on the ground.
It's a crisp dry sound.
It's green leaves turning
And the smell of them burning.

It's clouds in the sky.
It's fall.
That's why...
I love fall.

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LEAVES
by Elsie N. Brady

How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow.

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AUTUMN BIRD SONG

Over the housetops,
Over the trees,
Winging their way
In a stiff fall breeze.

A flock of birds
Is flying along
Southward, for winter,
Singing a song.

Singing a song
They all like to sing,
"We'll see you again
When it's spring, spring, spring."

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OCTOBER

October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down -
October is red
And golden and brown.

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NOVEMBER

Now the autumn days are gone
Frost is sparkling on the lawn,
Windows winking cheerful lights
Warm the cold November nights.
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  BOOKS ABOUT LEAVES

Autumn Leaves (ages 3-7)
Written by Ken Robbins
Illustrated with full-color photographs, this book introduces young children to autumn leaves from thirteen different types of deciduous trees. Beginning readers will find the vocabulary very challenging, but even young children will enjoy listening and following the pictures as an adult reads it to them.

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf (ages 4-10)
Written by Lois Ehlert
In this classroom favorite, Ehlert relates the life cycle of a sugar maple from a child's perspective. The unique illustrations will grab the attention of the youngest listeners, while the captivating text will engage older readers.

Why Do Leaves Change Colors? (ages 5-9)
Written by Betsy Maestro; illustrated by Loretta Krupinski
In the simplest of terms, this book explains why leaves change colors and fall from the trees. Also included is a list of activities children can do with leaves.

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More than 65 Apple Themed Ideas! Games, Art, Crafts, Song, Poems, Diversity and more!

 Updated October 2012... This page has Apple Arts and Crafts...Click here for Apple Games, poems, songs of all types

APPLE CRAFTS...

APPLE SHAKER TAMBOURINE
Materials:
Paper plates or card stock; some things that will make noise inside the apple shape-such as buttons, seeds, rice, dried beans, small pebbles, etc.; ribbon
Have kids paint two pieces of APPLE SHAPED poster board - or paper plates. Glue and staple the two pieces together with the sound-maker in the middle inside of it. Attach the ribbons.

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MAKE AN APPLE CANDLE HOLDER

This table centerpiece is short lived ---but pretty while it lasts.
Materials:
Large Rome Beauty apples (that will stand straight on the table)
Candles
Waxed paper
Potato peeler
Lemon juice
1. Using an apple corer, make a hole about halfway through the middle of an apple. Make the hole as straight as possible and remove the core piece.

2. Insert a candle into the hole. It should fit tightly; if the hole is too large, wrap waxed paper around the candle's end.

3. Older kids can decorate the apples by carefully carving designs in the skins with the tip of a potato peeler (to prevent the designs from turning brown, rub them with lemon juice).

4. Arrange the candleholders in a circle on a plate or cutting board.
Make sure that the apples are stable. Cut the bottom accordingly if not.

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MAKE A DRIED APPLE WREATH…
Version #1
Step One: Making Dried Apples

Ingredients:
Juice of approximately 8-10 lemons
2 teaspoons salt

8 - 10 large firm apples
8 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons allspice
1 teaspoon cloves
8" - 10" sturdy, heavy gauge wire (for a wreath)
Jute (for garland or apple stacker)
1 - 1 1/2 yards of ribbon, fabric scraps, or raffia 

Preparation:
1. Dry the apples.
2. Place lemon juice in a large bowl, and stir in salt.
3. Peel, core, and slice apples horizontally into 1/4" thick circles. Soak slices in lemon juice bowl for approximately 6-10 minutes, making sure each side of the slices has a chance to absorb some of the lemon juice.
4. While waiting, mix spices in a bowl and blend well.
5. Remove the slices from the bowl and place them on paper towels. Pat tops of apple slices with paper towels.
6. Dust apples slices with spice mixture. Turn slices over and repeat on opposite side.
7. Place apples slices in a single layer on a baking sheet.
8.  Bake at 150-200 degrees F for 6 hours or until completely dried. Apple slices should be slightly pliable.

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Version #2
DRIED APPLE RECIPE
2 red apples
1 cup lemon juice
1 T salt
Non-stick cooking spray
     • Preheat over to 225 F. Slice apple 1/4" thick.
     • Combine the lemon juice and salt in a bowl and soak the apples for 20-25 minutes. Turn apples once while soaking.
     • Coat a baking sheet with the non-stick cooking spray and place the apple slices on the sheet in a single layer.
     • Bake for 4 to 6 hours until the slice feel leathery--but no brown. Turn slices over once during baking.

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TO CREATE AN APPLE WREATH:

1) Fold each apple slice in half, and then into quarters and thread the apple slices onto the wire. Continue to pack on the folded apples until the wire is completely filled.

 2) When the wire is completely covered, use pliers to bend ends into hooks so that they can connect and close. Carefully shape wire into desired shape. Recommendation is  either a circle or heart shape.

3) Using the ribbon or fabric scraps, create a hanger for your wreath.
 
4) Hang on the wall, or package as a gift for someone special.

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MAKE SHRUNKEN APPLE HEADS!

 • Choose the largest, firmest apples you can find. The apples shrink a lot when they dry so you want to be sure that they are big enough to begin with. Firm apples will be easier to carve and will dry out much better.

 • The first step in making your shrunken apple heads is to peel the apples. You can core them if you would like, although it is not necessary. Next, brush a mixture of lemon juice and salt onto the peeled apple. The lemon juice and salt mixture will help  keep the apples from turning brown as they dry.

      • Next, you will want to take a paring knife and carve out the basic features of a face from one side of the apple. Don't go into too much detail since when the apple dries any small details will be lost. Focus on creating large features like the eye sockets, a nose and a mouth.

Example: To make a shrunken apple for a witch's head you would most likely carve a large nose, two deep holes for the eye sockets and a sneering hole for the mouth. Keep the shapes that you carve simple and larger than you think you need them to be since they will shrink as they dry.

  • Place the carved apples somewhere dry and out of the way. Turn them every couple of days -- in about 2 weeks they will have shriveled up into ghoulish little faces. You can speed up the drying time if you would like by setting them on a cookie sheet in the oven on the lowest setting or by using a food dehydrator, although it will still take some time for them to dry and shrivel.

• YOU CAN MAKE A BODY by putting the heads on small bottles (shampoo, dish soap etc.) Make a dress out of a piece of fabric. You can even use a small paper clip to make glasses.

 

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DRIED APPLE AND CINNAMON PASTA HANGING
1. Slice apples sideways and place the slices in a lemon juice and water mixture for a few minutes.
2. Moisten rigatoni pasta with water and then roll and coat them in cinnamon.
3. Using plastic needles and yarn, alternately string the apples and noodles.
4. Add a country fabric bow (or your choice of bow) to the top and dry near a sunny window.
5. The  wreaths hang straight down... and look and smell great!

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DRIED APPLE PICTURE FRAME

• Arrange four craft sticks to form a small, rectangular frame the size of a school picture.
• Using a school picture as a guide, lay one stick across the top and a second across the bottom.
• Place once craft stick vertically at each of the picture edges to frame the picture.
• Glue the sticks and a picture in place.
• Glue two or three dried apple slices to one corner of the frame and a magnet to the back. (Use one of the above recipes
• Allow the frame to dry.

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APPLE SHAPE PUZZLE
Draw a very large apple (made from card-stock if possible). Laminate it and cut into pieces to put back together as a puzzle. Save pieces in plastic baggie.

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APPLE TREES
Need:
Small ball of modeling dough or clay
Empty short can such as tuna can
6 to 8 inch twig with branches
Several green tissue paper squares
Craft glue
Several red beads
Piece of construction paper cut to fit around the can
     • Place the dough or clay in the bottom of the can.
     • Stand the twig in the center of the clay.
     • Twist the tissue squares to resemble bow ties.
     • Glue the bow ties to the branches to look like leaves.
     • Glue a few of the read bead "apples" on the branches.
     • Have kids decorate the paper strip; cover the can and glue it in place.
Tip: A couple weeks before this activity, ask parents to bring in tuna fish size cans!

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APPLE WORM PUPPET#1 (Apples and Worms go together!)

• You will need a 4" x 4" piece of cardboard.
• Cut the cardboard into a large apple shape.
• Next, cut out a small finger hole somewhere on the apple.
• Have child color the apple with a red crayon or marker.
• Children hold up the apple with one hand while they stick their pointer finger from the opposite hand into the worm hole and wiggle.

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MAKE A WORM PUPPET #2
Materials:
Small cup,
Brown paint or markers
Black marker
Scissors

• Take the cup and cut out the bottom.
• Paint or color the cup brown; is the dirt from which your worm peers. 
• Draw a face on the tip your index finger (Finger the worm.)
• Stick the worm through the cup and you have a fun worm puppet.

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 APPLE CORE PENCIL HOLDER

• Leaving the hole open to hold the pencils, put paper Mache around a toilet paper roll.
• When dry--- paint it to look like an apple core...
• Insert a brown or black pipe cleaner stem. Use green raffia, construction paper or foam sheet for a leaf.

***MACHE recipes are on this site. Click here...

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TALKING APPLE PUPPET
Materials: Old tennis balls (If no one in your program plays tennis, put them on your wish list! Someone will have some "dead" tennis balls and would be happy to donate them.)
Sharp knife (adults only)
Red paint and a paintbrush (You can skip this part if you're able to find red tennis balls at pet store) 
Brown pipe cleaner
Scrap of green felt
Two large wiggle eyes
Masking tape
Tiny red pom-pom
Black marker
Scissors
White glue or thick blue glue gel
Newspaper to work on
Plastic-foam egg carton (for drying the tennis ball on)

1. Have an adult use a sharp knife to cut a slit across the lower half of the ball for the mouth and to poke a small slit in the top of the ball for the stem. If you have a shop vise, you can use it to hold the ball steady while you make the cuts. The deeper the mouth cut, the easier it will be to squeeze the mouth to open it.
2. Paint the ball red. Let it dry on the plastic-foam egg carton.
3. Stick a piece of masking tape on the back of each wiggle eye to create a better gluing surface. Glue the eyes on the ball above the mouth.
4. Glue on the red pom-pom for the nose.
5. Cut a 2-inch piece of brown pipe cleaner for the stem. Push the end of the stem through the hole in the top of the apple.
6. Cut a leaf shape from the green felt scrap. Cut a tiny slit at the base of the leaf. Slide the leaf down over the stem through the slit so that it sits on the top of the apple.
7. Use the black marker to make a line over the cut mouth to accentuate it. To make the mouth of the apple open and close, squeeze the ball on each side of the mouth.

• This little apple puppet can pick things up with the mouth and swallow them. You might want to make a game of seeing how many things the puppet can pick up and swallow in a set amount of time. Try picking up peppercorns, small pom-poms, or popcorn kernels.
• One person said the children were more interested in throwing than picking up… but they did pick up bits of cereal and raisins.
• The kids especially liked to play the 'apple eats your nose game'. More than one group reported apple puppets nibbling at other kids with much giggling--- a part of the game.
  Source: realfamiliesrealfun.com

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APPLE THEMED BULLETIN BOARD IDEAS

'OUR APPLE ORCHARD'
-Cut an apple for each child to glue a photo of themselves on and put on the bulletin board.

'A BUSHEL OF FUN!'
-Draw a large basket with apples in it, and once again, have each child's name on an apple.
 

'WE ARE A GREAT BUNCH!'
-Apples on a tree with each child's name on an apple.

'WELCOME TO ________!'
May this school year bring
You happiness galore,
And may you enjoy it
Right to the core!
 
Post the above poem and then draw a huge apple core with everyone's names on it!

 
THE NEW CROP IS IN!
Place children's photos or names in apples and hang on tree.

Click here to see two images of 'Apple Themed' Display Boards

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APPLE ART

APPLE COLLAGE
Use a small paper plate and a piece of red paper. Have children tear the paper into small pieces and then glue and cover the plate with the pices. Add a green paper stem and hang up.

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DEMENTIONAL CURLED APPLE TREE
Materials:
Red, green, brown, and blue construction paper,
Glue
Scissors
Pencil

• Cut out a tree-shape trunk from the brown paper; cut out apples from the red construction paper.
• Assemble and glue the trunk and apples on a background piece of paper.
• Cut out many small, thin (about 1/4 inch wide and a few inches long) strips of green paper and some red strips as well.
• One by one take the strips and wrap them tightly around a pencil and they will curl.
• Remove the curled paper from the pencil and dip the edges in glue.
• Add each glue edged 'curl' to your tree.
• Keep repeating this process until the tree is covered with apples and leaves.

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CRAB APPLE PAINTING
     • Give children construction paper and several colors of thick tempera paint in shallow dishes.
     • Have them put their paper in a shallow box.
     • They dip their apple in the chosen paint color and use a spoon to scoop it out and onto the paper.
     • Now hold the box tilting it back and forth as the crabapple moves across.
     • When there is no more paint, dip the crab apple again ---or put a new apple into a different color.
     • This can also be done using regular larger apples! Nice to hang and display.

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PRINT MAKING USING APPLES

Need:
Apples
Paper Towels
Styrofoam Plate, Meat Tray, or Other Shallow Dish
Construction Paper and Paint
• Cut the apple in half. Experiment with the apples by cutting them different ways. Cut through the top and out the bottom to make a 'traditional' apple print, cut through the middle to make apple 'star' prints. Cut the apple into quarters for a different print also!

• Fold a paper towel into 4ths and lay it on the bottom of the Styrofoam plate, etc. Pour paint into the center of the paper towel to make it into a stamp pad. Using red, green, and yellow paint will represent the different kinds of apples.

• Dip the cut side of the apple into the paint. Dab it around on the paper towel to wipe off excess paint, and then press it onto the paper. To finish off--cut sponges into leaf shapes and have kids repeat the above process to paint leaves. When dry add stems and seeds with sharpies. Sample apple print by a Kindergarten student of art teacher Michal Austin

• Make a whole collection of apple pictures this way! You can also use fabric paint and make an apple print T-shirt, towels, etc!

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WORM ART (Apples and Worms go together!!!)

 • Dip pieces of yarn into paint and drag it across paper to make squiggles, lines, etc.
 • You can also use COOKED NOODLES for worms. Click here for 'Painting with Spaghetti" in the 'Activities with Pasta' Category.

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PAPER MACHÉ APPLES

• Inflate a balloon.
• Dip newspaper strips in a mixture of your favorite paper Mache recipe.
• Completely cover the balloon. Let it dry thoroughly. Paint and decorate the shape to look like an apple!

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Make an APPLE TREE MURAL... as FALL progresses- add pumpkins, scarecrows, etc. to the mural. As Thankgiving arrives add a turkey, cornucopia, pilgrims, indians, etc. 

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Paint a STILL LIFE OF APPLES
Just put together a bowl of apples, or apples on a table. Put out the paints and paper, and see how creative the kids can be!

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APPLE CINNAMON DOUGH #1
Ingredients:
1 cup ground cinnamon
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup white school glue (optional)
Add the cinnamon to the applesauce until you get a clay-like consistency. You may add glue for added thickness. Once the dough is mixed, create shapes with your hands or roll the dough out and use cookie cutters. Let the dough dry. Store unused dough in a bowl with plastic wrap as a cover.
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#2 RECIPE
1 cup ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons white glue
3/4 cup water
Mix until the consistency of cookie dough. (Add more water if needed.) Sprinkle cinnamon on the cutting board and knead the dough. Roll out 1/4-inch thick. Cut into shapes using cookie cutters or Popsicle sticks. Punch hole in the top with a straw or pencil before drying (so you can string ribbon through later for hanging). Bake in 350° oven for 30 minutes or until firm. Let them cool, and then decorate! These are usually used as ornaments-----but make necklaces from them!
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Applesauce and Cinnamon Clay/Dough #3
1 Cup Applesauce
1 Cup Cinnamon
Instructions:

• Mix the applesauce and the cinnamon until it gets to a nice clay consistency.
• If --too sticky, add a bit more cinnamon or even a touch of flour.
• You can make shapes and designs or use cookie cutters.
• Put the shapes in a warm, dry spot to dry - this takes a few days!
• You now have sweet-smelling sculptures to decorate and/or paint.
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APPLE PLAY DOUGH (for young children)
Use red, yellow, and green colored play dough, adding cinnamon spice to it. Lay out apple cookie cutters and tools. Kids may want to make their own version of an apple (or other things) Add a pipe cleaner for a worm!

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This is page 1 of Apple Themed Arts and Crafts...Go to page 2 for Games, Diversity Activities and Songs/Poems
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 Looking for Autumn/Fall Games? Click here for more than 32 Ideas!

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Click here for page 2

 70+ Snack & Cooking Apple Ideas ... 

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