2012

Plan your curriculum featuring some of  the different 'Days of November'!!! Fun ideas at bottom of page! (Centerpiece image by KidActivities.net)

Flower: Chrysanthemum
Birthstone: Yellow Topaz

 NOVEMBER IS THE MONTH OF:
  • Adoption
  • Aviation
  • Cozy Cuddles 
  • Child Safety and Protection
  • Drum Month  
  • Family Stories
  • Good Nutrition
  • Latin American
  • Model Railroad
  • Peanut Butter Lovers
  • Stamp Collecting
  • National Family Caregivers
  • American Indian Heritage
 •  I Am So Thankful Month

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November 13-20: World Kindness Week! (Check out Kindness Category!)
November 13, 2012: World Kindness Day!

Geography Awareness Week is the third week each November......November 11-17, 2012.  (Visit National Geographic for more info) The week's theme will focus on how geography instills an awareness of the interdependence and interconnectedness embedded in all of our lives.  This year’s program will show how the ideas of interdependence, interconnectedness, and geographic perspectives can be easily incorporated into all parts of the class, after-school program, or at home.   Check out Mixing Geography and Fun!

Don't forget Bonza Bottler Day on November 11!
Just a reason to celebrate. So Celebrate! This happens each month when the day and date are the same number! Example: November 11, December 12, etc. Any kind of celebration will do...just do something fun!

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CULTURE AWARENESS CELEBRATION DAYS

1. All Saints' Day (Christian, Roman Catholic)

2. Dia de los Muertos "Day of the Dead" (Mexico, Latin America) 
The celebration occurs on the 2nd of November in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day to commemorate family and friends who have died.  The traditions is to build private alters in people's homes using sugar skulls, marigolds, flowers, fruits, pictures and the favorite foods of the deceased.  Visits to the graves with a few gifts and decorations are also a must on this day.

2. All Souls' Day (Roman Catholic)

12. Birthday of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i)

Thanksgiving (United States) 2012 - November 22nd, 2013 -November 28th 

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The Days of November:

1.  National Author's Day and also 'Day of the Dead' in Mexico celebrated the first and second
2.  National Family Literacy Day, and Sistine Chapel completed. (*See bottom of page for fun idea!) 
3.  Sandwich Day (See page bottom for ideas)
4.  Candy Day (See Easy Candy Recipes page); First Wagon Train arrived in California (It left Missouri in May-1841)
5. 
6.  Abraham Lincoln elected president 1860
7.  Hug-a-Bear Day (See Teddy Bear Theme)
8.  Dear Santa Day (*See bottom of page for idea)
     X-ray discovered
9.  Pursuit of Happiness Day
     First Giant Panda collected alive in China (1927)
10. Forget-Me-Not Day
11. Veteran's Day (Bonza Bottler Day too!)
      Remembrance Day in Canada
      Washington became State
12.  Pizza with the works but no anchovies
13.  World Kindness Day
       Indian Pudding Day (See recipes below) 
       First Spacecraft to orbit mars (Mariner 9-1971)
14.  Teddy Bear Day (Visit Teddy Bear Theme and Bear Jokes )
15.  Great American Smoke-Out Day
       America Recycles Day
16.  Button Day (See below images of 'Button Ideas)

17.  Take a Hike Day
18.  Mickey Mouse's Birthday
19.  Gettysburg Address
20.  Peanut Butter Fudge Day (See below for 2 easy recipes!)
21.  World Hello Day (*Learn to say 'Hello' in several languages-see bottom of page)
       What do you love about America? Day
       North Carolina became State
22. 
23.  Buy Nothing Day
24.  Zachary Taylor B-Day: 1794 (12th President of USA)
24.  USA Thanksgiving Day and Parfait Day
26.  In 1789 George Washington proclaimed a day of public thanksgiving
27.  Pins and Needles Day
      Nobel Peace Prize Established
28.  Albanian Flag Day
      First American automobile race: 54 miles from Chicago's Jackson Park to Evanston, Illinois.

29.  Electronic Greeting Day
      Beatles released I Want to Hold Your Hand in 1963
30. Computer Security Day
      Mark Twain Born (1835-1910)

 IDEAS FOR SOME OF THE ABOVE DAYS!

IT'S NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH...
What Indian tribes are in your state? Learn about them!

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*MICHELANGELO PAINTING~ NOVEMER 2
Michelangelo completed the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel between 1508 and November 2, 1512 

Tape large pieces of paper to the underside of tables or desks. Put out a variety of art supplies. Have kids paint/color/draw laying on their backs—just like Michelangelo did! Discuss how he spent four years doing this to complete the Sistine Chapel frescoes...

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NOVEMBER 3 IS SANDWICH DAY!

#1. MAKE A SANDWICH ON A STICK... 
Ingredient ideas to put out: Bread, cheese cubes, lunch meat, grape tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, olives.

Ingredients can be served in bowls and children choose what they like and then slide onto their skewer.
1. Cut up cubes of bread, cheese, and lunch meat (1/2-inch-thick cubes of ham and turkey are good).
2. Slide the cubes onto a skewer (long pick) with other foods the children like, such as a grape tomato, a piece of lettuce, a pickle, or an olive.
3. Set out a side of mayo or mustard for dipping.

#2 MAKE A SANDWICH FACE
Just put out the ingredients and let kids make and take…
Peanut Butter
Bananas - sliced
Raisins
Bread (1 slice)
M &M's candy
Spread the peanut butter on the slice of bread. Next, put 2 banana circles on the bread to look like eyes. Then use a raisin as a nose. Last, make the mouth out of M&M's candy.

#3 MAKE A TASTY FACE
Spread peanut butter onto a rice cake.
Use jellybeans and M&M's to make facial features...

SANDWICHES WITH A DIFFERENT LOOK...

#4. MINI-WRAPS
Lightly spread a tortilla with a little cream cheese and place one or two slices of thin ham or turkey over the cream cheese. Roll tightly and cut into small rounds.

#5. PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY ROLL-UP
Put peanut butter and jelly onto a flour tortilla. Roll...Eat

#6. TORTILLA & CHEESE ROLL-UPS
Ingredients:
Small flour tortillas
Colby-jack STICK cheese
Salsa, if desired

Place one stick of Colby-jack cheese (or use mozzarella string cheese) near the edge of the flour tortilla.
Roll the tortilla around the cheese; secure it with a toothpick (remove it later before children snack).
Microwave until cheese is soft.
Dip in salsa.

#7. TURKEY ROLLUPS
Satisfy your salty, crunchy and savory cravings in one punch with this quick snack version of a sandwich.
 
Ingredients: 4 slices deli turkey breast (about 2 ounces total), 8 teaspoons honey mustard or mango chutney (or whatever kids like), 8 sesame breadsticks
Spread each slice of turkey with 2 teaspoons mustard (or mango chutney) and season with pepper if desired. Wrap each prepared turkey slice around 2 breadsticks

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#7 SANDWICH ART: Make a hoagie sandwich that looks back at you! Ingredients:
Hoagie buns
Sliced lowfat cheese
Lean luncheon or deli meat
Shredded carrots, lettuce, or sprouts
Olives
Cherry tomatoes
Miscellaneous condiments (mustard, reduced fat mayonnaise, etc)
Toothpicks (or broken spaghetti pieces)
Clean work surface and hands
 
Make hoagie sandwich, using desired ingredients. On one end of the sandwich, use toothpicks or broken spaghetti pieces to position olives for eyeballs and cherry tomato for nose. Arrange shredded carrots, lettuce, or sprouts on top for hair. If desired, stick a small piece of lunch meat out of the "mouth" for a tongue. Source: Nutritionforkids NOTE: Be sure to remove all toothpicks before eating!

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YUMM...November 4th is Candy Day! Visit the 'Easy Candy Recipes page of KidActivities...

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 *NOVEMBER 8TH IS 'DEAR SANTA DAY'...

Here are two FREE websites that  E-mail 'Dear Santa letters'. First one has some other "Santa things"...the second is  more simple--but very sweet.

        http://www.emailsanta.com/ really fun site!!!
        http://www.santa-at-home.com/writesanta.shtml

Are you a childcare center but don't have internet access in your program? Consider posting the Santa addresses in you parent center or newsletter--a nice thing for child and parent to do together!

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NOVEMBER 13 is not only World Kindness Day-but also Indian Pudding Day!

INDIAN PUDDING  

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup molasses
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 quarts milk, scalded
whipped cream

In a saucepan over medium heat add all ingredients except for the milk. Beat thoroughly. Pour in milk slowly, stirring continuously until the mixture begins to thicken.
Pour into an ovenproof casserole dish and bake for 30 minutes.

Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar if desired.
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JAZZ UP A WINDOW
A button mosaic becomes a cheery sun catcher when it's sandwiched between layers of clear Con-Tact paper.
 
1. To make one, cut out a square of Con-Tact paper, remove its backing, and lay it sticky-side up. (If you like, slide a drawing beneath the square as a guide.) 
2. Place buttons on the square to create a shape, leaving at least a 1-inch border on all sides.
3. When you're done, cover the mosaic with a second Con-Tact paper square.
4. Smooth the edges with a cotton swab and cut out the mosaic, leaving a -inch border on all sides.
5. Stick your creation to a window with glue dots or tape.

BUTTON BOOKMARKS
These are fun and easy for kids to create.

Simply cut lengths of ribbon (these are 12 to 14 inches long, to fit a standard-size hardcover book), then attach buttons to the ends using tacky glue or a glue gun.
Shown here are just a few of the decorating options: sandwiching the ribbon's ends between two buttons; stacking smaller atop larger buttons; and grouping several small buttons in a pattern.

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Make GUMBALL MACHINE using buttons for the gumballs.

Put out paper plates, buttons, markers, and white heavy paper/construction paper. See what the kids come up with. Kids also just may turn their project into a 'button collage'! (This sample is made by a 1st grader (student of Shannon Stewart) at Stetson Hills School in Phoenix, Arizona. See other images of student art work in the Grades 1-3 Gallery Category.

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NOVER 20TH IS PEANUTBUTTER FUDGE DAY. Check out these two super easy microwave recipes! Both are yummy and easy to make with kids! This will also work to celebrate Peanutbutter Lover's Month...or 'Candy Day on November 4th!

EASY PEANUTBUTTER FUDGE #1

Ingredients
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 heaping Tbs peanut butter 

Put chocolate chips and sweetened-condensed milk in microwave safe bowl.
Cook on high for 5 minutes.
Remove from microwave, stir in peanut butter.
Spread in pan.
Cool and cut. Enjoy!

Some KidActivity links that may interest you for the month of November!

• Thanksgiving Snacks and Goodies
• Thanksgiving Arts, Crafts, Miscellaneous 
• Thanksgiving Jokes
• Autumn/Fall Games
• Autumn Pumpkin Theme
• Pumpkin Snacks and Recipes
• Popcorn Snacks and Recipes (Nice for Autumn!)
• Colonial Theme
• Kindness Category (It's Kindness Week and Day) and also...

SOME OTHER IDEAS FOR NOVEMBER!  •Autumn Apple Theme    •Apple Snacks   •Farm & Harvest Theme   •Easy Candy Recipes and Snack Mix Recipes  (Get ready for the Holidays!)   •Fall and Winter Snacks   •Mixing Geography and Fun (For Geography Awareness Week)   •Teddy Bear and Other Bears Theme (Teddy Bear Day-- this month)   •Bear Jokes  

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  APPLE TURKEYS 

These are fun to make. The tail feathers can be  colored mini-marshmallows, gumdrops or ring cereal. The feet can be whatever you decide--such as gum drops or candy corn.  

Need: apples, large marshmallows, candy corn and colored toothpicks.

1. The apple is the body of the turkey.

2. Add colored mini-marshmallows or gum drops to 5 or 6 toothpicks; stick them in one end of the apple, like a fan.

3. Use a toothpick for the neck. Use a marshmallow for a head. Tiny raisin pieces make the eyes and a candy corn for the beak.

4. Use 3 yellow toothpicks for legs (in a triangular position so your turkey can stand up) (Sample and Photo by KidActivities) 

Personally, I like to eat the spice gum-drops! When you are making food crafts with children, make sure to have a  extra pieces for the kids to munch on!  NOTE: Because of the toothpicks-this 'Turkey' would be better to only use as a decoration with younger children... 

I've also tried this idea using a pear! Be sure the pear is very firm and not ripe. (The pears will ripen and become soft quickly.) I was able to only keep the 'Turkey' on the table about 3 days and then needed to discard it. Pear samples were made with gum-drops and colored mini marshmallows. (Barb)

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ICE-CREAM CONE CORNUCOPIA
Put little cookies, raisins, nuts, M&M's, and pretzels into an ice cream cone (the ones that are pointed) to make a cornucopia snack. Use icing/frosting to hold them in.

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Four Pumpkin recipes here... but be sure to also visit the PUMPKIN SNACKS AND RECIPES CATEGORY!  Great for Thanksgiving!!!

#1 NO COOK PUMPKIN PIE (Individual servings)

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

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

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

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#3 PUMPKIN DIP

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

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

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

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CANDY CORN PUDDING
Ingredients:
1 small box of butterscotch instant pudding
1 small box of banana cream instant pudding
4 cups milk
Red food coloring
Yellow food coloring
1 container of whipped cream
Candy corn

1. Make  butterscotch pudding as directed on the box, using 2 cups of milk.After it's mixed, add 20 drops of red food coloring and 25 drops of yellow food coloring, stir and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2. Make banana cream pudding as directed, using the last two cups of milk.Add 20 drops of yellow food coloring and refrigerate until ready to use.

Use clear dessert containers OR small clear plastic cups... 

To assemble...
1. Put the yellow pudding at the bottom:
2. Then the orange:
3. And last, the coolwhip

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This one is also nice September through November! MAKE SOME SUPER EASY AND YUMMY ACORNS!

Ingredients:
Glazed donut holes
Choice of Nutella, chocolate frosting or peanut butter
Chocolate sprinkles, crushed toffee bits, or crushed nuts
Pretzel Sticks broken in halves

1. Dip an end of the Donut Hole into your choice of spread. ( Nutella, etc.) Only dip it half way!
2. Dip the frosted end into your 'sprinkle' choice. This is the top of the acorn.
3. Stick the pretzel stick into the top of the acorn. This is the stem.

Image by Kid Activities. NOTE: These were made by M and B ~7 and 5 years old. TIP: We used two kinds of donuts; a box from the bakery and Entemann's. The bakery donuts were too soft to easily work with. The sample image uses Nutella with a combination of chocolage sprinkles and finely chopped pecans. They tasted even better after being in the refrigerator awhile! (Good the next day too-when covered)

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THANKSGIVING SNACK MIX WITH A MESSAGE... This is great to serve as a snack or to tie up prettily in a baggie with raffia and a note explaining the symbolism of the ingredients!

If you're going to put this out in a bowl for children or guests to munch on---write the symbolic ingredients on a card and place it near the treat for all to see!

Ingredients:
2 cups Bugles corn snacks (horn of plenty)
1 cup candy corn (corn that pilgrims ate at the first Thanksgiving)
1 cup dried fruit (a sweet harvest)
2 cups pretzels (arms folded in thanks)
1 cup nuts or sunflower seeds (a bountiful harvest)
Recipe makes 8 servings

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 PARTY MIX #1... One easy way to provide Thanksgiving party food for kids (or adults)  is to create a huge bowl full of snack mix. Start with a box or two of your favorite snack cereal Add candy corn, raisins, small marshmallows, small pretzels, chocolate chips and other treats to the mix.

THANKSGIVING  PARTY MIX #2

Ingredients:
1 6-oz bag original flavor Chex Party Mix
2 cups Wheat Chex cereal
1 cup candy corn
1/2 cup whole salted almonds
1/2 cup chopped dried apples 
In a large bowl, mix one 6-oz bag original flavor Chex Party Mix, 2 cups Wheat Chex cereal, 1 cup candy corn, 1/2 cup whole salted almonds and 1/2 cup chopped dried apples.

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AUTUMN 'PUMPKIN PIE' POPCORN AND RAISIN MIX

1 bag low-fat microwave popcorn
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup California Raisins
1 (5-ounce) package glazed pecans
Butter-flavored non-stick cooking spray
 
1. Microwave popcorn according to package directions and empty into a large bowl. Remove all unpopped kernels.
2. Stir sugar and pumpkin pie spice together in a small bowl.
3. Spray popcorn liberally with cooking spray and toss to coat evenly. Add raisins and pecans.
4. Sprinkle with sugar and spice mixture and toss until popcorn is well coated.
Makes 12 (1-cup) servings.

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You may also like the SNACK MIX RECIPES Category...! Lots of ideas there!!!

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POPCORN PUMPKINS (Visit the Popcorn Snacks and Recipes  page for loads of Popcorn snack ideas! Popcorn is always nice in Autumn) 

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

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

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

4. Complete pumpkin with a green spearmint for the top stem.

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'FRIENDSHIP' FRUIT SALAD for a classroom or childcare program... 
Ask each child to bring in a piece of fresh fruit or a can of fruit. Have them chop the fruit with a plastic knife. Mix all together in a big bowl and serve. May top with miniature marshmallows and/or  add some dry vanilla pudding (or cool-whip) and shredded coconut to the fruit to make it special.
The extra cans of fruit left over can be donated to a local food pantry.

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 APPETIZER CENTERPIECE

To stabilize the turkey body, slice a piece of melon from the bottom.  Alternate cheese cubes and grapes onto long tooth picks. Put the (feathers) fruit and cheese skewers near the back of the melon. At the sides, insert red and yellow pepper strips. Insert a small pear in the front of the melon for the head. Complete the decorations using read and yellow pepper pieces and additional cheese!

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ANOTHER FUN APPETIZER IDEA!  BREAD BOWL and DIP TURKEY

Ingredients: Round loaf of bread--scooped out in one piece or cubes--your choice, favorite bread dip (such as spinach dip), cut up veggies, long tooth picks and skewers

OK get ready for this one! The scooped out bread bowl with the dip in it-- is the body of the turkey. Place the scooped out bread and put it where the turkey's head would go. Next thread veggies on the really long toothpicks or skewers...those are the tail feathers! Improvise with veggie bits for the wattle and eye...If platter is large enough, surround this guy with additional veggie dippers. Love this one!

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How cute are these?!

PILGRIM HATS #2 using Marshmallows 

 24 round chocolate striped cookies, 12 ounce pack of chocolate chips,  24 marshmallows,  Tube yellow frosting (Makes 24)

1. Set the chocolate-striped cookies stripes down on a wax-paper-covered tray, spacing them well apart.
2. Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave or double boiler.
3. One at a time, stick a wooden toothpick into a marshmallow, dip the marshmallow into the melted chocolate, and promptly center it atop a cookie.
4. Using a second toothpick to lightly hold down the marshmallow, carefully pull out the first toothpick. Chill the hats until the chocolate sets, then pipe a yellow decorators' frosting buckle on the front of each hat.

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Turkey Cookies by Pillsbury ... Candy corn feathers are attached using chocolate frosting. The eyes are small baking bits with a dab or dark frosting in the center. Orange tube frosting is squiggled on for the beak and feet! This decorating would also be adorable on top of cupcakes! The candy corn would adhere nicely to the frosting...

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FUN TURKEY SANDWICH
Use a large turkey shaped cookie cutter to cut out turkey shapes from wheat bread. Spread the whole shape with peanut butter. Use a raisin for and eye, a slice of a red gummy worm for the wattle, and fruit loops for the tail feathers.

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PEANUT BUTTER TURKEY TREATS (A little different than above)
1. Using a large, turkey-shaped cookie cutter, cut cookie shapes out of toast.
2. Spread toast turkeys with peanut butter.
3. Add corn candies for feathers.
4. Add raisins for eyes.

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MINI CORNUCOPIAS 
Make mini cornucopias using bugles and Trix cereal for snack.

The kids can create their own by adding some peanut butter inside the bugle and then adding a few pieces of the trix. They come out cute and the kids love them! 

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BOUNTIFUL COOKIES
Both an activity and snack in one! Yummy for all ages!

Bake or purchase sugar cookies that are cut out in Thanksgiving shapes. (Turkeys, pilgrim hats, pumpkins, etc.)
Place containers of "autumn" colored frosting, sprinkles, candy corn, and other decorations on the table. Children decorate as desired!

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OREO TURKEY

To make one turkey, you need two Double Stuff Oreo cookies, candy corn and a chocolate covered raisin (Raisinettes)...

Open one of the Oreos. The side with the filling is the base of the turkey. (Eat the other part!) Take the other cookie and stand it upright in the filling. Stick pieces of candy corn in the filling of the upright cookie for feathers and place the raisin in front of the body for the turkey's head.

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OREO TURKEY (Version #2)

Oreo cookie, Candy Corn, Hershey Kiss--
OPTIONAL: Green icing (or white with green food coloring)
Red icing or small piece of red licorice.

1. Divide the Oreo into two pieces without breaking the cookies.
2. Place four or five pieces of candy corn around the top of the Oreo cookie that has the icing.
3. Place the flat part of the Kiss in the icing at the bottom of the Oreo.
OPTIONAL IDEAS:
Add green icing to the other half of the Oreo so the Turkey will look like it is standing up.
Add a touch of red icing or a small string of red licorice to make the waddle. Eyes can be added using small pieces of icing.

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CORN CAKES

A fun snack using Jiffy cornbread mix....
Make dollar-sized corn pancakes from the mix; fry them on an electric skillet or griddle.

Top mini-cakes with butter and other toppings the children can bring in--such as jelly, jam, honey, etc. (or the program supply toppings)

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TURKEY GLOVE
Need: plastic gloves (deli kind)
Popped Popcorn (Made into popcorn balls if able to)
Candy corn or Reeses pieces.
  • Fill the fingers with candy corn and the thumb with popcorn. 
  • Place the ball in the palm of the bag. 
  • Glue an eye on and then twist the bag. 
  • Place cardboard feet on bottom. 
  • Don't forget the little red waddle over the nose/beak.

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CRANBERRY SAUCE...  This one is for you at home--so simple and very good! The kids also like this one...
1 can whole cranberries (not jellied)
1 can mandarin oranges (drained)
1 cup walnuts
1 cup pecans (Adjust amount of both nuts to suit your taste)

In a medium size bowl, gently fold together cranberries, mandarin oranges, walnuts, and pecans. Serve cold.

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APPLE DIPS & SPREADS

APPLE CARAMEL DIP #1 
Caramel apple dip
1 bag Kraft caramels
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 stick butter or margarine
1 bag apples
Unwrap caramels. Combine caramels, butter and milk. Melt together in microwave. Stir occasionally while melting. Slice apples. Dip into warm caramel. Keeps well in refrigerator and just needs to be heated again when serving.

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CARMEL APPLE SPREAD #2 
8 oz Cream cheese, softened
1/2 c Brown sugar
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 tsp. Caramel Flavoring
Apple slices…
Blend all ingredients with mixer. Serve with apple slices. Tastes like caramel apples, but doesn’t stick to your your teeth

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APPLE CREAM CHEESE CARMEL DIP #3
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup caramel sauce
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix together and chill.
Option: Mold Mixture into a ball and roll the ball in broken Heath candy pieces.

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SPREAD #4
1 jar of Carmel sauce (Mrs. Richardson's is good) 
1/2 cup of Sour Cream
Heath Bar pieces
Mix all together...

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APPLE SPREAD  #5 
Ingredients:
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/4 c. mayonnaise
Dash of sugar
1 c. chopped apple with peel
1/2 c. chopped celery
1/2 c. chopped pecans
Directions:
Mix together the cream cheese and cheddar cheese until well blended. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Serve with crackers or fresh vegetables.

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APPLE CHEESE SPREAD #6
8 oz. package softened cream cheese
1 ½ cups shredded Monterey jack cheese
1 cup diced apple (unpeeled)
1/3 chopped walnuts
2 Tbl. Milk
½ tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg

• Beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy in a small mixing bowl.
• Beat in the remaining ingredients until well blended.
• Refrigerate, covered, for 1 to 2 hours to allow flavors to blend.
• The spread will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week if covered. Use spread on bagels, crackers or waffles.
  Makes 2 cups.

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HOT & COLD BEVERAGES

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

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

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PUMPKIN BOWL PUNCH
Thouroughly clean out and scrape the sides of a pumpkin. 
Fill with vanilla ice cream and ginger ale. (Or your favorite Autumn punch recipe)

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 PUMPKIN SPICE HOT COCOA - Wonderful for November evenings!

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

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

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

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 APPLE CIDER served warm or cool is the perfect beverage for a Thanksgiving gathering. To fill the room with a delicious aroma, fill a crock-pot with apple cider. Add 2 or three cinnamon sticks.
Optional: Add 1/2 cup of maple syrup or orange juice. Simmer on low. Mmmmm, I can already smell it!

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 Other Thanksgiving Activity, Game, and Snack Links...

• Everything Thanksgiving!
• Thanksgiving Games
• Thanksgiving Snacks and Goodies
• Thanksgiving Arts, Crafts, Miscellaneous
• Autumn/Fall Games
• Autumn Pumpkin Theme
• Pumpkin Snacks and Recipes
• Popcorn Snacks and Recipes (Nice for Autumn!)
• Snack Mix Recipes
• Easy Candy Recipes
• Colonial Theme

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ARTS AND CRAFTS (Autumn Table Top decorating at page bottom; Songs, Poems, Fun Facts & More on Page 2)

ROCKS OF GRATITUDE

Materials:
Rocks (various sizes, avoid shiny or glossy rocks)
Light stock paper (such as news print)
Low-gloss varnish or clear finish

Steps:
1. Collect an assortment of rocks.
2. Clean with soap and water, then paint with fall colored acrylic paints (It's not necessary to cover the entire rock with paint, leave some areas exposed if you wish. Let dry.
3. Print words of wisdom or Thanksgiving quotes on paper. Tear out the sayings (ragged edges).
4. Glue the sayings to your rocks using either white glue or Modge Podge.
5. Finish off the rocks by applying low-gloss varnish or polyurethane.
At home a variety of rocks good be arranged for centerpiece or in a cornucopia along with some other dried elements, such as nuts or grasses.

After Thanksgiving this makes a nice paper weight or addition to a garden!

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 I AM THANKFUL HANDPRINT TREE
Gather colored paper (red, orange, brown, green, yellow) Trace the children's hands onto several sheets of several colors. Cut out. Then cut out a brown tree trunk branches in proportion to the amount of leaves. Have the children glue the hand shapes to the tree trunk to form the leaves of the tree. Have the child think of things to be thankful for and label the hand/leaves.

 Version #2 of  Thankful Tree! (Image from Discount School Supply)

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THANKFUL WREATH OF LEAVES
Children can make a beautiful wreath of leaves that displays what they are thankful for. This wreath makes a great Autumn or Thanksgiving decoration.
 
Materials:
A plain white paper plate
Construction paper (orange, red, yellow, brown, and other earth tones)
Templates of leaf shapes
Crayons or markers
Scissors
Glue or a glue stick

  • Cut a HALF CIRCLE OUT OF THE CENTER of a plain paper plate. Cut out a lot of leaves from construction paper. Draw the leaf veins if you wish. If you'd like, use a leaf template.

  • Glue the leaves all around the rim of the paper plate.
In the lower center of the wreath, (the half circle part that was NOT cut out) write, "I am thankful for," and then have the children write or draw what they are thankful for.

  • Put the child's name on the wreath (or let them sign it).
For variations on this wreath: instead of using leaves, use cut-out handprints of the child, tissue paper baking cups or torn-up scraps of paper.

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KINDNESS or GRATITUDE FOR THANKSGIVING

Make a huge turkey body out of construction paper and affix it to a wall. (Or make a smaller body and put on card stock or construction paper)
Give kids multi-colored paper feathers (made from construction paper) and have them write something nice about other students or family members.
Collect the feathers and place on the turkey.

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PINE CONE TURKEY
Need:
A pine cone
An acorn or a nut in the shell
Brown, red, orange and yellow construction paper
Pencil or marker
Scissors
Glue
Hot glue
Googly eyes
Clay

1. Cut out construction paper feathers.
2. Put a small blob of clay on one side of the pine cone to steady it on the table. The pine cone will be the turkey's body.
3. Glue the "feathers" to the top of the wide side of the pine cone.

  • Glue the acorn to the front of the turkey using hot glue. 
  • Glue on two googly eyes and a small piece of red construction paper (for the turkey's wattle). Let the glue set.

You now have a great Thanksgiving table turkey decoration. To avoid staining a tablecloth with the clay, put the turkey on a small plate.

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'SCRATCH AND SNIFF' CORNUCOPIA

1. Do you have a large pattern or coloring book picture of a cornucopia. If so, make a copy for each child.
2. Have kids color the picture.
3. With stick glue, apply glue to a piece of fruit in the cornucopia; sprinkle dry jell-o (matching the fruit) over the glue. Shake off excess jell-o powder.
4. Reat with the other fruit and flavors of jell-o.
(Original idea from Ms. Tyler-Livonia, Mi. SAC)

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HAND AND FOOT PRINT TURKEY
 
  • I painted the kids fingers different (Turkey) colors and placed them on a piece of tag board. Then I painted one foot.

  • Place foot opposite way so the heel is on the top, your toes are the turkey feet and your heel is the head.

  • The funny part is I told all the kids is they had to scrub their feet the night before. They didn't know why and their parents were questioning. I told them it is for a gift for them.

  • We wrapped them up and gave it to the parents for Thanksgiving. Some are framed and hanging in homes every Thanksgiving. I didn't have a poem including the feet but that would be adorable.
Mrs. Z/Rochester Mi.

Mrs. Z...I think the following poem would work (Barb)

This isn't just a turkey,
As anyone can see-
I made it with my hands and feet...
Which are part of me.

It comes with lots of love
And especially today…
I hope you have a very
Happy Thanksgiving Day!

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HOLIDAY SCENTS!
Materials: Construction paper or tag board, glue, paintbrush, different seasonal spices such as: nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, whatever smells good!

1. Trace children's hands on tag board or construction paper. Have the children then put glue on the palm and finger shapes.
2. Spices are then sprinkled on the glue. They can be mixed or put on areas of fingers and hands...
3. To make the spiced handprint become a turkey, draw-feet, eyes, beak and wattle.

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APPLE TURKEYS (A snack and craft in one!)

These are fun to make. The tail feathers can be colored mini-marshmallows, gumdrops or a ring cereal such as Froot Loops. The feet can be whatever you decide--such as gum drops or candy corn

 TURKEY: (Sample and Photo by KidActivities) Need: apples, ingredients for feathers, candy corn, large marshmallows and colored toothpicks.

  • The apple is the body of the turkey.
 • Add colored mini-marshmallows or gum drops to 5 or 6 toothpicks; stick them in one end of the apple. 
 • Use a toothpick for the neck.
 • Use a marshmallow for a head -tiny raisin pieces for the eyes - a cut up cany corn for the beak. Use 3 toothpicks for legs (in a triangular position so your turkey can stand up) If you decide not to add legs, cut a small slice from the bottom of the apple to sit straight.

 Personally, I like to then eat the spice gum-drops! When you are making food crafts with children, make sure to have a few extra pieces for the kids to munch on!

The "Apple Turkeys" would look nice combined with some of the  centerpieces at the bottom of the page...

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PLYMOUTH ROCK SEATING--A fun alternative to place cards!

Version #1

Materials
Smooth rocks
Craft paint
Paintbrushes
1. Make sure rocks are clean and dry.
2. Paint the stone/rock entirely or with designs on it.
3. After the rocks are dry, paint  names of Thanksgiving Day dinner guests!

Version #2 using pasta letters... 
Materials:
Medium sized smooth stones
Pasta Letters

Coat stones in brightly colored craft paint. When paint is dry, glue on pasta letters.

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THANKFUL FOR YOU "BECAUSE" BAGS...
A Connecting and Feel Good Activity

These can double as an activity and for decorations on the tables. You'll need: 
  • Brown paper lunch sacks 
  • Green paint pen 
  • Raffia 
  • Tissue leaves in autumn colors.
  • Plenty of small pieces of paper (approx. 3" X 4" size).

1. Cut the top of each sack in a decorative manner. (Use pinking shears, or regular scissors to trim the size, and give the bag a little character.)
2. Glue one autumn leaf to the center of each bag at an angle.
3. Tie raffia into little bows, and glue one to the base of each leaf with a hot glue gun. Write the name of each child on the bags with the green paint pen.

Place small pieces of paper in a basket along with pens and markers. Have each  child write a note or draw a picture (little ones) of why they are thankful for each person.

    • If your group is having a party-this can be done in the days preceding the party. Drop notes into bags. Allow time during the party or program for the children to read their notes. A great self-esteem building activity!!!

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MAKE A THANKSGIVING TREE in a container 
Supplies: 
  • Leaves (these can be commercial silks, plastic leaves, or children can children trace and cut out their own leaves. 
  • A branch to make the tree  
  • A container and rocks to support the tree 
  • Magazines 
  • Paper 
  • Scissors 
  • Markers 
  • Needle 
  • Thread 
  • Low-tack tape

Instructions
1. Fill the container with rocks. Remove leaves and unnecessary branches from the tree. Put branch in container. Make sure that the branch is securely anchored by the rocks.
2. Use the needle and thread to make individual hangers for the leaves.
3. Have children cut out or draw images of things for which they are thankful or have them write a list of things they are thankful for and cut out the words.
4. Use the tape to stick the thanksgiving items to the leaves. Hint: Any adhesive would work but if you use a low tack adhesive you can use the leaves again next year.
5. Hang the leaves on the tree.

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THANKSGIVING CARD

You'll need: leaf cutouts, glue, dried kernel corn 

1. Write a greeting on a sheet of construction paper or card-stock-
such as Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Autumn, Give Thanks, etc.
2. Have the children glue the corn to form the letters of the words. 3. Glue leaf cutouts around the rest of the picture for decoration

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 PAPER PLATE TURKEY

•Color paper plates with markers
•Glue turkey head on to T-paper tube.
•Staple the tube to the plate.

Courtesy of Renee Glashow at lilteacher

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'Words' for Younger Children's Hand-Print Turkeys  The poem above (for Mrs. Z's Footprint Turkey)  uses the words 'Hands and Feet'--this one is just hand...) 

This isn't just a turkey,
As anyone can see-
I made it with my hand
Which is part of me.

It comes with lots of love
And especially today-
I hope you have a very
Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Handprint photo courtesy of Ms. Glashow's class at lilteacher 

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TURKEY OF LEAVES
Gather brightly colored leaves and create this cute turkey! 

1. Glue the leaves to a piece of construction paper. It should resemble the tail feather of a turkey.
2. Add a body cut from another piece of construction paper.
3. Add a beak, feet, and some eyes--either wiggly eyes orpaper.
Tip: You may want to preserve the leaves before starting project. Thank you to MomentsofMommyHood for idea and images! 

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ACTIVITY BOOK
175 Easy-To-Do Thanksgiving Crafts (Creative Uses for Recyclables) (Paperback)by Sharon Dunn Umnik
$7.95 new and starting at $2.97 used at Amazon.com
A review: This book is an incredible asset to any classroom. The directions are clear and concise and the full color pictures of the end result are great! I would highly recommend this book to any teacher in need of extra ideas! Mary Ellen Fuentes

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Be sure to check out Ideas in the Autumn/Fall Centerpieces and Decorating Category!

All Miscellaneous activities of POEMS, SONGS, FACTS AND MORE...has been moved to its own page! Click here...

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You may also be interested in...

• Autumn Decorating and Center Pieces
• Thanksgiving Snacks and Goodies
• Thanksgiving Arts, Crafts, Miscellaneous (this one)
• Poems, Songs, Facts and More
• Thanksgiving Games
• Autumn/Fall Games
• Autumn Pumpkin Theme
• Pumpkin Snacks and Recipes
• Popcorn Snacks and Recipes (Nice for Autumn!)
• Colonial Theme

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TURKEY CALLING CONTEST

  • Host a turkey calling contest, complete with lots of squawking, flapping, wattle shaking, and pecking. Give participants a prize with fun distinctions:
 • "Loudest turkey", "Most authentic", "Most likely to be spared", "Cutest turkey", etc. This activity can also be turned into a relay race with the group split into two teams. Loud, but fun! (Ages 4-Adult)

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THANKSGIVING WORD FIND
Take a Thanksgiving related word such as: Thanksgiving, Mayflower, Cornucopia, etc. and find as many little words as possible within before the timer runs out.
Example: Cornucopia Words: corn, pin, no, arc, car, nip, cop, cup, on, or, rap...
Example: Mayflower Words: May, flower, flow, flare, lay, low, fear, ear, owe, fly, rye, wear, row...

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TURKEY LEFTOVERS

1. All children stand in pairs holding hands and facing each other.
2. A third child-called the 'turkey' stands between each pair. The turkey is in the 'barnyard (between the two facing children)
3. One child is NOT with a pair and in the 'barnyard'. This 'free' turkey is roaming.
4. At a signal,(such as Gobble, Gobble, Gobble) all turkeys leave their barnyard and run for safety to another barnyard. One turkey will be left over and not be able to find a barnyard to enter.
5. Depending on the number of players-continue until all (or many) have had time to be a left-over turkey!

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WHERE IS MR. TURKEY?
   • Instead of saying "warmer or cooler" you gobble!
   • One player is the hunter and the others are helpers.
   • The hunter leaves the room.
   • The helpers hide a small toy turkey or a turkey cut-out, or laminated drawing, etc.
   • The hunter returns with a mission to find the turkey. Helpers give clues by "gobbling" like turkeys.
   • If the hunter is not close, the helpers gobble very quietly. As the hunter gets closer, the helpers gobble more and more loudly until Mr. Turkey is found!
   • With a larger program this could be a 'choice' game or play with different groups at different times. (While the program is going on with choices of activities, kids could sign-up on pre-made sheet for their game time and group!)
   • Also good at the last half hour of a Center program when the numbers of children are lower and everything is cleaned up
 
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TURKEY WALK (good for Pre-K to Gr.2)
Play music of your choice and encourage the children to move like...
    • BIG turkeys
    • Little turkeys
    • Tired turkeys
    • Happy turkeys
    • Scared turkeys
    • Etc.
    Make it more interesting by choosing music based on the movement you'd like to elicit.

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TURKEY HUNT
Hunt quietly; you don't want to scare the turkeys...

On a dozen or more  index cards, draw or paste a picture of a turkey. The amount of cards you will have depends on the number of children you have--and how many groups they will be divided into. Each group should consist of about 12 hunters (children) and 12 cards.

1. To play, everyone leaves the room except the leader. The leader hides the cards around the room. Hunters return and begin the hunt.
2. As each turkey is found, it is brought back to the leader who corrals them in a separate pile for each hunter. When all the turkeys have been found, the hunter with the most turkeys is the winner and becomes the leader for the next round.

  • This can be done in groups and groups work together!
  • Each group would have a leader.
  • Hide the  turkey cards and then all hunters find cards that have been hid.
  • The top finder in each Team-becomes the new leader for that Team.
Tip:
Let children make the cards before the Holiday. They'll find lots of magazine pictures and can color some as well!

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CORNUCOPIA GAME...  

Players sit on chairs forming a circle. There should be one more player than there are chairs. The player without a chair is the leader.
The leader points to each of the other players to give them a name, such as "Cranberry, Corn, Apple, Turkey," anything related to Thanksgiving.

1. After names are chosen, the leader calls out two names,
"Turkey and potato."
2. Those two players must quickly switch places. The leader keeps calling at a quick pace, until suddenly she says "The cornucopia has tipped over!"
3. Everyone, including the leader, then scrambles for a new place. 4. The player with out a seat is the new leader.
More Info: The leader may give the same name to more than one person.
This game can be confusing at first, but it is fun! Source: AmazingMoms.com
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TURKEY TROT GAME

Required: A Turkey Mascots
You can make a mascot by taping a colored-paper turkey head to one end of a football. You can also simply stuff a brown bag with crumpled newspaper and draw on a face with colored markers.
 
Directions:
1. In this wacky outdoor contest, team players join up with their elbows linked, and each team is handed a turkey mascot.
2. On cue, the pairs try to make their way to the finish line at the far end of the playing field.

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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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TURKEY STRUT (For younger children)

1. Use pieces of masking tape to make turkey footprints all over the floor.
2. Start playing music.
3. Have children pretend to be turkeys and strut around the room.
4.When you stop the music, have the turkeys find footprints to stand on (one turkey to a footprint).
5. When you start the music again, have the turkeys continue strutting around the room.

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THANKSGIVING DINNER GAME: This is good one to remember at line-waiting transition times.

Players sit in a circle (or stand in a line because of waiting...) The first player starts by saying, "At Thanksgiving dinner I like to eat turkey". The next player must repeat "At Thanksgiving dinner I like to eat turkey..." and add another dish. This continues all the way around the circle or down the line-- with each student reciting the dishes in the exact order they have been given and then adding a new one. If a student makes a mistake they slide out of the circle or move to the front of the line and the game continues. The person left who can perfectly recite the Thanksgiving menu wins.

Instead of saying... At Thankgiving dinner, I like...you could say:

First player:I'm going to Thanksgiving dinner and I'm having turkey.

Second player: I'm going to Thanksgiving dinner and having turkey and sweep potatoes. etc.

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TWENTY QUESTIONS THANKSGIVING STYLE

1. Choose someone or something related to Thanksgiving.
2. One player says "I am thinking of a person, place or thing"
3. The other players try to guess what it is by asking no more than twenty questions which can be answered "yes," "no," or "I don't know."

Suggestion: Make a flip chart with numbers from 1 to 20--so each time a question is asked --the number is flipped. This can also be played with other holidays/themes/seasons!

You could also keep score by making 20 paper turkey feathers. Each time a question is asked, a feather is removed from the pile. 

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Turn every day games into Thanksgiving Games!

   • INSTEAD of Duck, Duck, Goose...play DUCK, DUCK, TURKEY!
   • Play "PIN the WATTLE on the Turkey" instead of Pin the Tail on the Donkey.
   • Instead of Simon says-play the TURKEY SAYS...
   • Use Candy Corn to play Bingo

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THANKERCHIEF

Arrange the children/players in a circle. Pass around a "thankerchief" (handkerchief) around as everyone recites this poem:

Thankerchief, thankerchief, around you go --
Where you'll stop, nobody knows.
But when you do, someone must say,
What they are thankful for this day.

The player holding the "thankerchief" when the poem ends, must
say aloud, one thing for which they are thankful. This continues until everyone has had a turn.

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THANKSGIVING JOKE AND PUNCH LINE ... Great for connecting and for an ice-breaker! (Get Thanksgiving Jokes here)

1. Set-up: Write a joke on one card and a punch line on another. Be sure to mix the cards up. The number of different jokes depends on the size of the group.
2. Give each person a card. Explain that they may have a joke or a punch line on the card.
3. On a given signal, they are to walk around the group trying to find the other part of their joke/punch line. When they find their other half, you may ask them to get to know their new partner by asking things like favorite holiday or Thanksgiving Dessert, etc...
When this is done, everyone can return to a circle and, with their partner, tell their joke.

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 If you haven't checked out the FALL/AUTUMN GAMES-do so now. There are more than 40 games using pumpkins, gourds and leaves that would be great for Thanksgiving!  An  example is:

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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You may also be interested in...

• Everything Thanksgiving!
• Thanksgiving Games
• Thanksgiving Snacks and Goodies
• Thanksgiving Arts, Crafts, Miscellaneous
• Autumn/Fall Games
• Autumn Pumpkin Theme
• Pumpkin Snacks and Recipes
• Popcorn Snacks and Recipes (Nice for Autumn!)
• Colonial Theme

  _________________________________

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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 • 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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• 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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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...

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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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OTHER AUTUMN GAMES:

 • HALLOWEEN GAMES HERE...

• THANKSGIVING GAMES HERE...

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What did the mother turkey say to her disobedient children?
If your father could see you now, he'd turn over in his gravy!

Why did Johnny get such low grades after Thanksgiving?
Because everything is marked down after the holidays..

Why was the turkey the drummer in the band?
Because he had the drumsticks.

Why did the turkey play the drums in his band?
Because he already had drum sticks!

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?
Pilgrims.

What do you call a dumb gobbler?
A jerky turkey.

Why do turkeys always go, "gobble, gobble"?
Because they never learned good table manners.

What has feathers and webbed feet?
A Turkey wearing scuba gear.

What key has legs and can't open doors?
A turkey.

What kind of potatoes go oui-oui-buzz-buzz?
French flies.

What kind of vegetable would you like on thanksgiving?
Beets me!

Why can't you take a turkey to church?
Because they use such FOWL language.

Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State Building?
Yes - a building can't jump at all.

What do you get when you cross a turkey with an octopus?
Enough drumsticks for Thanksgiving.

How can you make a turkey float?
You need 2 scoops of ice cream, some root beer, and a turkey.

Who is not hungry at Thanksgiving?
The turkey because he's already stuffed!

What's the best dance to do on Thanksgiving?
The turkey trot.

What does Dracula call Thanksgiving?
Fangs-giving.

Why do pilgrims pants keep falling down?
Because their belt buckles are on their hats!

Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
The outside.

What kind of music did the Pilgrims like?
Plymouth Rock.

Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
The outside.

Why did they let the turkey join the band?
Because he had the drumsticks.

How do you keep a turkey in suspense?
I'll let you know next week.

Why did the police arrest the turkey?
They suspected it of fowl play.

What's the key to a great Thanksgiving dinner?
The turKEY.

What did the turkey say before it was roasted?
Boy! I'm stuffed!

Where did the first corn come from?
The stalk brought it.

Why did the Indian chief wear so many feathers?
To keep his wigwam.

What happened to the Pilgrim who was shot at by an Indian?
He had an arrow escape.

How did the Mayflower show that it liked America?
It hugged the shore.

Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the chickens day off.

What happened when the turkey got into a fight?
He got the stuffing knocked out of him!

Why did the Pilgrims want to sail to America in the spring?
Because April showers bring MayFlowers.

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