A Farm and Harvest theme is good most of the year! Spring time and summer on the Farm and Harvest in the Fall...In here you'll find ideas for Farm themed art, games, dance, literacy, jokes, song, harvest, snacks, cooking, parties, and more! A great page!

Harvest Activities are towards bottom of page; see the Harvest/Good Character Display Board at bottom of page!  Also...be sure to check out the Chicken and Pig Themes!

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ART and CRAFT IDEAS

HAND PRINT HORSES #1 
Need: Brown paint, paper, brown marker
1. Take brown paint and paint a child's hand.
2. Press the hand down on paper--WITH fingers pointing down.
3. The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the head.
4. Draw the mane and hoofs; add eyes and tail...

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KINDERGARTEN HORSEHAND #2

Materials: 9x12" white paper, crayons
Transform  handprints into horses!
Trace around  hands with black crayon, then turn the paper over so the fingers are pointing down.
Have children draw details to turn the hands into a horse; add a background. Drawing by a Kindergarten student of Kansas art teacher Michael Austin.

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BUTTERMILK CHALK PICTURE
Need: Cardboard, brush, butter milk, and chalk.

Brush a piece of cardboard with 2 to 3 tablespoons of buttermilk or dip chalk in buttermilk. Create designs using colored chalk.

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ABOVE AND BELOW VEGGIE GARDEN
Materials: 12x18" white paper, sharpie, crayons

Bring in several root vegetables. Discuss the textures and colors.
Ask students to pretend they have a magical camera - the camera is very thin, and you can slide it into the ground. Take a picture, and you can see what is going on below the surface.

Draw a horizon line and below it we draw the vegetables.
Have students do a rubbing on a cement wall with brown crayon-- on the bottom half -- to show dirt. By a Grade 2 student of Art teacher Michal Austin in Kansas.

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START WITH A SEED (ART)
1. Glue a watermelon seed, pumpkin, or any kind of seed, onto paper.
2. Paint an imaginary plant with the roots growing FROM the seed UNDERGROUND.
3.  Paint the leaves, and flowers or fruit of the plant above the ground level. Match the drawing of the flower/fruit to the kind of seed you have "planted."

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FARM WEAVING
Materials: Chicken Wire, tape, natural raffia, gingham ribbon, old blue jeans etc.
Directions:
1. Cut squares of small-holed chicken wire.
2. Put masking tape around the sharp edges.
3. Set out assorted lengths of natural raffia, gingham ribbons and narrow strips ripped from old blue jeans.
4. The children weave them in and out of the holes.

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VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL FARM PRINTS

• Use COOKIE CUTTERS of farm animals and make barnyard scenes on paper
• Make red APPLE prints from apples cut crossway.
• Press dried left over CORN COBS in paint and then roll them on paper.
• Make PEPPER PRINTS by cutting them crossway and dipping them in bright colors of paint.

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ANIMAL CRACKER FARM SCENE
Materials:
Animal crackers
Craft glue
Crayons
Colorful paper.
Draw, color, paint a farm yard scene on paper using crayons (use other materials). Glue on the animal crackers to complete your farm scene.

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ANIMAL CRACKER PIN
To make this craft project you will need animal crackers, a flat backed pin, clear nail polish or varnish, and some craft glue. To begin coat your animal cracker with the polish or varnish in a well ventilated area and let it dry. Next glue it to a pin.

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TWO CORN ART IDEAS!

1. After eating corn on the cob, save the husks and corncobs, and let them dry. Have the children use them for art activities.
2. Make prints by dipping the corncobs into paint and then pressing them on paper
3. Dip ends of husks into paint and then brush the paint on paper.
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Idea #2 CORN COLLAGE
Need:
Yellow and green construction paper, Glue,  Un-popped popcorn
1. Cut a "corn cob" and "husks" out of paper. Glue the "husks" around the "cob".
2. Spread the glue on the "cob" and cover it with un-popped popcorn

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GARDEN COLLAGE OF SEEDS
Need: Large piece of green construction paper, glue, and several types of inexpensive dried seeds and beans (popcorn, lima beans, pinto beans, and navy beans, etc.)
Directions:
1. Have children squeeze out a long stripe of glue along the length of paper.
2. Spread the glue slightly, keeping the long thin shape; sprinkle or place one type of seed along the glue strip.
3. Make two or three more stripes of glue--adding different types of seeds to each.
4. The finished collage should remind one of the rows of seeds planted in a spring garden.

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STRAW PAINTING (As in 'Farm Straw' not a drinking straw)
Need: Straw, Paint
Directions: Have children use pieces of straw for paint brushes. Use different colors and experiment with different looks and methods. Add the pieces of straw to the pictures, when the paintings are complete.

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ON THE FARM VEGETABLE PUPPETS (Art, drama activity, and snack all in one) 
What you need:
Large carrots
Popsicle sticks (craft)
Cream cheese
Raisins and/or olives
Celery
Parsley
Green beans
A peel a carrot -- cut off at both ends

1. With a paring knife (adults only), make a slit in the bottom of the larger end and insert a craft stick.
2. Using the cream cheese as "glue", affix raisins or olives for eyes and a nose, a slice of celery for the mouth and parsley sprigs for the hair. Let the kids be creative with the different vegetables.
3. For the arms and legs, cut green beans in half and affix with generous amounts of cream cheese (Cut the legs at an angle). 

 For a veggie PUPPET SHOW, the puppeteers need to hide below a table, holding the puppets above the edge! Yummy puppets to eat when finished!
Source: Tonya at: tennsaca.com

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COW COLLAGE by Jason-Grade 1
Materials: colored paper, glue, scissors
This project is great for practicing cutting and gluing skills AND makes a great display. Source Art teacher Michal Austin

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FARM THEMED GAMES

CHARADES USING ANIMAL CRACKERS
One child pulls an animal cracker out of the bag and  doesn't show it to the rest of the group. They then act out the animal while the other children try to guess what it is. When the group comes up with the correct answer, the child acting out the charade can eat the animal cracker!

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BARNYARD TAG
Formation: Teams are lined up by the end line at a far end.
Depending on the number of children playing, split youth up into teams. Give the Players in the teams designated names: sheep, cows, horses, pigs...

• Two or three people are "It" in the middle of the room.
• "It" calls out the names of an animal (Example: Sheep)
• All sheep must run to the pen at the opposite end of the room without being caught.
• When barnyard is called, everyone must run to opposite ends.
• Penalty for being caught is to run all around the barnyard (A LAP OF THE GYM ONCE) and then they can come back in the game!
• Every few minutes - change the "Its".

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DRESS A SCARECROW AND RUN

1. Stock up on over-sized plaid shirts, goofy pants, rope belt, floppy hats and any other clothing that a scarecrow might wear. 2. Make piles containing one of each item.
3. The number of piles is determined either by the number of kids or teams participating.
4. Line up kids and let the game begin!
5. The children run to the pile, put on the outfit, and dart back to the starting line.
6. If doing it as a team game, they would then switch the outfit with their teammate-who run out and back.
7. First team with their last team member DRESSED AS A SCARECROW wins.

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DUCKS AND COWS 
 
To go along with your 'farm theme'....this is a great way to divide children into two teams.

• Players close their eyes while one person taps them on their shoulders and designates them either a "duck" or "cow."
• On a given signal, keeping their eyes closed the players must make their animal sounds to gather into their two teams.
• The ducks "quack" and the cows "moo."
•  Begin the game when the two groups all "find each other.

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DUCK WALK RACE
1.  Have children line up at the Start Line, squat down and grasp their ankles with each hand from behind.
2.  On GO, they waddle to a designated Finish Line.
3.  They can't let go of their ankles or they’re disqualified.
4.  The first child over the Finish Line is the winner... (This would be fun to play with "waddle music" :-)
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QUACK GAME (Good for young children)
Everyone stands feet slightly apart, hands on knees or ankles, looking back through their legs. Then they start moving backwards.

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At Thanksgiving this game is called 'Turkey Leftovers'...for a Farm or Harvest Theme consider changing it to TURKEY IN THE BARNYARD!

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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ANIMAL SOUNDS
Another game for older children is to randomly assign animal types to children (they pick them out of a container)

• As youth walk about the room, they make their assigned animal sound; they have to find others that are making the same sound.
• Two of each animal works well because the process of elimination will help those with an unusual interpretation of the animal noise.
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Sing ‘OLD MCDONALD HAD A FARM', complete with very loud sound effects. Each child or section can be given a different animal to act out.
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PLAY "HOP BUNNY HOP" (Pre-K)

• All the bunnies hop around until the word ‘HAWK’ is called out.
• Children then must all stand very still so that they do not get caught.
• (Music can also be combined with this---when the music stops "HAWK" is called out!

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PARACHUTE PLAY AND FARM ANIMALS (Pre-K-K)
Use a large bed sheet or playground/gym parachute. Gather the children form a circle around the parachute. Hold the edges and work together to move it up and down. Once the children get the hang of it, allow a few children at a time, to go under the chute…. Then put a stuffed cow, duck, horse, etc., in the center and make then hop and jump as well.

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ADAPT WELL-KNOWN GAMES AND FUN TO A FARM/BARNYARD THEME...

Examples:

Play the "FARMER SAYS”…Instead of "Simon Says" (Or Scarecrow says, etc.) 
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FARMER MAY I? (Played like Mother May I?)

• All the children line up side by side except the player who is the caller.
• The caller stands at a distance from the lined up players.
• He/she calls on each player in turn to take a number of steps toward him. The steps allowed are: baby steps, giant steps, and scissor steps (like forward jumping jacks.)
• The player answers "Farmer, may I?"
• The Farmer answers "Yes, you may." The player takes the prescribed number of steps toward the caller. If the player forgets to ask permission after they get directions--- and takes steps toward the caller--- they are sent back to the starting line.
• The first player to reach the caller is the winner and new caller.
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For a Fall Farm/Harvest theme PLAY "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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Play PIN THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY
OR other versions such as: 'Pin the Tail on the Cow, Pin the Comb on the Rooster, Put the Hat on the Farmer, Put the tire on the tractor, Pin the Tail on the Pig,' Etc.

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Play "Duck, Duck, Goose” or other versions such as---CHICK, CHICK, ROOSTER, PIG, PIG, PIGLET, APPLE, APPLE, PEAR, etc.

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TREAURE HUNT

• Place a hay bale inside a plastic swimming pool and pull it apart
• Hide treasures inside the bale. (Watch for asthma and allergies)

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Have an EGG AND SPOON RACE (Hard boil the eggs to avoid messy accidents).

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EGG HUNT
Hide plastic eggs all around the area. Once found, they can be exchanged for an animal toy or sticker.

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For older children play “WHAT ANIMAL AM I?

• Each child is given the name of an animal that everyone except them can see.
• Through a process of "yes/no" questions, each child guesses the animal they are…
• The name of the animal can be pinned to their back or put on a head band facing the front.

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FARM THEMED PARTY GAMES...

OLD McDonald ANIMAL HUNT

• Before your “Farm party" hide several farm animal toys or cards around the event area, yard etc.
• Paint or decorate a box to look like a barn or use a BASKET.
• Before you start, explain to the children that old McDonald's animals got out of the barn.
• The children are to search and collect the toys/cards and RETURN THEM TO THE BARN.
• Give each child an appropriated treat or prize for hunting...

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 OLD McDONALD EGG FIND

• Fill a large tub with straw or raffia.
• Hide plastic eggs in the straw, making sure there’s at least one egg for each child.
• Inside each egg, place a number or sticker corresponding to a predetermined barnyard animal.
• When everyone has opened an egg, form a circle and make sure the kids know their animals.
• Then, sing “Old MacDonald had a Farm,” with each child acting like and making their animal sound in turn!

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SHEEP HERDING

• Before the event, inflate two white balloons.
• Attach short pieces of black curling ribbon to make sheep tails and use a black marker to draw faces on them.
• To play, divide your guests into two teams.
• Give the first player on each team a broom, or fly swatter, that they will use to herd their team’s sheep across the room and back to the next player in line.
• The first team to finish herding their sheep wins! (You may want to have “sheep” clones ready in case the originals pop.)

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BARN YARD SEARCH GAME:

A good outside, large room, or gym area game.

• Hide small pieces of wrapped candy in an area where children can run around.
• Divide the group into three or four teams---(depending of size of the group).
• Assign each team a farm animal noise: gobble, moo, oink, or ba-aaaa.
• Give one person on each team — the farmer— a plastic cup or bowl.
  To play:
  Tell all the animals to sniff out the candy. Everyone is allowed to look for the candy, but ONLY the designated farmer for each team can scoop it up and put it in the team cup.
  When someone finds a piece of candy, they have to stand next to it and make their animal noise until their team's trainer comes over to grab it.
  To be fair consider everyone pooling their candy at the end and then distribute it evenly.

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PARTY TIME ON THE FARM!

At the culmination of your FARM THEME or HARVEST THEME... 

• DRESS UP...Have children dress up as different FARM ANIMALS …OR… wear FARM CLOTHES such as jeans, boots, checked shirts, straw hat, kerchief, overalls, etc. Another fun idea...DRESS LIKE A SCARECROW!

Wear worn-in jeans or over-alls that have patched holes with an old bandanna; add a flannel shirt, a worn-in hat and gardening gloves. Stick some straw in various places to add to the effect. Use makeup to paint the face yellow and add short lines around the eyes to look like a sewn on patch. Use green make-up to paint an upside down triangle on the nose--- again adding short lines around it to look like a sewn on patch. Use red for the mouth adding the short lines. Add small red circles of color to the cheeks.

• Play ANY of the GAMES in the above posts...

• Play COUNTRY AND SQUARE DANCE MUSIC for games and movement...

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DECORATIONS:

   • Get a clean wheelbarrow and fill it with soft toy farm animals.

   • Cover tables with red checked tablecloths. (Or red and white butcher paper)

   • Create a little farmyard as a table centerpiece, using plastic or plush animals.

   • Draw black splodges --or glue black paper---onto white balloons to create ‘cow’ look balloons.

   • Gather toy tractors, trailers and other farm machinery vehicles to have available for the farmers to play with.

   • Draw freckles on the face of each child!!!

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COOKING AND SNACKS...

MAKE HOMEMADE BUTTER just like the farmers!
Need:
Baby food jars
A bowl of ice
Small bowl to put the butter in the ice
Spoon to press butter on the bowl
Measuring spoon

1. Put 2 tablespoons whipping cream in each baby food jar.

2. Put lid on tightly and shake as long as can.

3. Remove lid and pour off excess liquid.

4. Spoon butter into the smaller bowl and set this bowl in the bowl of ice.

5. As butter chills, continue to press it again the side of the bowl to get rid of any remaining liquid.

6. When ready…enjoy on some good bread or rolls!
    Tip:To speed up the process you can add a marble to the jar when shaking

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QUICK IDEAS...

• All unprocessed foods come from farms, so there's a lot to choose for your Farm Theme. 
Arrange bite-sized vegetables - cherry tomatoes, celery, chunks of cucumber and carrot - in rows like a vegetable patch. Sprouts can represent mulch or hay. Just add a dip...

• Seedless grapes, chopped apple, banana, and melons

• Animal shaped cookie cutters can be used on melons or cheese for fancy shapes.

• Animal crackers

• Chicken tenders or nuggets

• Pigs in a blanket (Recipes in ‘Pig” Theme.)

• Cupcakes with green frosting and a plastic animal on top of each one

• Chocolate marshmallow eggs

• Milkshakes (Made with children)

• Ice plain cupcakes with green frosting and put mini marshmallows in a sheep shape on top

• Serve ‘chicken feed’ in pails – chips, cheese balls, popcorn, etc.

• Make haystacks of potato sticks and pretzels

• Eggs are a popular farm food and have lots of uses: .....Colored hard boiled eggs (this could be an earlier cooking project with kids), Egg sandwiches - mash hard-boiled eggs with mayonnaise.

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SERVE GRAIN MIX!
Mix pretzels, Corn Pops, Rice Chex, etc.
Pre-make or put ingredients out---and have children mix what they like...

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Make MARSHMALLOW HAYSTACKS
This is a great variation to the rice cereal treat recipe.
Using traditional 'Rice Krispies recipe'...replace the rice cereal with corn flake cereal. Follow the instructions combining the cereal, melted marshmallow and butter mixture. Mold the cereal mixture into the shape of haystacks. Optional: Add an orange candy corn or pumpkin to the top of each haystack.

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PURPLE COW

Ingredients
1 cup milk
1 sliced banana
¼ cup unsweetened grape juice
Mix all ingredients together in a blender.
Makes 4-6 small servings

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BLACK COW (recipe makes 1)
Ingredients:
Root Beer, vanilla ice-cream, chocolate syrup
Directions:
Place 2 tablespoons of syrup in bottom of large glass. Add root beer, stirring until liquid is within 2 inches of top of glass. Add a huge scoop of ice cream.
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MAKE CRICKET COOLERS

• A day before needed, fill several ice trays with water. Place a few raisins in each compartment to create “cricket” cubes; freeze overnight.
• On the party day, place one tablespoon of grenadine syrup in each child’s glass.
• Add a few cricket cubes.
• Fill the glasses with cream soda as the kids watch. They’ll be amazed how their buggy drink turns pink and foamy!

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NO BAKE HAYSTACK COOKIES

 

2 cups (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups butterscotch chips (or peanut butter if no allergies)
½ tsp. vanilla
3 cups chow mien noodles
Optional: May add 1 cup chopped walnuts or peanuts.
Melt chips; mix in noodles until coated well.
Drop
By teaspoon onto was paper. Put in refrigerator to set.
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HAYSTACK COOKIES #2 (NO BAKE)
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup salted peanuts
4 cups chow mein noodles
Melt chips and peanut butter in microwave. Blend together.
Stir in peanuts and noodles gently in the peanut butter mixture.
Drop dough by forkfuls onto wax paper. Cool until set. Yummy

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NEST SNACK
Melt 1/2 cup of butter in a saucepan. Add 1 cup of brown sugar. Boil and stir for one minute. Add a 3 oz. can of chow mein noodles. Put the mixture in 12 paper baking cups in a muffin tin. Use your thumb to press noodles into the nest while still warm. DO NOT BAKE. Give children jelly bean eggs to put in their nests.

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CAKE Idea #1 
Cover a cake with chocolate frosting and place toy pigs in the ‘mud’.
Cake Idea # 2
Sprinkle an iced/frosted cake with green colored coconut; divide into paddocks/corrals using toothpicks and decorate with plastic animals.

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Idea: Serve food in mini aluminum buckets...

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FEED BAGS (Snack)
Fill small burlap bags with Chex Mix, animal crackers, gummy worms or other snack of your choice. Close with twine and write “FEED” across the front with a black marker.

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CAN YOU ARRANGE A FARM or PUMPKIN FIELD TRIP?

•A field trip to a farm can be an enjoyable experience.

 •Make arrangements so the children can LEARN HOW TO MILK a cow or goat. (Or watch one being milked)

• Can they experience freshly processed milk and cheese and homemade apple or strawberry pie?

• Kids enjoy playing with and PETTING FARM ANIMALS.

•Maybe a CORN MAZE can be set up in a patch of corn?.

•If it’s harvest time, your group can pick corn, strawberries or other vegetables from the field. These can be taken home to eat and dried corn can be a souvenir.

•HAYRIDES can take place any time of the year but are best in the fall or cooler weather. Your group can enjoy this ride while singing and clapping hands. The farm and woods scenery would be a fantastic experience for the kids.

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TURN THE 'DRAMATIC PLAY AREA' INTO A FARM OR BARN!

• Go to a 'Farmer's OR Country Market'-- and GET SOME STRAW/HAY ...
• Use---PUMPKINS and SQUASH for accessories. You can talk about those items being grown on a farm and/or use them for cooking projects.
• Paint  a picture of a BARN ON BUTCHER PAPER and adhere it to the walls … put stuffed farm animals such as pigs and cow puppets in the area.

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MILK A COW (draw a cow on the wall and attached a rubber glove filled with milk.) Poke holes in the finger so the milk will come out--the fingers are udders.
 
Another version of a MILKING GLOVE:
Fill white surgical gloves with water and tie the tops. Put pinpricks in the ends of the fingers and attach to the clothesline. Children can now try and ‘milk’ their cow.

MORE DECORATING IDEAS...

1. Decorate with a pre-made SCARECROW or make your own.
Use a pumpkin head and stuff the body--- dressed in an old pair of jeans and flannel or t-shirt. 

2. Don’t forget the checkered table cloth. 

3. Also, how about putting "Stereo-typical" Farmer's clothing in the dress-up box?

4. Put hay on the floor (check to make sure no one is allergic)

5. Decorate with farm animals (horses, cows, etc)

6. Make or buy some stick horses

7. Make a pretend campfire in the middle (rolled up newspaper with yellow and orange crepe paper)

6. Can you find a saddle?

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ADD LITERACY with the story of Charlotte's Web by E. B. White.

All of the typical farm animals are present in this story but they are not just moving about the barnyard -- they're talking! Read the story as a group chapter book... Also, remember the movie!

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Other Children's Stories with Farm Theme (For Pre-K to Gr. 1)

• To Market, To Market – by Anne Miranda
• Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You – by Dr. Seus
• Big Red Barn – by Margaret Wise Brown
• Chicken Little – by Laura Rader
• Farm Morning – by David Mc Phail
• Color Farm – by Lois Ehlert
• Farm Alphabet Book – by Jan Miller
• Old MacDonald Had a Farm – by Nancy Hellen

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FOR JOKES ABOUT ANIMALS THAT LIVE ON A FARM...Click here

 

  

 

 A Nice Display Idea for KINDNESS AND HARVEST TIME! It works well with a Fall Harvest Theme but also addresses 'Aniti-Bully Week' in October and  'World Kindness Week' in November.  (This could just as well say "LET'S HARVEST KINDNESS!") It could stay up all Autumn/Fall!

Each time a deed of 'Good Character'  or 'Kindness' is noted-it is recorded on a small card and placed on a pumpkin! Great for September through November... Origin of this board is unknow-will you please contact this site if you know the creator? Thank you

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To complete your Farm Theme--Check out Theme of CHICKENS AND PIGS!

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Be sure to visit the Fall/Autumn PUMPKIN THEME! (All Autumn Ideas-NOT Halloween!) The 'Pumpkin Category' has many ideas good for a Harvest Theme!

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 FALL HARVEST and CARNIVAL TYPE GAMES

PUMPKIN SEED TOSS
Number and line up 5 small baskets or crates; have children stand 3 feet in front of the first crate and toss seeds into the crates in sequence. Small prizes can be given for each of the crates they get their seeds in.

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CORN HUSKING RACE
Give each child 4 ears of unhusked corn and race to see who can have all of their corn husked first. Of course-- cook it up and serve for a great snack!

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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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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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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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MUSICAL BALES
Play musical chairs with bales of straw instead of chairs. A scarecrow in the center makes a fun decoration for this game.

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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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PUMPKIN RACE
Set up starting and finish lines and have the children race to see who can get their pumpkin over the finish line first using only their feet to slide the pumpkins along. No kicking the pumpkins like footballs...

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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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HARVEST DASH (OUTSIDE GAME)
Set up a fall relay with the kids. Fill large containers with sunflower seed-bird feed. (Popcorn would also work) Have smaller, clear containers at the opposite end.

Kids fill up a cup with seed 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.

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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HARVEST BINGO
Make autumn bingo cards using different types of dried seeds and beans. Check out your grocery store or natural foods co-op for plenty of unusual choices. First child to get bingo wins!

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POEMS AND SONGS...

DID YOU EVER SEE A SCARECROW?
Tune: Did You ever See A Lassie?"

Did you ever see a scarecrow,
A scarecrow, a scarecrow?
Did you ever see a scarecrow,
That's filled with dry hay?
He's dressed all in old clothes;
He scares off the black crows.
Have you ever seen a scarecrow,
That's filled with dry hay?

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I'M A LITTLE SCARECROW
To tune of 'I'm a Little Tea Pot'

I'm A Little Scarecrow
Stuffed with hay
Here I stand in a field all day.
When I see the crows,
I like to shout,
"Hey! You crows, you better get out!"

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I'M A LITTLE CORNSTALK
To tune of 'I'm A Little Teapot'

I'm a little cornstalk tall and stout...
see me grow and watch me sprout.
When I'm brown, you can shuck me down...
Boil me up and I'm the best in town.

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Also-Check out the...

• Chicken & Pig Themes
• Autumn/Fall (NOT Halloween) Pumpkin Category.
• Apples, Farms & Harvest go together! For more than 55 Ideas, check out the Apple Themed Category on this site! 
• There are also 56 Apple Snacking and Cooking Ideas .
• Fall/Autumn Game Category ...It has lots of ideas with pumpkins, corn and gourds that will work with a Harvest Theme...

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PIGS! (Chicken towards middle of page...)

ARTS AND CRAFTS

THREE LITTLE PIGS - Read the book, do some art and act it out!

Farm or Harvest theme (Farm/Harvest Theme here) is a good time to read "The Three Little Pigs" or the "True Story of the Three Little Pigs".  To go along with it, make the Three Pigs House.

Materials : Paper, Twigs, Spaghetti or straw, Glue, Paint… 

• Children can make the three little pigs houses by using red paper for bricks, spaghetti for the straw, and small twigs for the house made of sticks.
• Have children then ACT OUT THE STORY...

Read more about pigs.  Charlotte's Web by E. B. White makes great reading. It's the story of a little pig names Wilbur-- who helps his friend--the beautiful spider, Charlotte. 

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PIGGY TOES ART
Need: Paint, Paper, Crayons or Markers

Paint children’s toes with pink paint. Press them on paper. Have children decorate toe prints as pigs and make a farm or country side on the rest of the paper--around the pig’s prints.
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MUDDY PIG ART
Need: Pink paper, shaving cream, brown paint

• Make a template of a pig shape and trace it onto a sheet of large pink construction paper. Cut out the shapes.
• Give each child a small cup of shaving cream; add a few drops of brown paint and mix...
• Paint pigs with "pig mud"!

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PAPER PLATE PIG

1.Paint a large paper plate and a small paper plate pink.
2.Glue the small plate on top of the big plate to make the face. Cut out ears, nose, feet. Glue them on to pig.
3. Draw eyes and a mouth with a black marker.
4. Create a tail by twisting a pipe cleaner around a pencil and then taping it to the back of the pig. Sample and photo by the class of lilteacher

 

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PIG SNOUT #1 CRAFT
Egg Carton, paint, marker, yard or string
Cut the egg carton bottoms (the part the eggs sit in) into its twelve sections. Have the kids paint it and put the nostrils on.

PIG SNOUT #2 CRAFT
Materials:: Toilet paper roll. pink paint, pink paper, yarn or elastic, and glue
Directions: Make pig snouts from toilet paper rolls cut in half and stapled, glued or taped together. Paint them pink or glue pink construction paper around it. Punch holes in sides and tie on yarn or elastic.

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PIG SNACKS

PIG IN A BLANKET
SNACK
Ingredients:
Package of hot dogs or little smokies cut in pieces; 1 can refrigerated biscuits (not the flaky type)
Directions:

• Flatten the biscuit, cut in half.
• Place half the hot dog on the biscuit and bring the two sides of the biscuit together.
•  Place on a cookie sheet and bake them the same temperature as it indicated for the biscuits.
• They are done when the biscuit is done.
• Dip in ketchup or mustard.

Version Two: PIG IN A BLANKET
Ingredients:
8 hot dogs
4 slices American cheese, each cut into 6 strips
1 can 8 0z.) Refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
Directions:
Heat over to 375. Slit hot dogs to within ½ inch of ends; insert strips of cheese into each slit. Separate dough into triangles. Wrap dough triangle around each hot dog and place on Ungreased cookie sheet, cheese side up. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Version Three: PIG IN A BLANKET:
Bread slices. Cheese slices, hot dogs, tooth picks
Place cheese and hot dog on bread slice. Roll the two ends of bread up around the hot dog and secure with tooth pick. Bake in pre-heated 350 oven until hot.(About 20 minutes)
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PIGS MADE FROM APPLES...
Ingredients:
Red Delicious apple
5 red gumdrops
Toothpicks
4 whole cloves
Fruit leather
Red shoestring licorice

• Turn the apple on its side.
• Insert one end of a toothpick into a gumdrop and stick the other end into the bottom of the apple core to form a snout.
• Break toothpicks in half and affix four gumdrops as feet. Set clove nostrils in the nose and clove eyes above the snout.
• Twist off the stem, poke a hole with a toothpick, and insert an inch-long piece of shoestring licorice into the hole to make a tail.
• Last, cut a piece of fruit leather into a rectangle measuring 1 by 1/2 inch, then cut again on the diagonal to form two equal-size triangles.
• Affix upright triangles with small pieces of toothpick to create ears, and then bend over the upper portion of each triangle to cover the spot where the toothpick shows.

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PIG SLOP SNACK

• Put out chocolate pudding.
• In separate bowls put out M&M's, nuts, raisins, coconut, cereal, candy sprinkles, chopped apples and bananas! 
• Have children add and mix in what they like! Enjoy! 

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LITTLE PIGGIES JELL-O EATING CONTEST (Snack and game!)

• To prepare, make one small bowl of Jell-O® for each child (plus a few extra).
• Line the bowls along the ground outside if the weather permits.
• If playing inside, lay a tablecloth or other mess protection under the bowls for easier cleanup.
• To play, the kids place their hands on the ground beside their bowls and must keep them there throughout the game. When the command is given to start, all players begin eating their bowl of gelatin. The first one to clean his or her bow wins! 

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PIG GAMES and MISCELLANEOUS...

SLOPPING THE HOGS GAME
This is a great activity for kids of all ages! Purchase or make bean bags suitable for tossing and draw a large picture of a pig on a piece of cardboard with its mouth wide open. Draw and cut out the mouth so you have a hole large enough to toss the bean bags through. Place the box about ten feet away (adjust distance for the age of your guests) and give each child a chance to toss the bean bags into the pig’s mouth!

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'WHEN PIGS FLY'  GAME  Preparation for this game is dependent on the age of the children playing. Younger children may need to be taught how to make complete flying movements. You may also need to discuss which animals can and cannot fly. As the adult, it is best for you to be the first leader of the game. Afterward, let the children have turns being the leader.
Directions:

Have children stand in a group facing the leader. Make sure each child has enough room to flap their arms in a flying motion.

• The leader faces the group and calls out "Ducks Fly!" "Owls Fly!" "Pigs Fly!" and so on.
• When an animal is named which DOES FLY the children should be flapping their arms, when an animal is named which doesn’t fly, they should NOT be "flying".
• (This game is played with a point system and elimination--but I like the idea of just playing for fun! It is also good for a dramatic play activity) Adapted from game at: liveandlearn.com

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 FINGER PLAY 'PIGGIES'

"It's time for my piggies to go to bed,"
The nice big mother piggie said.

"Now I must count them up to see
If all my piggies came back to me.

One little piggy, two little piggies,
Three little piggies dear...

Four little piggies, five little piggies-
Yes they are all here.

They're the dearest little piggies alive...
One, two, three, four, five."

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PIG

I had a little pig,
And I fed it in a trough,
He got so big and fat,
That his tail popped off.
So, I got me a hammer,
And I got me a nail,
And I made that pig,
A wooden tail.

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TALK/TEACH 'PIG LATIN'

To all words beginning a vowal (a-e-i-o-u, add the syllable 'way' to the end of the word. 'Eat' becomes eatway and 'over' becomes 'overway'.

For words that begin with a consonant, move the first letter of the word and add it to the end--add 'ay' after the consonent.
Example:
Man = Anmay
Cat = Atcay
Ice Cream= Iceway reamcay

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Do your kids know that pigs are intelligent? They wallow in mud to keep cool because they don't have sweat glands. Having a piglet for a pet, is like having a puppy.

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CHICKENS

 

 SNACKS

 CHICKEN FEED 
 Make a bowl of Chicken Feed by tossing together crisp, crunchy shoestring potatoes, salted corn nuts, shelled sunflower seeds and pistachios, dried blueberries and unsweetened coconut flakes for a crunchy, nutty treat. (Leave out whatever you don't like) 

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CHICKEN FEED #2
Serve ‘chicken feed’ in pails – chips, cheese balls, popcorn, etc.

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PEEP NEST PANCAKES
SNACK
Make pancakes for children.
In the center of the pancakes make a nest shape with whipped cream.
Place a marshmallow chicken peep, jelly eggs or melon balls in the middle of the nest.
(Pancake nest ideas from Mrs. Z/Rochester Hills)

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 BABY CHICK CUPCAKES

Make cucakes and then...Place coconut in resealable food-storage plastic bag. Add about 8 drops yellow liquid food color; seal bag and shake to mix. Frost cupcakes with white frosting. Top with yellow coconut. For eyes, add brown baking bits. Cut orange gumdrops to resemble beaks; place on cupcakes. Source: Betty Crocker.com

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GAMES AND DANCE...

DO THE CHICKEN POKEY!
Sung to: "Hokey Pokey"
You put your RIGHT WING IN (put right fist under right arm-pit)
You take your right wing out…
You put your right wing in….
And you shake it all about.
You do the Chicken Pokey
And STRUT yourself around,
That's what it's all about!

Choice of additional verses:
"You put your left wing in…
You put your chicken leg in…
You put your chicken beak in
You put your tail feathers in…”

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CHICKEN DANCE --to the chicken dance music!
To the beat of the music:
1. Hold up your hands and make them do a TAKING MOTION-four times...
2. Flap arms like WINGS four times
3. WIGGLE BOTTOMS four times
4. CLAP four times

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CHICKEN EGG ROLL
GAME
The children (chickens)) roll their eggs (PLASTIC OR REAL) using only their noses. (beaks) The first one over the finish line wins...

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EGG AND SPOON RACES

Eggs (real hard-boiled or plastic), spoons, and an area to run are all you need for this game. Variations could include relays and obstacle courses. To make it easy for younger kids, place something on the spoon to make the egg stick.

 Be sure to see all the EGG RACE GAMES! They start just below mid-page of Races, Relays, Beanbags, Balloons and Eggs!

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 CHICKEN CATCHATORI Game
You have two (or another #) taggers, and two youth with rubber chickens. The taggers run around and tag children to freeze them. The students with the rubber chickens can run around and unfreeze the "frozen." After a few minutes you can switch the taggers and the chickens.

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RUN, RUN CHICKEN -- GO HOME
GAME
The children run from one safe zone to the next---in the middle is the CATCHER, who calls, "Run run chicken -- go home" to signal the others to run across the mid space. Anyone tagged becomes part of the catchers for the next run, proceeding until all are caught and the game begins again...
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ART AND CRAFTS

PAINTING WITH PEEPS (The marshmallow chickens from Easter)

 

Cut out large "chick shapes" from white paper. Put tempera paint (white, yellow, orange, black) in containers and then use REAL candy "Peeps" to apply the paint---in a sponge like effect.
The head makes a good grip for the bottom when the chick's bottom is dipped in paint...
Extra fun! Have "Peeps" for a treat... If you're concerned about younger children taking a bite during the painting, you can use vanilla pudding with food coloring to paint!

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 FOOTPRINT CHICKS
ART

• Have children take off their shoes.
• Using a pencil. Trace around their feet...on pieces of YELLOW construction paper.
• Cut out the foot shape and have kids glue it--TOES DOWN--on a piece of white or light blue construction paper.
• This will be a side view of the chick--so have the children draw one eye, and a beak coming out of the side lower head part.
•  Add 2 legs on the shape--to turn it into a "CHICK!' Kids Finish drawing around it anyway they choose...

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BABY CHICKS CRAFT
Cut the separate little egg cups from a white Styrofoam egg carton. Make jagged (SAW TOOTH) edges around the top to resemble a cracked egg. Glue this to a small square of poster board.

Glue dried grass, hay, or excelsior around the bottom of the egg to form a nest. Use either two yellow cotton balls or two yellow pom-poms to form a chick. Glue one of top of the other inside the egg to form the chick’s body and head. Cut a tiny diamond from orange felt and fold in half. Put a string of hot glue on the fold and stick on the chicks face. Glue on wiggly eyes.

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INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS OF OUR FINE FEATHERED FRIENDS (THE CHICKEN...)

• Chickens seem to enjoy watching television and listening to music. Some seems prefer classic rock, and others like classical music.

• Chickens appear to have the ability to understand that recently hidden objects still exist, something that young children don't even understand--try it with your little brother.
 
• Chickens are able to learn by watching the mistakes of other chickens.
 
• Chickens can recognize more than 100 other chickens and remember them.

• A mother hen will turn her eggs as many as five times an hour and cluck to her unhatched chicks, who will chirp back to her and to one another from within their shells!
 
• Chickens have more than 30 different cries that they use to communicate, including separate alarm calls depending on whether a predator is traveling by land or sea.

• Chickens have distinctive behaviors. Some enjoy human company, and others are shy or even a bit aggressive.
Adapted from petakids

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Be sure to check out the entire FARM & HARVEST THEME!

 For CROSSING THE ROAD JOKES - Click Here!  Many are about Chickens!

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

 

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 to keeping the apples from turning as brown as usually when 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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APPLE THEMED GAMES

PAPER APPLE RELAY

• Cut a large number of APPLES and write a different instruction on each apple for a relay race… Such as skip, crawl, crab walk, hop, walk backwards, etc. –
• Duplicate the instruction for the number of Teams you will have playing. (Example: Three teams equal three sets of instructions)
• Divide the children into groups (if not even, have one child go twice)
• Put the cut out apple shapes at the end of the room in a pile for each team.

On go, the first player on each team runs up to the pile and takes an apple. The players come back to the group doing what it says on the apple. When the first players get back-- the next players run to the apples--and play continues...

Return the apples to the bottom of the pile until ALL have had a turn.
Tip: Laminate the apples for FUTURE Fall, Harvest or Apple Themed Days.)
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HALF AN APPLE MATCH GAME...
(Use this game to find partners ...or to just have fun!)

• In advance, cut each APPLE SHAPE into two pieces with BOLD, UNUSUAL LINES- SO EACH ONE IS UNIQUE!
• Distribute one-half of an apple to each child.
• At a signal have the children find the other half of their apple.
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GRABBING AN APPLE (Much like Bobbing for Apples---except trying to get the apple while it is hanging from a line!) 

• Hang a string between trees or use a clothesline.
• Tie some more string to apple stems ---and hang the apples from the clothesline.
• Kids then attempt to grab an apple by using their teeth---no hands!
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IDEA: Have a relay race USING APPLES AND BROOMS (Push apples along with a broom)
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MUSICAL APPLE PASS (Pre-K- gr. 3)
Prepare a large APPLE SHAPE from construction paper before the game. Put the children in a circle, and play fun music while they pass around the paper apple. The person holding the apple when the music stops wins a treat. Bring plenty of treats for many plays... (Make sure every child receives a treat)
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SHARE THE APPLE GAME (younger children)

• Before you play--make half as many 24" APPLES"---as there are children in the group.
• Tape the apples to the floor in a large circle.
• Play music and have the children walk around the circle of apples.
• Stop the music intermittently. When the music stops, have each child stand on an apple with both feet. More than one child can share an apple; children may hang on to one another in order to stay on their apple.
• Do not eliminate payers-- instead--eliminate apples!
• Start the music again.
• While children are walking, remove one apple.
• Eliminate an apple each round-until it is impossible for children to use any fewer apples.

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APPLE SHAPED TIDILY WINKS

• Before play---cut a medium to large paper apple. Provide each player with 4 plastic disks (Tidily Winks, poker chips or Bingo markers).
• Form a circle at a table or on the floor. Place the apple in the center of the circle.
• When you say "Go" the players "shoot" their disks onto the apple by pressing the edges with another disk.
• How many can they get to land on the apple? It's harder than you think! -
•  Let the kids try this as many times as they would like.
• If you have a large group of children, divide players into smaller groups and make more apple "targets".

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APPLE-PARING GAME 

Cooking something with apples? Kids will like the challenge and the added bonus of their efforts...a yummy apple something! Need:
Potato peelers
Paring knives (for adults)
Apples

•  Using the peeler (kids) or knife (adults only), see who can produce the longest unbroken strip of apple skin. For an added challenge, see who can produce one that is both the narrowest and longest.

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PASS THE APPLE GAME

• Divide kids into equal teams. Have them sit on the floor-close and in a straight line.
• Ask kids to put their hands on their shoulders (right hand on right shoulder--left on left shoulder)
• Place an apple between the elbows of the first player on each team.
• At a signal, have players pass the apple down the line from person to person.
• When the apple reaches the end, reverse the direction and have the kids pass the apple back to the starting point

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APPLE RELAY

• To play, you need one apple for each team.
• On the word "go," a team member places an apple on the back or hand of the first player.
• The first player races to the end of the course and back without letting the apple fall off their back or hand. If the apple falls off, that player has to stop where he/she is and put it back on.
• Once the apple is back in place, they keep going from where it fell off.
• When the player gets back to their team, they put the apple on the back or hand of the next person in line.
• The first team to finish wins.

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THE INCH WORM WALK...

• Stand with feet together, bend, and touch hands to the floor-- just in front of your feet.
• Walk your hands forward - without moving your feet up - until you can't go any farther.
• Next walk your feet up to your hands. Continue... 
•  (If some of the children cannot do this, they could always lie down on the floor and wiggle forward any way they can.) Play some music to go with the movement!!!

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BALANCE THE APPLE RELAY RACE...

• To play, you need one apple for each team and something to mark the end of the course.
• First, place  markers at the end of the course, about 40 feet away from the starting line.
• Split into even teams.
• On the word "go," a team member places an apple on their head.
• The first player races to the end of the course and back without letting the apple fall off their head. If the apple falls off, that player has to stop where they are and put it back on.
• Once the apple is back in place, they keep going from where it fell off.
• When the player gets back to their team, they put the apple on the head of the next person in line.
  The first team to finish wins.
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WHO TOOK THE APPLE FROM THE APPLE TREE?"  (A version of "Who stole the cookie...") For Pre-k to Grade 1 children...
The children chant and clap as an apple starts with one child and then proceeds around the circle with each new chant...

• Whole group chant:
  Who took the apple from the apple tree? "Johnny" took the apple from the apple tree!
• (Child) Who Me?
• (Group) Yes you!
• (Child) Couldn't be...
• (Group) Then who took the apple from the apple tree?
• Child then passes the apple to the next child and play continues until all have had a turn!
• After everyone has had a turn, have an apple snack and read a favorite apple story!
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Play "HOT APPLE"...play it like "Hot Potato" using an apple! or...

Instead of 'Simon Says'...Play Johnny Appleseed Says...

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APPLE IN THE MOUTH RACE...

• Players hold their hands behind their back and grab apples with their mouth and run to the finish line with the apple in their mouth.
• This can be played with several bowls of apples where everyone races at the same time...Or it can be done one at a time and timed.
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APPLE TOSS GAME
You will need a bushel basket and five apples (you can substitute red bean bags or small red balls). Use masking tape to tape a line on the floor. Place the basket five to six feet away from the line. Have the child stand behind the line and try to toss the apples into the basket.
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How about having an APPLE RELAY RACE by pushing an apple to the finish line with your nose?

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BOBBING FOR APPLES GAME
Needed:
A bushel of apples
One large wash container filled with clean water
Towels

• Put the apples in the bucket with the water. Do not totally fill container, you want the apples bobbing around.
• Select the first two or three players and have them put their hands behind their backs.
• Say, "Go," and have players try to grab an apple with their teeth, all at the same time. The first to bring an apple up wins.
• Provide towels for all players. Even losers will be wet.
  (A player has to try and get an apple out of the bin by biting into it. He may not bite the stem and he may not use his hands in any way. Also, smaller apples work better for younger children)
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 'WORM' THROUGH THE APPLE...

•  Have children stand in a straight line with their feet apart.
• The child at the end is the "worm."
• They crawl through the "apples" (children's spread feet/legs).
• When the player reaches the front of the apple line, the next person in line becomes the "worm".
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Idea: Have the children PLACE AN APPLE UNDER THE CHIN and run to the opposite side of the room/play zone and place it in a basket. The first team to fill the basket wins.

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BUZZ BOMB BALLOON GAME

• Need 1 balloon per player that is not inflated.
• On red, yellow or apple-green butcher paper, draw a large apple shape (or the apple can be colored in by the group). Put a tape mark in the center of the apple to represent the target!
  Formation: line or circle
• All players inflate their balloon. Some players may need help.
• When the leader says "1, 2, 3, GO!" The players release their balloons in the direction of the target. (The large apple)
• Score 5 points for the closest balloon and 15 points for a direct hit.
• This game works well with teams - each team gets their own colored balloons; red, blue, green etc.
• Or, you do not need to keep score at all and just have fun playing the game several times.

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APPLE HIDE-AND-SEEK

1. Have children cover their eyes (no-peeking) while an apple is hid in the room; hide the apple where the children will be able to find it with little difficulty once they start looking.
2. Further instruct the children to find the Apple, but NOT touch it when they see it. As each child discovers the apple-they sit back down in their spot. They stay seated until the last child has 'found' the apple.
3. The first one to sit down gets to hide the Apple for the next game.

APPLE HOT AND COLD GAME (Good if you only have a few kids)
Play the game the same as above; however tell children individually whether they are "hot" or "cold" in relation to the Apple.
 
Allow the children to have a turn in hiding the apple--and if their friends/siblibngs are hot or cold.
Tip:Prior to starting the game--be sure to explain the meaning of 'hot and cold'.

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Large-sized TIC-TAC TOE with APPLES
Take a large piece of poster board and draw the tic-tac-toe lines on it; laminate it if possible. Cut-two different colored apple shapes (such as read and yellow); then simply play tic-tac-toe.

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 ***Looking for Autumn/Fall Games? Click here for more than 32 Ideas!

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MISCELLANEOUS  IDEAS!

FEED THE BIRDS!
1. Take an apple and cut it in half.
2. Put peanut butter and bird seed on it.
3. Place or hang it from trees and watch the birds. (As this photo illustrates, you can also find a safe area and slice an apple and place it in a dish with peanutbutter!

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 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 peanutbutter or sprinkled with cinamon and sugar) 

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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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TWO DIVERSITY LESSONS USING APPLES!

#1 APPLES: DIFFERENT COLORS & ALL THE SAME INSIDE! This is a great diversity lesson for YOUNG CHILDREN!

• Set a red, a yellow, and a green apple on the table. Ask children to name the colors.
• Cut the apples open and talk about how they have different colors on the outside... but are the same on the inside, just like people.
• Enjoy the snack!
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  #2 GOOD APPLES: GRADES 3-8
  Good for a "Special Activity" in smaller groups...
• Tell youth you will be spending some time finding out about how people are the same and how they are different.
• Put the apples on a table in front of the group.
• Have each student choose an apple.
• Tell kids to get to know their apple real well. Suggest they notice their apple's special characteristics.
• Have them make up a story about their apple and tell it to a friend (modeling this step is helpful with younger students). Allow the students to share their stories with the rest of the group.
• Direct the students to return their apples to the table in front of the class.
• Mix the apples up and ask the students to come back and find their apple.
  • Ask how they knew which apple was theirs (they will indicate things like color, size, shape, special features).
  • Ask what this has to do with people.
  • Make a list of how people are different. Discuss why this is important.
  • Make a list of how people are the same. Discuss why this is important.
  • The lists may be done in cooperative groups and then shared with the large group.

Tying it All Together:
Summarize the importance of individual differences and similarities in people.

Suggest that one way in which all people are similar is that they all have a star inside them (something special that makes them shine, that they especially like about themselves), just like each apple has a star inside it.

• Cut each apple in half (don't cut the usual way, but through the center the other way).
• Let each child see the star inside their apple.
• While the students eat the apple, allow them to share something about their star, their strengths, their individuality. Source: Robbie Fearon, Burlington Elementary School, Burlington

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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!

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LITERACY...

• Compile an APPLE COOKBOOK!
  Some of it can be computer written and some hand written- with lots of child comments and art work. Ask Teachers and Parents to share their favorite 'Apple goodies'! Looking for your own apple recipes? Click here for ours!
• Read or tell the story of Johnny Apple Seed.
• Have the children write a book on apples; shape the books like apples.

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*KIdActivities has more than 55 Apple Snack and Cooking recipes for kids!-Consider trying one each week! 

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APPLE RIDDLES, POEMS, SONGS for younger children

1. You can see me in the spring.
Then, I turn white.
Later, I fall to the ground
What am I?

2. I am an insect.
I take nectar from a blossom.
I take pollen from one blossom to another.
I am yellow and black.
What am I?

3. I taste good.
I have a top and a bottom
I have apples, cinnamon and nutmeg inside.
I like ice cream on top of me.
What am I?

4. I am yellow.
I stick to a honeybee's legs.
The honeybee takes me from one flower to another.
What am I?

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A LITTLE APPLE SEED
Sung to 'Eensy, Weensy, Spider'

Once a little apple seed
Was planted in the ground.
Down came the raindrops,
Falling all around.

Out came the big sun,
Bright as bright could be.
And that little apple seed grew up
To be an apple tree.

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HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN APPLE Sung to 'Have You Ever Seen A Lassie?'

Have you ever had an apple, an apple, an apple?
Have you ever had an apple and heard it go 'crunch'? Have you ever had an orange, an orange, an orange? Have you ever had an orange and heard it go 'slurp'? Have you ever had a banana, a banana, a banana? Have you ever had a banana and heard it go 'mush'?

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FOUR RED APPLES
Sung to tune of 'This Old Man'

Four red apples on the tree,
Two for you and two for me.
So-o shake that tree and watch them fall.
One, two, three, four and that is all.

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APPLE SONG
Sung to 'Itsy Bitsy Spider'

Once a little apple seed was planted in the ground.
Down came the soft rain, falling all around.
Out came the big sun as bright as bright could be
And that little apple seed grew up to be an apple tree!!

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DO YOU KNOW THE APPLE MAN?
Sint to tune 'The Muffin Man'

Oh, do you know the Apple Man,
The Apple Man,
The Apple Man?
Oh, do you know the Apple Man
Who likes to play with me?

Oh, he has a great big smile,
A great big smile,
A great big smile.
Oh, he has a great big smile
And likes to play with me.

Oh, he has a bright red face,
A bright red face,
A bright red face.
Oh, he has a bright red face
And likes to play with me.

Oh, he has a star inside,
A star inside,
A star inside.
Oh, he has a star inside
And he likes to play with me.

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APPLES, APPLES
to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"

Apples juicy, apples round;
On the tree or on the ground.
Apples yellow, apples red,
Apple pie and juice and bread!
Apples crunchy, apples sweet;
Apples are so good to eat!

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A LITTLE RED APPLE

A little red apple,
up high in a tree.
I looked up at it,
and it looked down at me.

Come down please red apple I called,
And what do you suppose?
That little red apple
Fell down right on my nose

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POEM TO GO WITH MAKING APPLE BUTTER...(See recipe in Apple Snacks)

We peeled the apples
and sliced them small,
cooked them in water
then mashed them all.

We added some sugar
and cinnamon to taste,
back in the cook pot
till thick like paste.

We'll spread it on bread
you and I will share,
the apple butter we made
with love and great care.

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INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT APPLES...

• Apples come in all shades of reds, greens, yellows.
• 2500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States and 7500 varieties of apples are grown throughout the world.
• The pilgrims planted the first United States apple trees in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
• Apples are a member of the rose family.
• The most nutritious part of the apple is the skin.

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 55 Snack & Cooking Apple Ideas ... 

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