October was an eventful and fun month and we got a lot done! We started talking about how the fall weather is different from summer weather and which season is their favorite. We began our “Everything Fall” theme with apples! We asked the children which apple is their favorite (red, yellow and green) then, using that favorite apple color, we marble painted using large white paper and traced their hands for the leaf. The children also created their own apple tree, placing red scrunched tissue paper, and added their picture for a fun craft! For our table top activities we placed mini apples on numbered trees and also colored and cut apple/worm patterns. We broke out the bingo daubers and used them to fill in apple templates. We read ‘Apple Trouble’, ‘Apples A to Z’, and ‘Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn. We also sang a fun song called “Juicy Apples” and recited the poems “Way Up High in an Apple Tree” and “Five Red Apples”.
After apples we switched our focus to leaves and discussed their shapes, colors, and textures. We went on a nature walk and collected all different shaped leaves and brought them back to the classroom so we could use them for leaf rubbing. We made leaf sun catchers and placed them in our classroom window. They look pretty when the light shines through them! With yellow, green, orange, and red watercolors, the children used eye droppers to place drops of paint on a leaf shaped coffee filter. They enjoyed watching the colors all blend together! Lastly, they made a full sticker collage that included sparkly leaves, acorns, scarecrows and pumpkins. The books we enjoyed reading were, “Leaf Man”, “We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt”, and “When the Leaf Blew In”. We also read a poem called “Falling Leaves.”
Lastly, we concentrated on pumpkins. We brought in a large pumpkin and the children were able to use golf tees and a small wooden hammer to hammer them into the pumpkin. The children enjoyed learning how to navigate the hammer and they LOVED this activity! Then we had the children pull the golf tees out of the pumpkin, we cut the top off the pumpkin and the children scooped out the seeds (some liked it more than others). We took turns pouring soil and water into the pumpkin. We placed the pumpkin outside of our classroom window so we can observe it throughout the year. With sodden blocks, mini pumpkins and hay barrels we created a farm with our mini animals! On October 30th & 31st the children will be able to decorate their pumpkins from home. Please remember to bring one in if you haven’t already, thank you! We will be making silly pumpkin faces and playing some fun Halloween music! Some of our favorite pumpkin books consisted of “ Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin Pie”, “Pumpkin Countdown” and “The Littlest Pumpkin”.
Our “Lively Letters” this month were “L” “F” “E” and “H”. The children have been working hard on tracing these letters and remembering how to hold the pencil correctly!
Miss Hailey and I would also like to say what amazing group of parents we have! Thank you for all of the support and the generosity. It’s much appreciated!
