Thinking Theme: Autumn #2

Lesson 1: Candy Corn Counting
Objectives:
* To identify numbers 1-5
* To use counting skills
* To match the correct number of candy corns to the corresponding written number

Materials:
* Candy Corn Printable from me :)
* Candy Corns

* Scissors

Procedure:

* Print and cut out the candy corn numbers.  We just used the numbers 1-5 to start with, but feel free to use whatever numbers your child is ready for.  Spread them out on the table.

* Help your child recognize the numbers and count out the correct number of candy corns for each one.

Lesson 2: Autumn Name Tree from The Kid's Activities Blog
Objectives:
* To learn the letters in your name
* To put those letters in the correct order

Materials:
* Large Piece of Paper (color of your choice)
* Construction Paper (Brown, Red, Yellow, Green, Orange)
* Scissors
* Glue

* Marker

Procedure:

* I saw this activity on The Kid's Activities Blog, but I changed it a little.

* Using the brown construction paper, cut out rectangles and glue them onto the larger piece of paper in the shape of a tree.  You should have the same number of branches on the tree as the number of letters in your child's name.

* Cut out leaves using the other fall colored construction paper and help your child write one letter from their name on each leaf.

* Mix up the leaves on the table, and have your child start gluing them on the tree in the right order.

* One thing I have done with both of my boys to help them learn to spell their names is to sing the letters in the tune of a song.  For example, for Tucker I sing the tune of Bingo. "There is a little boy I know, and Tucker is his name-o. T-U-C-K-E-R..."  There are lots of familiar songs that can be changed in this way.  Be creative!

Lesson 3: Pumpkin Pie Playdough
Objectives:
* To make pumpkin pie playdough using a specific recipe
* To follow the directions of the recipe
* To use measurement skills
* To use the fine motor skills involved with scooping, pouring, and kneading

Materials:
* 5-1/2 cups of flour
* 2 cups of salt
* 8 teaspoons of cream of tartar
* 1 spice container of pumpkin pie spice
* 3/4 cup of vegetable oil
* red and yellow food coloring to make orange
* 4 cups of water
* large pot
* large spoon

Procedure:

* Measure out each of the ingredients and mix them all together.  Put 2 parts yellow to 1 part red of food coloring in last.

* Stir the mixture over medium heat until the dough starts to form.  This will take about 10 minutes.  The dough will start to pull away from the sides when it is done.

* Place the dough on a floured board and kneed it until it's completely a playdough texture.  It should not be sticky or wet.

* Get out some cookie cutters and let your kiddos play!  This playdough smells really good, but it is definitely not tasty, so don't let your children eat it!  (I had to stop Tucker many times!)

* Store the playdough in a closed container, and it will keep for a long time.  This recipe makes a ton of dough which we will be giving to friends for Thanksgiving, but feel free to cut it in half.

Lesson 4: Fruit Loop Pumpkin
Objectives:
* To recognize and sort colors
* To create a pumpkin craft using Fruit Loops
* To use the fine motor skills involved with picking up small objects and gluing

Materials:
* Pumpkin Printable (I made it a little smaller)
* Fruit Loops
* Glue
* Scissors
* Construction Paper (any color)
* 3 sorting bowls (I just happened to have orange and green, but it's not necessary)

Procedure:

* Dump out a handle of Fruit Loops and have your child sort them into 3 categories, Orange, Green, and Others.

* Meanwhile print and cut out the pumpkin printable and glue it to a piece of construction paper.

* Let your child glue the orange fruit loops onto the body of the pumpkin and the green fruit loops onto the stem.



Tucker loved this, especially snacking on
the other colored fruit loops! :)













Lesson 5: Leaf Graph and Leaf Matching
Objectives:
* To sort and match corresponding leaves together
* To use counting skills to count the number of leaves in each group
* To learn what a bar graph is
* To graph the correct number of leaves for each category
* To analyze the data collected
* To learn what the terms most, least, greater than, and less than mean

Materials:
* Leaf Printable from me :)
* Graph Printable from me :)
* Crayons
* Scissors

Procedure:
* Print out the leaves and cut them out.  Mix them up and have your child match the corresponding leaves together.  Then let your child count the number of leaves in each category.

* Print out the graph and help your child color in the correct number of squares in each column according to the number of leaves in each category.

* Show your child how to analyze the data of the graph by pointing out the leaves that had the most and the least.  Talk about which numbers are greater than the others.

Books:

Extras:
* Acorn Craft from Kaboose
* Autumn Nature Walk and Hunt
* Fall Preschool Packs - Homeschool Creations, 3 Dinosaurs, 2 Teaching Mommies
* Autumn #1, Pumpkins, Apples, and Thanksgiving Themes from last year