autumn

  • Fall Fine Motor

    Fine Motor Activities With Apples

    You can’t escape the apple theme this time of year, and for good reason! Apples are a wonderful way to explore the science behind plant life and nutrition, but they can also be a great way to exercise some fine motor skills. Here are some of my favorite ways to use apples: Use a rotating apple peeler (like this one – affiliate link) to encourage wrist movement. It’ll fascinate the children and make quick work of slicing all of those apples so that you can taste them or bake with them. Of course, it does have a sharp blade, so this is a one-on-one activity that should only be done…

  • orchard field trip

    Apple Orchard Field Trip

    Visiting the apple orchard is one of my all-time-favorite autumn activities and it’s a perfect field trip for preschoolers. An apple orchard is an excellent introduction into understanding where our food comes from, and how fruits and vegetables are grown and harvested. There are so many topics that a trip like this can lead into, and it has the added bonus of great snacks! If you’re planning a visit to the apple orchard here are some things to prepare young children for before you go: Some topics that can be explored in relation to an apple orchard field trip are: If you aren’t able to visit the orchard in person…

  • Cozy fall vibes

    All the Fall Vibes

    Labor Day is over and it’s like someone flipped a switch because I am totally ready for fall! I thought I’d share some of my favorites so that you can get into the mood with me. I’ll dive into fall fashion soon, but if you’re already feeling it make sure to check out my top must-haves from last year! All links are affiliates. Chunky Color Block Cardigan – I can’t do life without cardigans, and fall options are definitely my fave. The colors and textures are a whole vibe. This rust and pumpkin one has a variety of different stitches and could easily be paired with jeans or a chambray dress.…

  • September Preschool lesson plans

    September Preschool Lesson Plans

    We have been squeezing the last bits of summer out like it’s our job over here – but it’s quickly coming to an end. As we look forward to September, I know that life isn’t about to get any less busy! I wanted to really dig into one of those resources that makes planning and prep so much easier. Let’s take a look at every single item included in the September Month of Preschool set. I’ll list it all below, and any products that are also available as individual resources will be linked so that you can go see specific images of those. For a video of how to use…

  • Teacher Gift

    Personalized Back to School Gift for Teachers

    I’m so happy with how this year’s teacher gifts turned out – and so glad that I’ve got them done a little early (one less thing to worry about)! My daughter’s school is opening a brand new building this year, so a key ring felt like a fitting gift to start the year with. These would be perfect for your child’s teachers or your own co-workers if you’re a teacher too. Here are the items that I used to put these together (all links are affiliates). I went with these black beaded tassel keychains, but I also love this silicone option (I have one of these for my own keys).…

  • crockpot applesauce

    Easy Classroom Applesauce Recipe

    I made applesauce at home last week, and it reminded me that it’s been a while since I’ve shared my favorite classroom apple recipe! This easy crockpot applesauce is a fall favorite that is perfect for an apple investigation or holiday meal. Here’s the original post from 2014, and the download with the recipe: I'm not sure when it was decided that autumn means an in-depth study of apples in every single early childhood classroom in the country, but I'm certainly not one to buck tradition. One of my favorite apple activities to do with my preschoolers is to make homemade applesauce. Children love this activity because they get to eat…

  • pumpkin spice clipart

    Pumpkin Spice Clipart

    My November clipart set just feels so cozy and festive – exactly like I want November to be! I really wanted to do a pumpkin spice theme, but maybe a little differently than others have already done. I couldn’t be happier with how these turned out. The color scheme makes me so happy because it’s not all oranges, reds, and golds – the purple and green really make a difference. You can download these in my TPT store or my Etsy store. Here’s what’s included in the entire bundle:

  • Non-Halloween themes for October

    October themes for classrooms that don’t celebrate Halloween

    I love holidays and celebrating them in the classroom, but there are many completely valid reasons for not incorporating these into your lesson plans. When it comes to Halloween there can be religious considerations, cultural implications, and economic concerns. Every school has it’s own policy, but if you don’t celebrate holidays in the classroom it can be a real challenge to look for new lesson plan ideas and only find the ubiquitous Halloween ideas. I have a list of 35 fall themes that can be a great starting point for your planning, but these few October themes fit closely enough to Halloween that you can use many of the Halloween…

  • teacher fall outfits

    Amazon Fall Fashion!

    I’ve already shared cozy fall favorites, but I’ve been doing more shopping and couldn’t resist letting you in on the items I’ve added to my wardrobe over the last few weeks. Fall can be hard to dress for because our temperatures vary widely even throughout the same day. In the classroom this often means lots of layers! I also think that autumn has a very specific vibe and I’m all about dressing for that. Here are my pics for teacher fall outfits: (all links are affiliates) 90 Degree by Reflex faux leather leggings – These are my all-time favorite leggings. This brand is my go-to for all types of leggings,…

  • October preschool activities

    October Preschool Activities

    It’s here! October’s lesson plans and activities are all available in one place. This month’s set is 287 pages of autumn wonderful-ness, and these activities will definitely keep your class busy! The October lesson plans cover all things fall, from leaves and acorn to Halloween and jack-o-lanterns. You can learn more here (after you check out these sneak-peaks of what this massive resource contains)!