fall
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Autumn Field Trip Ideas
My brain is stuck on all things autumn, so I’m going with it. I’m a huge fan of field trips, I think they are an amazing way to make learning real-life and to expose children to places and concepts that they otherwise might not come into contact with. I also think that they are perfect for introducing children to all of the concepts that you’ve been exploring in the classroom. I completely understand that not all programs are equipped to take field trips for a variety of reasons – I’ve worked in programs where this was certainly the case, so I’ve got a lot of tips for working around this…
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Autumn Cooking Projects
Autumn is a great time to explore cooking in the classroom because the season naturally lends itself to so many food-related experiences. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites, along with some great ideas from other bloggers, to give you plenty of recipes to choose from! Apple sauceMaking apple sauce is a great experience for preschoolers because they can be a part of the entire process. Apples are soft enough that they can be easily cut with plastic knoves, and this recipe is made in the crockpot, so you can do it all in the classroom while they watch – and smell! Mini Apple PiesPlay to Learn Preschool has…
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36 Autumn Themes for Preschool
I’m a Reggio teacher, but I love to throw some seasonal themes in my lesson plan too so that my students get to experience a variety of topics. The other day a teacher asked me for some new ideas for autumn themes because she was tired of the same old pumpkins and apples, I was able to think of a few! Here are 36 themes that are perfect for exploring in the fall: If you prefer plain old text, here’s the list: Leaves Trees Logs Campfires Mums Sunflowers Acorns Squirrels Owls Farming/Harvest Tractors Scarecrows Corn Pumpkins Gourds Apples Farmers market School safety Fire safety Candy Corn Spiders Monsters Bats Halloween…
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More Autumn Decor
Yesterday I shared some cute ideas for making your classroom feel a little more homey during this autumn season, but if crafting isn’t your thing then I have something for you too! If you’re looking for printable classroom decor, you’ve come to the right place. I love my autumn classroom decor set because: It’s printable and EASY to put together You can keep it up for the entire season or just use it for a class party It’s something that you could print and then ask a parent volunteer to cut and put together when you’re done with it it can all go in a file folder to store for…
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Autumn decor for the classroom
My philosophy about the classroom environment is that the classroom should feel like home. We certainly spend an incredible amount of time there, and also, I like my students to be able to interact with the same kinds of things that they come into contact with at their own homes. Since I routinely decorate my own home for different seasons, it feels natural to me to decorate the classroom seasonally too. Over the years I’ve found that if I add a few seasonal pieces to my collection each year, it is more affordable. I also do a lot of DIYing to create decorative elements. Oriental Trading has become my go-to…
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An Easy Fall Science Center
Fall is the perfect time of year to explore science – there are so many changes happening! It’s also really easy to find natural materials to use in the classroom (check out this list and this list for ideas), but sometimes I struggle with how to contain all of those natural materials. No more worries, I’ve found the perfect solution: How awesome are these leaf-shaped containers from Oriental Trading (of course) ?! I filled mine with tree bark, grass, pebbles, twigs, some small red leaves, and one larger green leaf. The best thing about this set is that it includes 24 containers, so your students could help you find all…
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Leaf Activities
When I saw these giant leaf cut outs from Oriental Trading, I had to have them. I didn’t really have a plan for them, but I was pretty sure I’d figure something out. Let me just say, I was really impressed with what I received – the images are great quality and the set included 48 leaf cut outs, so I had a ton of leaves to work with. While I was trying to figure out the best thing to do with all of them I came up with a long list of ideas, so I decided that instead of sharing just one or two, I’d give you the whole…
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Easy Leaf Art
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you know how hard I try to come up with art ideas that families will not only want to display, but will also keep for years to come. I found the perfect one for this fall with the help of Oriental Trading! This project could not be easier, your students will love it, and so will their families. I got the white ceramic ornaments from Oriental Trading’s Halloween collection. The “dipped” look is pretty popular, so that’s what I was going for. I put a little acrylic paint in the bottom of a plastic cup and added a little water so…
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Everything autumn
The fall bug has bitten me hard! I put out all of my autumn decor this weekend and I have been savoring my fair share of pumpkin spice lattes. If you’re anything like me you’ve already started thinking about incorporating everything fall into the classroom, so I thought I’d round up some of my favorite autumn activity posts to share with you. Happy planning! Sensory activities with autumn spices Pumpkin compare and contrast sensory activity DIY fall classroom decor Autumn manipulatives for preschool Preschool leaf activities Printable centers for autumn
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Slow Down Fall!
Fall is here! It might still be 90 degrees outside, but if you’ve taken a minute to read a blog, browse pinterest, or visit a store over the weekend, you’ve definitely seen the signs; Halloween decorations, apple recipes, and sweater outfits are out in full force. This time of year can be especially confusing for little ones – there are simply too many transitions. Back to school, different clothes, new routines, new teachers, then you throw in shorter days, busy weekends, festivals, and holidays. That’s a lot for a little one to deal with! Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE fall (seriously, you should see my personal collection of pumpkin…
