“The Kindergarten Pumpkin Patch”
"Kindergarten is Falling Into Fall"
Books:
Fall is Here by Pamela Jane
When Autumn Comes by Robert Maas
It’s Pumpkin Time by Zoe Hall
The Little Scarecrow Boy
by Margaret Wise Brown
Pumpkin Circle by George Levenson
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
Nuts to You! By Lois Ehlert
A Season for All Trees by Robin Bernard
Apple and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell
Pumpkin Day by Anne Rockwell
Clifford’s First Autumn by Norman Bridwell
The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons
Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White
Barn Dance by Bill Martin Jr.
Songs and Poems:
"Leaves Are Falling "
Are falling, are falling.
The ____ leaves are falling
Down to the ground.
* place color word leaves in blank spaces
"Fall"
by Meish Goldish
From September to December
What's the season?
Fall!
Red leaves start to fall!
Brown leaves start to fall!
Gold leaves start to fall!
Orange leaves start to fall!
Yellow leaves start to fall!
After all, it's Fall!
("Wheels on the Bus" tune)
The leaves on the trees turn orange and red,
The leaves on the trees turn orange and red,
All through the town.
The leaves on the trees come tumbling down,
Tumbling down, tumbling down.
The leaves on the trees come tumbling down,
All through the town.
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish.
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish,
All through the town.
"Five Black Crows"
("Five Green and Speckled Frogs" tune)
Five crows all shiny black,
Sat on a scarecrow's back
Eating some most delicious corn.
Yum, yum!
Scarecrow winked and shouted, "Boo!"
Scared a crow and away he flew
Now there are four black shiny crows.
Caw, caw!
*Repeat verse until no crows are left.
Scarecrow, Scarecrow
("Twinkle,Twinkle, Little Star" tune)
Scarecrow, scarecrow turn around.
Scarecrow, scarecrow touch the ground.
Stand up tall and blink your eyes.
Raise your hands up to the sky.
Clap your hands, then tap your knees.
Turn around and tap your feet.
Scarecrow, scarecrow touch your toes.
Scarecrow, scarecrow tap your nose.
Swing your arms so very slow,
Now real fast to scare the crows!
Tough your head, jump up and down.
Now sit down without a sound.
“I’m Picking Out a Pumpkin”
("I'm Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee" tune)
I'm picking out a pumpkin on a vine.
I want one big and fat and fine.
I'm picking out a pumpkin on a vine.
Oh, I see mine!
I'm pulling on a pumpkin on a vine.
It's so big and fat and fine.
I'm pulling on a pumpkin on a vine.
Snap! It's mine!
"I am an Acorn"
I am an acorn, small and round.
(wrap arms around self)
I fall on the cold, cold ground.
(tap ground)
Everybody steps on me.
(stamp floor)
That is why I'm cracked up you see.
I'm a nut! (cluck tongue twice)
I'm a nut! (cluck, cluck)
I'm a nut, I'm a nut, I'm a nut! (cluck, cluck)
Estimation-
1. Estimate how many acorns are in a jar.
2. Estimate a pumpkin's circumference using yarn.
Measurement-
1. Measure a leaf's length using unifex cubes.
2. Measure a pumpkin's height using unifex cubes.
3. Weigh a pumpkin on a scale.
Sorting- Sort leaves by color or shape.
Patterning- Create patterns using real leaves or Ellison die cut leaves.
Number Recognition-
1. Identify the number on each squirrel’s tail and “feed” him that amount of acorns.
2. Identify the number on each basket and fill it with that number of leaves.
3. Put the correct number of buttons on each scarecrow according to the number on his hat.
Number Sequencing- Put Ellison leaves, acorns, or pumpkins in numeric order according to the number written on them.
Science:
1. Go on a nature walk and collect leaves.
2. Examine acorns, gourds, pumpkins, and Indian corn.
3. Put “life cycle of a pumpkin” cards in sequential order.
4. Make and taste pumpkin seeds.
5. Study nocturnal and hibernating animals.
6. Examine a leaf using a magnifying glass.
7. Fall Sink or Float Experiment- Place a pumpkin, gourd, acorn, and leaf in water to discover which items will sink and which will float.
Art:
1. Fingerpaint leaves.
2. Make tissue paper leaves using red, orange, and yellow tissue paper. Shellac with diluted glue and sprinkle gold glitter over it.
3. Marble paint leaves red, orange, yellow, and brown.
4. Paper bag scarecrows with yarn, fabric, and buttons
5. Paint paper plate pumpkins.
6. Make autumn trees by tracing hands and arms to be the trunk and branches and using autumn colored tissue paper as the leaves.
7. Leaf Buddies- Student cuts out a leaf and adds facial features and limbs.
8. Leaf Wreath-Decorate paper plate with construction paper leaves and red and gold sequins.
9. Bushy tailed squirrel- Children color and cut out squirrel pattern. Children then glue real leaves on the tail.
10. Calico Pumpkins-Children cut out pumpkin pattern and glue a variety of paper squares
(i.e.-orange foil) on it. Shellac with diluted glue and sprinkle on gold glitter.
11. Paper Tube Autumn Tree- Children cut green tree top pattern and use Q-tips to make red, orange, and yellow leaves on it. Paint toilet paper tubes brown. When dry, cut 2 half inch slits on one side of tube and slip in tree top pattern. Viola- a 3D fall tree!
