CCCC Activity of the Month

Celebrate Autumn Learning in more meaningful to children when they can freely explore the world around them. Take advantage of these everyday learning opportunities that celebrate the autumn season!

Counting Pumpkin Seeds Words to use - seeds, numerals, plate, count Materials

    Seeds
    Bowl
    Paper plates
    Markers

What to do? For younger children, write the numerals 1 through 5 on five paper plates. Also draw the same number of dots on each plate. For older children, number up to 10.
Put out the plates and a bowl filled with pumpkin seeds.
Ask one child to take a paper plate, count the number of dots on the plate then count out the same number of pumpkin seeds from the bowl.
Continue until each child has a turn counting out the pumpkin seeds on a plate. After each child takes a turn, return the seeds to the bowl so each child can chose the plate she wants to use. On another day, ask the children to fill the plates in numerical order.
This activity must be supervised. The children may be curious about the seeds and want to put them into their mouths. The seeds are not poisonous, however, they could pose a choking hazard.
Want to do more?

  • Art: carve a pumpkin as a class project and ask the children to make drawings of their class’s jack o lantern.

  • Field trip: visit a pumpkin patch where the children can pick theoir own pumpkins.

  • Math: sequencing. Take pictures of the children carving a pumpkin.

  • Science: After Halloween put the jack o lantern in a glass terrarium so the children can observe how it decays. Record the children's descriptions of what they see. The decayed pumpkin makes excellent fertilizer for planting seeds later in the year.

Slime
Words to use - mix, look, feel, touch, wet, liquid Materials

    Cornstarch
    Water
    Green food coloring
    Large bowls
What to do Mix water and cornstarch in a bowl until they reach the consistency of mashed potatoes. Add green food coloring. Try to pick it up-it slips through your fingers.
Corn Necklace
Materials
    Cardboard
    Dried corn kernels and a piece of dried corn husk Glue
    Hole punch
    Scissors
    Red, black and green yarn
What to do Cut a corn shape from cardboard for each ear of corn on your necklace. Punch two holes in the top of each one and string them across strands of the three colors of yarn cut to form a necklace. Tie the ends of the yarn together to make the necklace. Cover each corn shape with glue. Stick a small piece of corn husk at the top of each ear. Then cover the rows of corn kernels to look like real corn.
Chalky Leaf Spatter
Words to use - tape, staple, screen, frame and chalk
Materials
    Nail brush
    Wire screen, stapled to old picture frame
    Thin tempera paint in a bowl
    Chalk
    Paper
    Pressed leaves
    Large cardboard box with one side cut out
    Tape
    Smock or old shirt
What to do Place a sheet of paper inside of the box and tape the edges down so it won't wiggle. Place leaves, flowers, grass or paper shapes on the paper. Place the wire screen in the frame over the paper. The screen should be several inches above the paper. Dip the nail brush into the paint. Rub the paint filled brush many times across the screen. If the brush is loaded with paint, the spatter drops will be big and coarse. Next take a piece of chalk and rub it across the screen. Dry the completed artwork. Remove the leaves and other objects or stencils.
Food
Jack O'Buenlos
Using orange food coloring, let each child paint a jack o lantern face on a large tortilla. Fry the tortilla in hot oil until it is golden brown and puffy. Dry on paper towel and let the children sprinkle their tortilla with cinnamon and sugar. Books
    Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington
    Corn is Maize by Aliki
    Three Stalks of Corn by Polite
    Pumpkin Moonshine by Tiisho Tudor
    Raccoons and Ripe Corn by Jim Arnosky
    Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert

Thank you to Lisa Albert from the EPTSS Division for this month's activity!

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