Kindergarten Harvest Lesson Plans: Leaves IV

In today's lesson, you will continue discussing trees, squirrel, nuts as well as the beauty of the autumn colors. You will be provided with the instruction of how to make a hand print leaf wreath as well as a math skills game and a language activity.

Here are the things that you will need to be adequately prepared for the lesson:

Plush animal bear, squirrel, chipmunk (optional, but great for visuals)

Paper plates (cut out centers prior to class)

Various colors of construction paper

Bag of acorns, pecans, and walnuts (nuts can be purchased in bulk at the supermarket)

Styrofoam bowls

Tops and Bottoms adapted by Janet Stevens

Review tree names and facts.

Discuss animals that hibernate in winter. Explain that they must work all autumn to gather enough food for the winter.

Read story: Tops and Bottoms adapted by Janet Stevens. Discuss the differences between being a hard worker like the rabbit and being lazy like the bear in the story.

Hand-print Wreath

Give children two or three pieces of construction paper, in their choice colors

Instruct the children to trace their hand-prints and carefully cut out each hand-print

Provide children with a paper plate (the center should be cut out prior to this project)

Children should glue their hand-prints on to the paper plate to form a colorful Autumn leaf wreath

More or Less

Display collection of acorns, pecans and walnuts.

Provide each child with a Styrofoam bowl to use in "gathering" nuts.

Pile the nuts on the floor, then instruct the children to gather the nuts.

When all nuts have been collected, ask:

*Who has the most? Who has the least?

*Who has the most walnuts? The least?

*Who has the most acorns? The least?

*Who has the most pecans? The least?

Ask children what things they would collect if they would go into hibernation.

Record their answers on a chart.