Kindergarten Harvest Lesson Plans: Leaves V

For today's lesson, you will conduct a review on the discussions concerning trees, colorful leaves, hibernating animals, and nuts.

Keep the morning's discussion brief, so you will have time to go on a nature walk with the children. If a nature walk is not possible in your school yard, organize a short field trip to a tree filled park or to an orchard.

For today's material list, you will need:

Large pine cones

Ribbon

Peanut butter

Shortening

Cornmeal

Large bag of birdseed

Review tree names and facts.

Review animals facts about hibernating animals

Inform the children about the planned nature walk. Instruct them on certain things to collect while out walking: leaves, nuts, pine-cones and small twigs

Discuss with the children that even though the birds do not hibernate, they have a difficult time finding an ample supply of food in the winter time. Explain to the children that for art today, they will make bird feeders.

Before leaving on the nature walk, provide each child with a paper sack for autumn collections.

Lead children on a nature walk outside or to a tree filled park. Ask children to describe the colors of the trees and the feeling of the temperature outside.

While out, assist children in locating the autumn treasures that they are looking for.

Do not spend more than 20-30 minutes on the walk, in effort to not allow children to "get bored".

Birdseed Snacks

Provide each child with a large pine cone.

Tie ribbon to the point of the pine cone.

Melt peanut butter and shortening into a large bowl. To the mixture, add the corn meal. Stir the mixture well.

Provide each child a paper plate and plastic spoon. Divide the gooey mixture between the children.

Instruct the children to spread the peanut butter mixture onto the pine cone using the plastic spoon. After the pine cone is coated, roll the covered pine cone in a bowl of birdseed.

Allow pine cones to dry throughout the day. Send them home with the children by carefully placing the pine cones in a seal-able plastic bag.

Play the leaf pile game again, as was played in a previous lesson this week.

Ask children to describe the sights, sounds and smells of the nature walk. Record answers on a chart and discuss the descriptive words.

In November by Cynthia Rylant

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert