Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Leaf Rubbing


Here is another fun fall activity you can do with you children. Go on a nature walk and collect a variety of fallen leaves. If you are able to identify the trees/leaves, even better. Lay your collection of leaves on a smooth surface, vein side up. Place a piece of paper over leaves. Shade lightly over the leaves/paper with a soft pencil or crayon. An image of the leaves should appear. My kids love doing this. They kept saying it's like magic and couldn't wait to make more leaf rubbing collages.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Pumpkin Pumpkin


October is the unofficial month of pumpkins. There are so many fun things to do with pumpkins and way too many books to share. Pumpkin Pumpkin is one of my favorites, it takes you through the cycle of the pumpkin. Here are a few of our favorite things to do with our pumpkin.

  1. Visit a pumpkin patch
  2. Measure and weigh your pumpkin
  3. Count the seeds
  4. Taste the pulp
  5. Roast the seeds....wash the seeds, pat dry, coat a pan with oil, add seeds to pan, lightly salt, bake in oven at 400 for 45 minutes.
  6. Sing Pumpkin Songs:
    Five Little Pumpkins
    Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate, (hold hands up)
    The first one said "oh my its getting late," (hands on cheeks)
    The second one said "there's a chill in the air," (hug self)
    The third one said "but we don't care," (shrug)
    The fourth one said "we're ready for some fun," (jump)
    The fifth one said "lets run, run, run," (run in place)
    So woo went the wind, and out went the lights,
    And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight (sit down).
  7. Carve your Pumpkin coat the inside with Vasaline to make it last longer

Friday, October 2, 2009

Apples, Apples Everywhere


While apples are in season why not share this wonderful book with your children. This beautiful book by Marjorie Priceman will take you on a wonderful adventure and opens to door to talk to your child about how do items make it to our super markets. The best part about the book is the recipe at the end. You can make a yummy apple pie with your little one.

Have extra apples left over from your pie? Make apple prints. All you need are apples, paint and paper. Cut your apples in half either vertical, showing the apples true shape or horizontal, showing the wonderful star. I like to use plastic forks as handles so we do get too messy. You can even turn your prints into stationary by printing on card stock.

Another fun activity with apples is apple tasting. Run out and buy all the apples that your super market carries and let your little ones try them. Talk to them about which they liked better and why. I learned very quickly after doing this we were a mix household of gala and granny smith lovers.