Changing leaves, cooling weather, and a new school year. Welcome fall with these fun activities for preschool, daycare and elementary grades.
Sometimes when it rains, children may feel cooped up and exhibit challenging behaviors. Teachers have to create their own sunshine inside by finding ways to keep children active and engaged indoors. Help children create their own sunshine band hats & form their own sunshine band to chase away the clouds and rain with this activity! The noise may wake up the whole school, but marching is a good way to stimulate the brain and have some active fun. For more ideas that make being stuck inside fun, get the book Rainy Day Activities by Dr. Jean Feldman.
Movement and Play Seasonal Learning: WinterDuring winter, or any other time where there is inclement weather that keeps children indoors, it can be difficult to find ways to keep children entertained, learning, and focusing their energy in positive ways. Not to fear! Banish Boredom is here! Check out these three activities from the book that you can save for a day with inclement weather to create some excitement indoors!
Movement and Play Art Lesson Planning Science Seasonal Learning: WinterTransition activities are the moments when children move from one activity to another. These moments, when handled effectively, can be smooth and full of fun. But without the right strategies, children may exhibit some challenging behavior that disrupts everyone’s day. The GIANT Encyclopedia of Transition Activities for Children 3 to 6 is full of transition activities and strategies for teachers and parents who looking for a way to facilitate smooth and effective transitions that are fun for children and alleviate stress for you!
Lesson PlanningDuring the winter holiday season, it's nice for children to slow down, reflect on the holidays, and express their creativity through arts and crafts. In this activity, children will do just that as they make "holiday lights" with colored cellophane through holes punched in trees. Get plenty of activities written by teachers for teachers like this one in The GIANT Encyclopedia of Art & Craft Activities for Children 3 to 6!
printable Art Seasonal Learning: Winter Individual ChildIn this activity, children will learn more about Kwanza and make their own symbolic corn out of paper. The name for the holiday of Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits." Munhundi means corn. The corn represents the children of a family (one ear of corn for each child). The corn symbolizes the parents' wish for the child to grow up strong and happy!
printable Art Seasonal Learning: Winter Large GroupIn this holiday art activity, children will create their own bright and fun garland decoration to drape over a window or mantel, hang on a Christmas tree, or drape around an entire clasroom! Like all the activities featured in MaryAnn's Khol's book, Art with Anything: 52 Weeks of Fun Using Everyday Stuff, this activity stresses the "process of art" rather than the end product.
Art Seasonal Learning: WinterArt with toddlers and two-year-olds is about the process, not the product! The art process allows toddlers and twos to explore, discover, and manipulate their worlds. Sometimes the process can be sensory, such as feeling slippery cool paint on bare fingers. Other times it is a mysterious surprise as colors blend unexpectedly or a blob of playdough takes form. Art process can be a way to “get the wiggles out” or to smash a ball of clay instead of another child. The adult’s job is simply to allow this process to happen! Check out the process art activities below from the book First Art for Toddlers and Twos: Open-Ended Art Experiences by MaryAnn Khol. In these activities, the adult simply provides interesting materials, and then sits back to watch closely but unobtrusively as children explore the endless possibilities of creating art.
ArtFun fall activities for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Easy enough to do at home and at school!
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