Using Fall Nuts Within a Preschool Curriculum

Young children love to go for nature walks and collect autumn treasures. This collection from the outside can then be brought inside for some fun indoor activities. The following article provides some suggestions on how to use nuts and other fall finds in a variety of areas in an early childhood curriculum.

Sensory Table and Fine Motor Skills:

Collect a variety of nuts, such as chestnuts or acorns and place within a sensory table along with some sorting material, such as muffin tins or ice cube trays. In addition, the table could include tongs and spoons to foster fine motor development

From The Hive Website

Math Activities Using Fall Nuts

Sorting and categorizing nuts helps develop math skills within children. In addition, graphing the nuts will help children count and develop numerical awareness.

Language and Literature

A fun action poem for the children to participate in begins with giving each child a nut such as a hazelnut, chestnut or acorn . Start by acting like a squirrel and dig a hole in the "ground" then place in the nut. Pretend to cover it up with dirt. Have the children act alongside your actions, then pop up and say:

I'm a busy little squirrel, searching all around

Searching for a nut that simply can't be found

Is it behind me? Is it in my backpack?

Is it in my pocket? Is it in the ground?

I'm a busy little squirrel, looking all around

Digging, digging, digging. Look what I found! (show the nut)

Gathering All the Acorns Till They're Gone
Sung to: "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain"

I'll be gathering all the acorns till they're gone.
I'll be gathering all the acorns till they're gone.
I'll be gathering all the acorns, gathering all the acorns,
Gathering all the acorns till they're gone.(Children make collecting motion with their hands)

And I'll put them all inside my little home.
I will put them all inside my little home.
I will put them all inside, put them all inside,
Put them all inside my little home.(children pretend to place nuts in tree house)

And I'll eat the nuts until the winter's gone.
I will eat the nuts until the winter's gone.
I will eat the nuts until, eat the nuts until,
Eat the nuts until the winter's gone.
(children pretend to eat acorns)

Then I'll do it all again come next fall.
I will do it all again come next fall.
I will do it all again, do it all again,
Do it all again come next fall. (gathering motion with hands and arms again)

Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas

Acorn Preschool Poem for Fall Curriculum

5 Little Acorns

5 little acorns sitting in a tree

Along came Mr. Squirrel

As hungry as could be.

Then the fall winds blew

And rustled all the leaves.

Down came an acorn,

Mr. Squirrel was pleased! 

Squirrel Preschool Theme for an Early Childhood Setting

Squirrels are tree animals that fall effectively into an autumn season curriculum, along with other preschool lesson plans. Including a theme day all around squirrels is fun and educational. Following are some facts and ideas for setting up a squirrel theme day for any early childhood environment.

Squirrel Theme at Group Circle

Begin, by asking children at group circle what they know about squirrels. Allow the young children in a preschool or daycare setting to be their own educators. Add more information to the group's collection of knowledge. Facts to teach children about squirrels are:

•there are over 200 species of squirrels

•squirrels can be found all around the world

•squirrels are mammals with bushy tails, sharp teeth, and flexible paws

•they are fast tree climbers

•squirrels are mostly vegetarian, eating nuts and seeds

•they hide nuts for later use, and find warm homes to burrow in during winter

•squirrels communicate with chirps

Some questions to expand on are:

•"How do squirrels open the nuts?"

•"Where do you think they store the nuts?"

•" Why do they store the nuts? "

Song and Poem for a Squirrel Theme

A fun action poem for the children to participate in begins with giving each child a nut. Collect a hazelnut, chestnut or even a store bought shelled peanut to give to each child at group circle. Start by acting like a squirrel and dig a hole in the "ground" to place the nut. Pretend to cover it up with dirt. Have the children act alongside your actions, then pop up and say:

I'm a busy little squirrel, searching all around

Searching for a nut that simply can't be found

Is it behind me? Is it in my backpack?

Is it in my pocket? Is it in the ground?

I'm a busy little squirrel, looking all around

Digging, digging, digging. Look what I found! (show the nut)

Another great song to sing is:

Grey Squirrel Grey Squirrel

Shake your bushy tail

Grey Squirrel Grey Squirrel

Shake your bushy tail

Wrinkle up your little nose

Put it down between your toes

Grey Squirrel Grey Squirrel

Shake your bushy tail

(each time gets faster and faster!)

Squirrel Arts and Crafts

Cut out a squirrel shape for each child. Older children could draw their own squirrel or cut out the image to practise fine motor skill development. Choose from the following list of material for children to glue onto the squirrel's big bushy tail and/or body:

•brown wool

•construction paper (have children tear into pieces)

•tissue paper

•shredded wheat (allow children to shred themselves)

•coffee grinds

•dryer lint

Online Early Childhood Workshops 

Preschool Songs for Autumn: Leaves, Pumpkins and Halloween

Song #1

To the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down

Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down
Autumn leaves are falling down, red, yellow, orange and brown

Song #2

To the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

I am a pumpkin, orange and round.
You will find me on the ground.
Sometimes big, and sometimes small,
You will find me when it's fall.
I am a pumpkin, orange and round.
You will find me on the ground.

Song #3
To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot

I'm a Jack-o-lantern, look at me
I'm as happy as I can be
Put a candle in, and light the light
Don't be frightened, it's Halloween night.



Song #4

To the tune of Sing a Song of Six Pence

First you take a pumpkin, big and round and fat
Then carve the top off, and that will make the hat
Then you carve the nose out, the mouth and the eyes
Show to the children for a Halloween surprise!


Song #5

To the tune of Frere Jacques


Trick or treat, trick or treat,
Halloween night, Halloween night
In our costumes playing,
You will hear us saying
Trick or treat, trick or treat