Happy Halloween!

TODAY IS HALLOWEEN!

I hope everyone is have a great day. One of the things I love most about Halloween is seeing all the costumes. I hope your classrooms are filled with spooky decorations and fun activities. Along with this celebration today, it is important to remember that Halloween should be seen as a voluntary celebration in respect to each families' values and beliefs. It is not an opportunity for exclusion. Even if Halloween is being celebrated within the classroom, core values such as fun and inclusion are fostered throughout the learning experiences. These celebrations and holidays are a great way to raise awareness for diversity and cultural appreciation. Therefore, respect and understanding should be shown to those who do participate and those who chose not to.

Please be safe and have a great Halloween :)

Halloween Books (for Toddlers, Preschoolers and Kinders)

Just like many other holidays and celebrations, stories and books are great tools to use in order to incorporate them into the classroom. Below I have listed book titles that I feel that are fun to read to children. Since I can't paste each page of the books here, I found Youtube videos of these books being read. I think that is a great way to visually see and actually hear the book before going on a hunt to find them or purchasing them in time.

Books for Toddlers:

Youtube video on this book: Where is Baby's Pumpkin?

Youtube video on this book: Creepy Carrots

Youtube video on this book: Click Clack Boo!

Books for Preschoolers:

Youtube video on this book: Where's my Mummy?

Youtube video on this book: *Could not find a video on this book*

Youtube video on this book: *Could not find a video on this book*

Books for Kindergarten:

Youtube video on this book: My Monster Mama Loves Me So

Youtube video on this book: Splat the Cat, What was That?

Youtube video on this book: Room on the Broom

I hope these book titles and videos are helpful. There are times where I hear about great books and sometimes would like to read or see the book before trying to get it (saves time and energy!).

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go”

-Dr. Seuss

Halloween Classroom Decorations

Halloween is just a few days away..here are some "Halloween decorations" that you can put in the classroom to get into that festive mood! They are easy to make and easy on your wallet.

1) Jack o'latern Balloons

What you will need:
-orange balloons
-black marker

2) Tissue Paper Ghosts

What you will need:
-white tissue paper
-black marker
-string

3) Paper Cup Spiders

What you will need:
-paper cups
-paint
-pipe cleaners

4) Halloween Garlands

What you will need:
-cutouts of pumpkin, bats, ghosts, etc
-string

5) Door Decorations

-This is a very fun and creative process. There are no right or wrong ideas as you can decorate the classroom doors with whatever you have in mind...here are a few examples:

Hope everyone has an amazing and safe Halloween.

Feel free to share your ideas in the comments below :)

Fall Activities for Infants and Toddlers

Here are a few ideas for some fall activities:

1) Nature Walk

Point out different colours and items throughout the walk. Stop at various points so the children have an opportunity to look around and listen to what the educators are saying. Also, to engage children in the experience, they can collect/hold some items throughout the walk such as acorns or leaves.

2) Sensory Bins

Children love playing in sensory bins! Some items to put into a "fall" inspired sensory bin are:
-leaves (real or fake)
-acorns
-coloured pasta or rice
-fake apples, corn, squash or pumpkins
-Indian corn
-pieces of hay
-blocks, measuring cups or spoons, small bowls, cups
-materials that are associated with the theme of the week such as farm animals, trucks, cars, etc.

3) Painting with Pumpkins

This activity can be implemented using real pumpkins and paint or a outline of a pumpkin on paper along with red, orange, yellow or brown paint.

4) Stickers on Pumpkins

I have tried this experience and infants/toddlers LOVE it. Place pumpkins with several different stickers and have children decorate the pumpkin using the stickers (with assistance if needed).

5) Discovery Bottles and Shakers

This age group loves experiences that involves music and noise. The items outlined under the sensory bin can also be used for this experience. Here are a few more ideas:
-corn kernals
-beans
-pom poms
-pumpkin seeds
-water, gel, oil
-buttons
-glitter
-sticks

6) Painting with/on Leaves
This activity can be conducted either by having the children paint WITH different leaves like a paintbrush or actually painting ON the leaves.

7) Sensory Bags

These are my all time fav! Sensory bags are so versatile and is a great way to be creative and provide a great learning experience for children. Items mentioned earlier can all be used to create these bags. Just keep in mind to secure the bags so they do not leak. Heavy duty tape is always a great idea :)

Remember, these are just some ideas. You can change up, add or remove whatever you would like. Have fun and BE CREATIVE! :)

“Free the child’s potential, and you transform him into the world”

-Maria Montessori

Fall Books

Hope everyone is having a great week :). 

Below I have listed some awesome children's books about AUTUMN! Books are a great way to introduce topics such as seasons into the classroom. They can also be used as transitions from one experience to the next such as reading a book about leaves changing colours during circle time to an art experience revolving around the main components of the book.

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves by Lucille Colandro

Too Many Pumpkins by Megan Lloyd

Let It Fall by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

I Love Fall! by Alison Inches

We're Going On A Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger

Leaves by David Ezra Stein

Fall Leaves Fall! by Zoe Hall

Apples by Jacqueline Farmer

I Know It's Autumn by Eileen Spinelli

If you have any more suggestions for great books for autumn, comment below!

"A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination and instill a love of learning"

-Brad Henry

Fall Inspired Playdough

The weather is getting colder and summer has officially left us. What’s a better way to introduce fall to the classroom than a playdough activity?! Playdough is very versatile and the possibilities are endless. You can use the same playdough recipe that I have posted before...here is a little refresher:

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

1/4 cup "cream of tar tar"

2 cups water

Drops of any food colouring

Method:

Mix all the ingredients together and place them in a non-stick sauce pan on medium heat. Take it off the stove once a ball forms. Place the playdough on a counter and knead until it is smooth.

How can you add a "fall" twist? Here are a few ideas:

To incorporate fall into the playdough experience, try to colour your playdough with "fall" colours such as brown, yellow, deep red, orange or even olive green. Another way to add a “fall touch” to playdough is by adding spices such as cloves, ginger, cinnamon or nutmeg. Remember to add just a little at a time, about a teaspoon or so (depending on how strong you want the scent to be). And THAT’S IT!

I will be posting more about autumn activities and experiences as we get closer to Halloween. Keep an eye out :) 

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant”.