Mailbox Activities for the fall

Help your young students learn how to compare with this fun fall activity:

Circle Time Activity: making comparisons

To prepare for this activity, make a Venn diagram and title the sections as shown. Also obtain an apple and a pumpkin. To begin, pass each item around the circle for students to examine. Encourage youngsters to describe each item's color, shape, size, weight, smell, and texture; then record student responses in the appropriate sections of the diagram. Next, cut each item in half and repeat the process. Finally, use the information written on the diagram to review with students the similarities and differences between apples and pumpkins.

Rhythm and movement in this fun activity:

Seasonal Rhyme: leaves

This counting rhyme is sure to be "tree-mendously" fun for your youngsters! Make five leaf cutouts; then give each leaf to a different child. Have the children stand in a row holding their leaves. Then lead students in reciting the chant, prompting the seated youngsters to move their arms back and forth to resemble the wind and encouraging one student to allow his leaf to fall to the floor. Repeat the process four more times, altering the numbers in the chant to reflect the remaining number of leaves.

[Five] little leaves, so happy and free,
Hung from a branch of a maple tree.
The wind came whistling all around,
And one little leaf came tumbling down.

This is a great way to keep the little ones busy when you are working with other students. 

Literacy Idea: letter-sound associations

Conceal a tagboard letter cutout between the halves of a folded sheet of white paper and tape the paper to a hard surface. To begin, say different words that begin with the hidden letter's sound. When a student correctly names the letter, invite him to do a crayon rubbing to reveal it. For an added challenge, name different words that end with the letter's sound.