Blog #16: Nature Connections October

Activity #1: Go on a Nature Quest (pg. 240).

Start each month by taking a good look around. Go for a walk and see what you can find (use all your senses!) that gives a clue to the season. Try it on several different days and see how your answers change. 

Activity #2: Picture of the Month (pg. 241)

Choose one or two (or more!) things from your list to draw or photograph. I did a pumpkin in this picture because in the month of October I saw lots of pumpkins in various patches. This is also what makes me think of the month of October the most.

Activity #3: Drawing Leaves (pg. 244-245)

Leaves are fun to draw because they come in so many different shapes and sizes. There are two basic types: simple and compound. Simple and compound. Simple leaves have one blade (leaf) to a stem, while compound leaves have several blades (sometimes called leaflets) on a single stem. Within those groups, leaves have an amazing variety of patterns - see how many you can find! 

Extension Activities: 

Extension Activity #1: Nature Scavenger Hunt for October 

This extension activity would allow children to brainstorm specific things they think they would find in October. The teacher can then document this and create a picture chart of those things that children can then seek out on a nature walk specific to that month. 

Extension Activity #2: Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

This extension activity would allow children to take a possible field trip to a pumpkin patch, or use pumpkins in the classroom, to then carve out and take the seeds out. This would be a great way for children to get a sensory experience with the pumpkins. Children could then put their pumpkin seeds on a tray that the teacher could then put into the oven to roast as a snack. (Check for allergies). 

Extension Activity #3: October Sensory Bin

This activity would allow children to get a sensory experience from the month of October, and it could even follow up from the scavenger hunt activity. Children can collect items from outside on their scavenger hunt that they can then collectively put into a sensory bin to play with. This sensory bin could have acorns in it, leaves with foliage on them, and various seeds. This would allow a piece of October to be in the room with the children. (Check for allergies). 

Children's Literature 

Relevant Photos and/or Video Links