Collecting Leaves- Submitted by Julia

Give each child a small paper lunch bag. Take the children on a walk outside where there are lots of fallen leaves. Let the children collect leaves to put in their bags. Talk about the colors, shapes, sizes and smells of the leaves.

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Falling for Autumn Bulletin Board- Submitted by Nan

Centerpiece is a cutout of a large, bare branched tree. The leaves are formed from handprints (either painted or traced/cut) of the kids. Be sure to have some on the trees, floating in the air and on the ground.

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Pumpkin Patch Bulletin Boards- Submitted by Nan

Paint the kids palms only to make the pumpkin prints. Scroll a vine to connect the pumpkins.

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Bulletin Board Idea- Submitted by Barb

Place pumpkin cutouts on the bulletin board to represent each child and than add a photo of him/her on it. Above the pumpkins in bubble letters write out or cut out with contruction paper; "Our Pumpkin Patch".

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Leaf Fall- Submitted by Christi

Make a pile of leaves and let the children fall or jump into the pile of leaves.

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How to Preserve Fall Leaves- Submitted by Sherry

To preserve real leaves for leaf rubbing....Brush the leaves on each side with vegetable oil. Place the oiled leaves between layers of newspaper. Place a heavy object on the newspsper for about three days. You will have beautifully preserved leaves for leaf rubbing!

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Scarecrow Door- Submitted by Sherry

I make a large scarecrow and bale of hay from poster board. I cover the door with green paper and then post both the scarecrow and bale of hay on it. Then I write welcome on the bale of hay and add die cut pumpkins with the children's names written on them around the scarecrow.

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Fall Harvest Bulletin Board- Submitted by Cheryl

Cover the board with orange paper. Use yellow or brown strips of paper to weave what will look like a basket. Cut out letters to spell 'Fall Harvest'. Trace leaf and acorn patterns on assorted colors of construction paper. Cut out the patterns. Tape or staple the 'basket' to the board with the top part slightly open. Have children draw or paint pictures of fruits and vegetables. When done or dry, cut out the fruits and vegetables and arrange them in the basket. Use real leaves, acorns and pine cones as a border, and arrange letters as desired.

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Textured Baskets- Submitted by Cheryl

Draw basket shapes on 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheets of white paper. Let the children take turns placing their basket pictures on top of a piece of latch hook canvas and rubbing across them with a brown crayon. Have them cut out their textured baskets and glue them on large sheets of construction paper. Then let them tear or cut out magazine pictures of brown things to glue in their baskets.

Variation:
Let the children work together to color an extra- large sheet of paper brown. Then cut the paper into a basket shape and mount it on a wall or a bulletin board to hold works of art that the children create.

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Acorn Bulletin Board- Submitted by Cheryl

Construct an acorn for each child. Print the children's names on the acorns. Laminate and punch holes in the acorns. Children can hang their acorn on a hook (plastic with sticky back) when they arrive.

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Falling for Autumn- Submitted by Cheryl

Centerpiece is a cutout of a large, bare branched tree. The leaves are formed from handprints (either painted or traced/cut) of the kids. Be sure to have some on the trees, floating in the air and on the ground.

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Make a Scarecrow in the Play Yard- Submitted by Cheryl

We used a child size flannel shirt and coveralls. Slide the pants on to the bottom of a wood tee, pounded into the ground. The children crumble newspaper and stuff the pants. Fit the shirt onto the T, and stuff. Our head was made from two plastic garbage bags, inside each other for strength, stuffed with newspaper. Use a rubber band to hold it together. Draw on facial features. Push the rubber band over the top pole, and secure well with making tape. Add a neck banana and a straw hat.

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Apple Orchard Field Trip- Submitted by Cheryl

Visit an apple orchard. Observe the apples being picked and processed. If possible, let the children pick their own apples from a tree.

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Pumpkin Patch Field Trip- Submitted by Cheryl

Visit a pumpkin patch. Discuss and observe how pumpkins grow, their size, shape and color. Let the children pick a pumpkin to bring home.

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Leaf Bulletin Board- Submitted by Cheryl

Construct a bulletin board using bare branches to represent a tree. Cut out leaves from colored construction paper and pring one child's name on each. At the beginning of the day, children can hang their name on the tree when they arrive.

Fall Tree

Large tree cut out, Leaf cut outs approx. 7", Photo of each child

Decorate the tree with paper leaves and place a picture of each child on a leaf with their name printed on the leaf under their picture. The board helps the children associate the name with the picture of the child, thus learning names. It also helps them know that they are part of the class.

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Window Display- Submitted by Cheryl

Hang a clear shoe bag in the window - have the children find things to put in the pockets that are signs of spring such as leaves, acorns, seed pods, etc.

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Beautiful Fall Decor On A Shoestring Budget- Submitted by Sherry
by Kim Tilley

Ah, the glorious colors of Fall! Who doesn't love this season, with the beautiful leaves, colorful pumpkins and funny scarecrows. Fall is my favorite season. I love to decorate for this time of year because it's cheap and easy. With so many glorious, natural colors around you, you can't go wrong.

Here are some simple and frugal ideas to get into the swing of the season. I tend to enjoy craft and gardening projects that decorate my home, so many of these suggestions are a bit "crafty".

Salt Dough

Whip up a batch of salt dough (1 cup flour, 1 cup salt, 1/2 cup water, or enough to make a non-sticky dough) and cut into fall shapes or use a fall cookie cutter (leaves, pumpkins, etc). Bake at 200 degrees, 30 minutes per side, more if item is thick or large. Paint and hang in windows, on a stick "tree"anchored in more salt dough, the sky is the limit! Shape into fall figurines for knick knacks - such Indians, Pilgrims, animals, etc.

Paper Mache

Combine equal portions of flour and water, soak news paper strips in them. Drape over a form - a balloon, a bottle. Dry and add more layers, using a paste of flour and water as "glue" if necessary.

Twig Tree

Using a branch with several smaller branches on it, anchor in a flower pot or coffee can with plaster of paris, salt dough or cement.

Wreaths

Gather acorns, tree "helicopter" seed pods, and other interesting nuts and seeds. Hot glue onto a Styrofoam or straw wreath. Accent with a fabric bow of fall colors (or one or those fall-leaf print fabrics). Tear the fabric for the bow for a "primitive" country look.

Pressed Leaves

Press fall leaves under heavy books or in a flower press. Try to get lots of different colors and shapes. Hot glue to a Styrofoam wreath. Pressed leaves can also be framed, used to decorate a homemade card, or to decorate a table.

Table Decor

Why not make acorn napkin rings (hot glue the acorns to tied fabric strips) and stick in a few leaves with the napkin? Or why not put a beautiful centerpiece on a bed on freshly fallen leaves?

Gourds

Grow yourself some gourds! Or buy some! They are so much fun to paint, and come in so many sizes. One year I mistakenly planted gourds near our house instead of pumpkins. We had over 40! The vine was gorgeous during the summer, it climbed up our deck. When it came time to cut off the small gourds, we found that we had tall and short ones, smooth and bumpy.

Mums

Mums are so easy to grow. Buy some this year and enjoy them for years to come, both in the garden and in your house. I find them to be pretty long lived as a cut flower. Fresh flowers are the ultimate decoration! They are easy to propagate too - just split them into small plants, each with a little bit of root on them. Plant them and keep damp for a week or two. Next year, you will have more mums than you bargained for!

Dried Cornstalks

Dried cornstalks make neat door decorations outside, along with a homemade scarecrow or a pumpkin. Tie them together at the top and fan out teepee style in the front yard.

Indian Corn

Hang it this year, then save the corn kernels and plant them next year for free decorations! These also make wonderful centerpieces and wall hangings.

Vines

Honeysuckle and grape vines have to be pruned to keep the plants going. Don't throw the prunings away! Use them! You can make all the cool stuff you see in the stores! Just imitate the grapevine decorations you see at craft fairs and stores. Don't have any grapevines to clip? Ask your neighbors, trashpick them, most people will not mind giving them to you as long as you ask! If they are dried out when you get them, soak in some water before bending into shapes

Corn Husks

If you grow or buy corn, save the husks to make corn husk dolls and flowers. There are some really beautiful things you can do with cornhusks.

Dried Apples

These make a wonderful, homey touch. Dip them in lemon juice to reduce browning. You can dry them in rings, stringing them up to dry, or as slices. Use them to create wreaths, garlands, and as finishing touches for a country bow. Add cinnamon sticks for a nice touch.

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