Toddler and Preschool Squirrels, Acorns, Leaves, and Thanksgiving Ideas

CLICK HERE to watch our children in action during this theme in 2022!

Sensory

Fall Sensory Bin (dyed rice, autumn twig grapevine balls, pine cones, fine motor tools, cups/bowls)

Playdough

Playdough with Leaf-Shaped Cookie Cutters

Science

• Leaf Sorting (Freebie)
• Squirrels and Acorns

Dramatic Play

Woodland Animals

Thanksgiving Dinner (Freebie)

Blocks

Woodland animals, tree blocks.

Circle Time

• Leaf 1-6 Matching (from our Fall Circle Time Props Packet)
• Squirrel, Squirrel, Shake Your Bushy Tail (props from our Fall Circle Time Props Packet)
• Numbered Squirrels and Acorns Matching Activity (from our Fall Circle Time Props Packet)
• What Color Are Your Leaves? (Freebie) – I made extra leaves and the children will place their leaf on top of the matching colored one.
• Give the Squirrels Some Acorns (Freebie from Pre-Kinders) – I bought small craft acorns because I wasn’t sure I could find enough real ones. This will be for our 3 and 4 year olds.
• Turkey Props (Freebie)

• 5 Little Squirrels Jumping on the Bed (from our Five Little Friends Jumping on the Bed Packet)
• 5 Little Turkeys Jumping on the Bed (from our Five Little Friends Jumping on the Bed Packet)
• What Color Are Your Leaves? (Freebie)
• Five Fat Turkeys Using Our Free Numbered Turkey Props
• Turkey Wore His Rainbow Feathers Using Our Free Turkey and Colored Feathers Printable

Books

• One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count with Me!
• We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt
• Touch and Feel Fall
• Autumn in the Forest
• The Busy Little Squirrel
• The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel
• The Busy Little Squirrel
• Because of an Acorn
• Nuts to You!
• I’m Feeling Thankful (Daniel Tiger)
• Peek-a-Who?
• 10 Fat Turkeys
• Little Owl’s 1-2-3
• Hoot – My Little World

Fine Motor

Give the Squirrels Some Acorns (Freebie from Pre-Kinders) – I bought small craft acorns because I wasn’t sure I could find enough real ones. This activity uses the unnumbered mat and tongs or tweezers will be provided to transfer the acorns to the mat.

Shape Tracing Tray (from the Preschool Fall Activity Plans Packet, page 16)

Table Activities

• Leaf Counting Cards 1-10 (Freebie)
• How Many Pom Poms Go On Each Leaf? (using the numbered colored leaves from our Fall Circle Time Packet) – I used pom poms that were the same colors as the leaves, so the children not only need to count the pom poms, they also match them by color.
• Leaf Pom Pom Color Matching (from our Fall Pom Pom Color Matching Packet)
• Leaf Symmetry Matching (Freebie)
• Leaf Count and Clip Activity (Freebie)
• What Color Is Your Leaf? (Freebie)
• Squirrel and Acorn Color Matching (Freebie)
• Pinecone Count and Clip Cards – You can also use small pinecones to place on each card. (Freebie)
• Color Recognition Turkey Activity (Freebie)

Light Table

The children will bring leaves from a nature walk to this table to explore. We will also have our printable color leaves (freebie).

Acrylic leaves sensory bag (acrylic leaves and clear dish soap in a one gallon storage bag that is then placed in a second bag for extra durability, and taped closed and to the light table.

Music

Printable Packets We Used