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fall crafts

Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

August 26, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have rounded up some easy apple crafts. Too, you’ll love this fun and easy apple sailboat to keep your little one having fun. Too, you’ll love the other ideas I have on my page Apple Lapbook and Apple Unit Study.

No glue and no glitter. And no paint-stained fingers. It’s a low-mess, low-stress activity that can be done in under 15 minutes, using things you probably already have at home.

In addition, while having fun, you can naturally introduce science terms such as buoyancy, and balance and symmetry.

Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

And your little ones are learning foundational STEM principles through play.

Too, kids are learning how to think, create, problem-solve, and play all through an easy apple craft.

In addition, not every sailboat floats perfectly on the first try so your kids learn patience.

BOOKS ABOUT APPLES FOR KIDS

Next, I’ve rounded up some fun books about apples to make this a full unit study.

8 Fun Learning About Apples Books and Resources

You will of course need a few great books that not only teach but that your kids will enjoy, a fun game or two, and maybe a few other items to make a fun apple unit.

Apples (New & Updated Edition)

Discover the well-loved tradition of growing and picking apples - a fruit that has been in existence for about two million years. Explore the history of the apple but also the way that families and farmers grow and care for apple trees today, from planting to selling, to turning them into delicious treats and using them for classic games like "bobbing for apples" .

How Do Apples Grow?

This is a clear and appealing environmental science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom.

Questions addressed in this book include:

  • Did you know that when you bite into an apple, you're eating part of a flower?
  • Why do apple trees need bees to make apples?
  • How does the tree feed the growing apples and make them ready to eat?

Read and find out in the proven winner How Do Apples Grow!

My Little Golden Book About Johnny Appleseed

In this simple yet lively book, preschoolers will be introduced to John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Lyrical text and bright, appealing artwork capture the essence of this important American and early conservationist who traveled the country planting apple trees. Little ones will enjoy engaging anecdotes about Johnny Appleseed, beginning with the young John, who liked to walk barefoot in the cool, quiet woods.

Ten Apples Up On Top!

Don't let the apples drop! Three animal friends practice balancing apples on their heads in this hilarious introduction to counting, illustrated by Roy Mckie. The sturdy board book teaches all about numbers, with a dose of signature Seuss charm. Kids will learn to count to ten--and want to start all over again!

SmartGames Apple Twist Travel Puzzle Game with 60 Challenges

  • An "apple" game board with five twisting levels to create different puzzles!
  • Includes 60 challenges and is great for on the go fun.
  • Helps develop Spatial Insight, Problem Solving, Planning and Logic Skills
  • All SmartGames are made with the highest quality materials to ensure long product life
  • Set Includes twisting apple game board, 3 caterpillar puzzle pieces and challenge booklet

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World (Dragonfly Books)

Bake a delicious apple pie--and take a trip with this culinary global adventure!An apple pie is easy to make...if the market is open. But if the market is closed, the world becomes your grocery store. This picture book takes readers around the globe to gather ingredients for a delicious apple pie. First hop a steamboat to Italy for the finest semolina wheat. Then hitch a ride to England and hijack a cow for the freshest possible milk. And, oh yes! Don't forget to go apple picking in Vermont! A simple recipe for apple pie is included.

LeapFrog Tad's Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set

Choose a level and push the letter tiles into the letter slot to reinforce letter names, phonics and word skills
Magnetic back makes it great for fridge play in the kitchen
26 magnetic letter tiles stick to the fridge and help kids learn the shape of each letter
Three photo tiles can be customized with your own photos for a unique, personalized play experience.

Food Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of Our Edible World

Get your recommended daily allowance of facts and fun with Food Anatomy, the third book in Julia Rothman’s best-selling Anatomy series. She starts with an illustrated history of food and ends with a global tour of street eats. Along the way, Rothman serves up a hilarious primer on short-order egg lingo and a mouthwatering menu of how people around the planet serve fried potatoes — and what we dip them in. Award-winning food journalist Rachel Wharton lends her expertise to this light-hearted exploration of everything food that bursts with little-known facts and delightful drawings. Everyday diners and seasoned foodies alike are sure to eat it up. 

Then, look at some easy apple crafts for all ages.

EASY APPLE CRAFTS

Next, look at these easy apple crafts for kids of all ages.

  • Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft
  • Alphabet Letter A is for Apple Craft for Preschool | Fun Apple Study
  • Apple Lapbook and Apple Unit Study.
  • Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices
  • 8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies
  • Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids
  • 10 Fall Apple Crafts and Make a Caramel Apple Craft on a Stick
  • Apple Themed Back to School Crafts & Fun Calming Apple Jar Craft
  • Fun Apple Crafts And How To Make Apple Butter & Pretzel Truffles
Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

Finally, look at how to make this fun apple sailboat.

HOW TO MAKE AN APPLE SAILBOAT

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

  • Large plastic bin
  • Water
  • Apples (cut in half)
  • Toothpicks
  • Small pieces of paper (for sails)
  • Child-safe scissors (to cut sails)
  • Straws (for blowing boats across the water)
Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

Prepare the bin – Fill a large bin with water. Make the sailboats – Cut apples in half.

Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

Cut small paper sails and poke them onto the toothpicks.

Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

Push a toothpick into each apple half.

Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

Launch the boats – Place the apple sailboats into the bin of water.

Race the boats – Give kids straws and let them gently blow air toward the sails to make their boats glide across the water.

Experiment & play – Try different sizes of sails, blow from different directions, or see how many boats can move at once.

Benefits for Kids:

  • Social Skills – Promotes cooperation and friendly competition when racing boats together.
  • STEM Exploration – Introduces concepts of buoyancy, wind power, and cause-and-effect.
  • Fine Motor Skills – Strengthens hand-eye coordination while building and sailing the boats.
  • Creativity & Imagination – Encourages playful storytelling as kids race or “sail” their apple boats.
  • Sensory Play – Water play is soothing, engaging multiple senses at once.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: apples, crafts, fall crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, science

10 Easy Acorn and Pinecone Crafts to Make This Autumn

August 9, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some fun easy acorn and pinecone crafts for your kids to make this autumn. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More} for more fun fall ideas.

Whether it’s fall, spring, or any time of year, pinecone and acorn crafts are a fantastic way to mix learning with creativity.

Also, you can collect acorns and pinecones throughout the year and then turn them into treasures.

Too, you can just purchase the supplies if you’re looking to turn imagination into fun ideas with your kids.

Plus crafts turn hands-on ideas to a bit of learning. For example, your younger kids have fun while gluing, cutting and painting while working on fine motor skills.

Too, include science when you talk about trees, seasons and seeds.

BOOKS ABOUT FALL FOR KIDS

Also, here is a list of books when learning about autumn to include in your unit studies.

  • Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic
  • Autumn Leaves
  • Sophie’s Squash
  • Autumn Story: Introduce children to the seasons in the gorgeously illustrated classics of Brambly Hedge!
  • Dance Like a Leaf
  • Down Buttermilk Lane
  • Hooray for Fall!
  • Hopefully the Scarecrow

10 Easy Acorn and Pinecone Crafts to Make This Autumn

Also, look at these fun crafts to do in the fall weather whatever topic you’re learning about.

MORE AUTUMN THEMED ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • Fall Y’all:Pumpkin Pie in a Bag (Easy Homeschool Co-op Idea)
  • Kids Fun Pumpkin Catapult Stem Challenge for Medieval Unit Study
  • Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout
  • Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art
  • Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study
  • Fun Candy Corn Stem Activity Which Liquid Dissolves Candy Corn Faster
  • How To Do An Easy Science Pumpkin Study By A Rotting Pumpkin Experiment
  • 10 Pumpkin Fall Crafts and Two Yummy Pumpkin Seed Recipes
  • Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar
  • Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables
  • Make Cute Felt Leaf Sachets For Fall Leaf Crafts for Preschoolers
  • 10 Dollar Tree Crafts for Teens & Craft a Cute Fall Fairy Garden Wreath
  • 8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch
  • 10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

Next, look at how to make this fun pinecone acorn.

HOW TO MAKE AN ACORN AND PINECONE CRAFT

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

  • Pinecone
  • Tan or brown felt
  • Scissors
  • Craft glue or hot glue (adult supervision recommended)
  • Small twig or stick (for the acorn stem)
10 Easy Acorn and Pinecone Crafts to Make This Autumn

Choose your pinecone.  Find a pinecone with an acorn-like shape, rounded at one end and narrow at the other.

The base of the pinecone will become the top of your acorn.

Cut the felt cap.  Cut a circle out of tan or brown felt.

10 Easy Acorn and Pinecone Crafts to Make This Autumn

Make sure the circle is slightly larger than the flat, wide end of your pinecone. This will be your acorn “cap.”

Glue the cap on top. Apply a generous amount of glue to the flat end of the pinecone.

10 Easy Acorn and Pinecone Crafts to Make This Autumn

Press the felt circle onto the glue, centering it over the top.

Shape the cap around the sides.  Add glue around the sides of the pinecone, just below the top.

10 Easy Acorn and Pinecone Crafts to Make This Autumn

Gently press the edges of the felt down so it curves and clings to the pinecone.

Don’t press it completely flat. Create little folds or creases to mimic the texture of a real acorn cap.

Hold the felt in place for a few seconds while the glue sets.

Add a stem.  Break or cut a small stick to about 1 inch long.

10 Easy Acorn and Pinecone Crafts to Make This Autumn

Add a dab of glue to the center top of the felt cap and press the stick in place to act as the acorn’s stem.

Now look at more ideas to do with acorns and pinecones.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: acorns, fall, fall crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, pinecones

How To Craft An Adorable Leaf Paper Plate Mask

August 7, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, we’re making an adorable leaf paper plate mask. Also, look at my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More} for more fun ideas.

And this is a fun craft whether you’re learning about plants, seasons, or ecosystems.

Too, while collecting leaves, children can identify different tree species, observe textures, and note how leaves change with the seasons.

How To Craft An Adorable Leaf Paper Plate Mask

Cutting, gluing, and arranging are all essential fine motor skills.

Start with a walk to gather natural materials. It’s a great opportunity for some fresh air, movement, and sensory exploration.

Also, it’s a chance to introduce basic art concepts like symmetry, balance, and color theory.

FALL BOOKS FOR KIDS

First, look at these books about fall for kids.

15 Fall Books For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

With a chill in the air and leaves falling, grab one or two of these fun books for your home library.

Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic

A compilation of Native American speeches affirming the desire to live in spiritual and ecological harmony includes the words of Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Cochise, covering such topics as fishing rights, peace treaties, and the devastation of their land.

Autumn Harvest

"Mr. Tresselt writes quiet, factual prose about katydids, reapers and threshing, falling leaves, apple-gathering, and the first frost."--New York Herald Tribune.

Autumn Leaves

A concise text and crisp, close-up, color photographs of thirteen different leaves from North American trees teach very young children how to look at and compare the leaves of autumn, and are accompanied by an explanation of why they turn color.

The Apple Pie That Papa Baked

These are the apples, juicy and red,that went in the pie,warm and sweet,that Papa baked...for guess who!

Sophie's Squash

Kids will love this playful story of of a unique fall friendship between a girl . . . and her squash!On a trip to the farmers' market with her parents, Sophie chooses a squash, but instead of letting her mom cook it, she names it Bernice. From then on, Sophie brings Bernice everywhere, despite her parents' gentle warnings that Bernice will begin to rot. As winter nears, Sophie does start to notice changes.... What's a girl to do when the squash she loves is in trouble?

Autumn Story: Introduce children to the seasons in the gorgeously illustrated classics of Brambly Hedge!

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the miniature world of the mice of Brambly Hedge!

Bad weather is on the way and the autumn stores are still not gathered in!

Quickly, all the mice of Brambly Hedge set to work to finish the harvesting before the rain begins. Primrose, Lord Woodmouse's daughter, meant to help, but somehow she daydreamed her way over the cornfield and into the Chestnut Woods, and before she knew it, she was lost. The sun went down, the wind rose and it began to rain. Primrose was all alone in the dark and she was frightened.

Poor Primrose, would she find her way home again?

Mr. Hermit Miser and the Neighborly Pumpkin: the green edition |

Mr. Hermit Miser doesn’t like his neighbors, and they don’t like him. But when a pumpkin vine sprouts in Mr. Hermit Miser’s yard and makes its way into the neighbors’ yards, but he wants all those pumpkins for pies … well, what is he to do?

With adventures in pumpkin-snatching, failed attempts at baking pies, and pumpkin goo everywhere, this tale about being neighborly in a not-so-perfect way will be an endearing autumn story for all the readers in your circle.

This reprint of a 1949 classic adds some recipes, a poem, and a bit of pie-history as well.

Dance Like a Leaf

As her grandmother's health declines, a young girl begins to lovingly take the lead in their cozy shared autumn traditions. Poetic prose paired with evocative illustrations by Mexican illustrator Claudia Navarro make for a beautiful celebration of life and a gentle introduction to the death of a loved one.

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

"[Spier's] finely detailed, action-packed New England autumn vistas are almost startlingly beautiful."—The New York Times  Over fifty years after he won a Caldecott Honor for The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, legendary illustrator Peter Spier went back to this time-honored favorite in 2014 to paint the half of the book that was originally printed in black and white. In this glowing, restored vision of Spier’s beloved classic, follow the wily fox as he roams a sleepy New England town in search of a meal, with tones and textures so vivid you can almost hear the crackle of crisp fall leaves and the ripples of the river in the moonlight.

Down Buttermilk Lane

An Amish family, traveling by buggy, spends a day doing errands in the village, visiting, and returning home in time for supper

Fall Leaves

Autumn is in the air: days grow shorter and nights are long. Birds leave, flowers, too. Apples and temperatures fall—then snow!Part poem, part silent stage, this luminous picture book puts autumn on display and captures the spirit of change that stays with us long after fall leaves. Unlock the secrets of this busy and beautiful time of year as the natural world makes way for winter.

Hooray for Fall!

Mama has a surprise for her three little squirrels: three bright red sweaters to keep them warm throughout the fall. Imagine the siblings’ surprise when they find that everything in the autumn woods—the leaves, the berries, even the setting sun—is red too, just like their sweaters.This celebration of a perfect fall day will have young and old alike looking for signs of autumn in their own neighborhoods. Kazuo Iwamura’s books celebrating the seasons (Hooray for Spring!, Hooray for Summer!, Hooray for Fall!, and Hooray for Snow!) are perennial favorites—introducing children to the beauty and joy of each season. Iwamura masterfully captures the small wonders of nature in his illustrations and his stories with their gentle humor warm the heart.

Hopefully the Scarecrow

The perfect Fall book for kids! A poignant picture book about a scarecrow who befriends the young girl who reads to him day after day until one day he's left wondering where she is.A scarecrow stood in the garden. Tall, proud, and smiling. Every day a girl brought her favorite books to the garden and she read to him. He heard tales of courage and of hope. And when she said, "The End," the scarecrow always felt a little bit taller and braver. Year after year, she came and she read to him.Until one spring, two different hands picked him up from the garden shed and placed him in the garden. He waited, but she didn't come to read to him.With poignant words from award-winning author Michelle Houts and lush illustrations by Pura Belpré Honor winner Sara Palacios, Hopefully the Scarecrow is a tender distillation of the enduring power of friendship and a heartwarming look at the ways stories connect us.

Maple & Willow Apart

Funny, relatable sibling dynamics make this story a wonderful way to address navigating big changes. Lori Nichols’s expressive artwork beautifully portrays Maple and Willow’s strong bond, and children will love the creative, kid-powered solution. Maple and Willow have always been inseparable. So what happens when Maple starts big-girl school and Willow stays behind? Well, of course, both girls have marvelous adventures of their own, but the truth is, they miss each other. And when they see that the missing is mutual, they find a unique way to feel connected even when they have to be apart.

Now It's Fall (Lois Lenski Books)

School bells and apples and big ripe pumpkins-all the pleasures of fall come alive in this newly reissued classic by award winner Lois Lenski. First published in 1948, Now It's Fall is a timeless celebration of autumn that will enchant a whole new generation of young readers with its gently recolored illustrations.

Next, look at more fall activities.

MORE FALL ACTIVITIES

  • Fall Y’all:Pumpkin Pie in a Bag (Easy Homeschool Co-op Idea)
  • Kids Fun Pumpkin Catapult Stem Challenge for Medieval Unit Study
  • Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout
  • Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art
  • Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study
  • Fun Candy Corn Stem Activity Which Liquid Dissolves Candy Corn Faster
  • 20 Fun Fall Arts And Crafts For Kids and 8 Facts About Acorns
  • Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar
  • How To Make Confetti Fall Leaves Crafts For Preschoolers
  • 10 Fall Felt Crafts & How to Make a Kids Felt Pie Garland
  • Easy Pumpkin Salt Painting: A Creative Fall Activity For All Ages

And look at more paper plate craft.

How To Craft An Adorable Leaf Paper Plate Mask

PAPER PLATE CRAFTS

  • How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates
  • Crafty Ocean Adventures: How to Make a Paper Plate Stingray
  • Tick-Tock! How to Make a Hands-on Time Cool Paper Plate Clock
  • How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish | F is for Fish
  • Fascinating Life of Red Squirrels | Paper Plate Squirrel Craft
  • Alphabet Letter G is for Gorilla Fun Paper Plate Preschool Mask
  • 8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft
  • Carnivorous Plants For Kids and Make a Fun Paper Plate Venus Flytrap Craft
  • 8 Facts about African Elephants and a Cute Paper Plate Elephant

HOW TO CRAFT AN ADORABLE LEAF PAPER PLATE MASK

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

  • Paper plate
  • Scissors
  • Real or fake leaves
  • Glue or glue stick
  • Wooden dowel or craft stick
  • Tape or hot glue (for attaching dowel)
How To Craft An Adorable Leaf Paper Plate Mask

Cut the plate. Cut a paper plate in half. You’ll only need one half for a mask.

Create the face openings. At the bottom center of the cut edge, cut a small U-shape to make room for the nose.

Use a pencil to lightly mark where the eyes should go. Carefully cut out two eye holes.

How To Craft An Adorable Leaf Paper Plate Mask

Decorate with leaves. Glue leaves all over the front of the paper plate half, covering it completely.

How To Craft An Adorable Leaf Paper Plate Mask

Overlap the leaves for a layered, natural look. Let the glue dry.

How To Craft An Adorable Leaf Paper Plate Mask

Attach the handle. Flip the mask over.

How To Craft An Adorable Leaf Paper Plate Mask

On one side, glue or tape a wooden dowel or craft stick to the back so kids can hold the mask up to their face like a masquerade mask.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: fall, fall crafts, fall leaves, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschool preschool, preschool, science

How To Create An Engaging Cranberry Sensory Bin

November 8, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Fall and winter are the best times of the year to make a cranberry sensory bin that is fun and engaging.

We aren’t stopping there.

Also, I will load you down with facts, more hands-on activities, and resources to highlight the cranberry.

How To Create An Engaging Cranberry Sensory Bin

Cranberries are small, tart berries that are native to North America.

They are a popular ingredient in many dishes, including cranberry sauce, juice, and muffins.

Cranberries are also a good source of vitamins and minerals, making them a healthy snack for kids.

Grab a bag of fresh berries the next time you are shopping and create this cranberry sensory bin for your preschooler.

AUTUMN BOOKS FOR KIDS

15 Fall Books For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

With a chill in the air and leaves falling, grab one or two of these fun books for your home library.

Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic

A compilation of Native American speeches affirming the desire to live in spiritual and ecological harmony includes the words of Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Cochise, covering such topics as fishing rights, peace treaties, and the devastation of their land.

Autumn Harvest

"Mr. Tresselt writes quiet, factual prose about katydids, reapers and threshing, falling leaves, apple-gathering, and the first frost."--New York Herald Tribune.

Autumn Leaves

A concise text and crisp, close-up, color photographs of thirteen different leaves from North American trees teach very young children how to look at and compare the leaves of autumn, and are accompanied by an explanation of why they turn color.

The Apple Pie That Papa Baked

These are the apples, juicy and red,that went in the pie,warm and sweet,that Papa baked...for guess who!

Sophie's Squash

Kids will love this playful story of of a unique fall friendship between a girl . . . and her squash!On a trip to the farmers' market with her parents, Sophie chooses a squash, but instead of letting her mom cook it, she names it Bernice. From then on, Sophie brings Bernice everywhere, despite her parents' gentle warnings that Bernice will begin to rot. As winter nears, Sophie does start to notice changes.... What's a girl to do when the squash she loves is in trouble?

Autumn Story: Introduce children to the seasons in the gorgeously illustrated classics of Brambly Hedge!

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the miniature world of the mice of Brambly Hedge!

Bad weather is on the way and the autumn stores are still not gathered in!

Quickly, all the mice of Brambly Hedge set to work to finish the harvesting before the rain begins. Primrose, Lord Woodmouse's daughter, meant to help, but somehow she daydreamed her way over the cornfield and into the Chestnut Woods, and before she knew it, she was lost. The sun went down, the wind rose and it began to rain. Primrose was all alone in the dark and she was frightened.

Poor Primrose, would she find her way home again?

Mr. Hermit Miser and the Neighborly Pumpkin: the green edition |

Mr. Hermit Miser doesn’t like his neighbors, and they don’t like him. But when a pumpkin vine sprouts in Mr. Hermit Miser’s yard and makes its way into the neighbors’ yards, but he wants all those pumpkins for pies … well, what is he to do?

With adventures in pumpkin-snatching, failed attempts at baking pies, and pumpkin goo everywhere, this tale about being neighborly in a not-so-perfect way will be an endearing autumn story for all the readers in your circle.

This reprint of a 1949 classic adds some recipes, a poem, and a bit of pie-history as well.

Dance Like a Leaf

As her grandmother's health declines, a young girl begins to lovingly take the lead in their cozy shared autumn traditions. Poetic prose paired with evocative illustrations by Mexican illustrator Claudia Navarro make for a beautiful celebration of life and a gentle introduction to the death of a loved one.

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

"[Spier's] finely detailed, action-packed New England autumn vistas are almost startlingly beautiful."—The New York Times  Over fifty years after he won a Caldecott Honor for The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, legendary illustrator Peter Spier went back to this time-honored favorite in 2014 to paint the half of the book that was originally printed in black and white. In this glowing, restored vision of Spier’s beloved classic, follow the wily fox as he roams a sleepy New England town in search of a meal, with tones and textures so vivid you can almost hear the crackle of crisp fall leaves and the ripples of the river in the moonlight.

Down Buttermilk Lane

An Amish family, traveling by buggy, spends a day doing errands in the village, visiting, and returning home in time for supper

Fall Leaves

Autumn is in the air: days grow shorter and nights are long. Birds leave, flowers, too. Apples and temperatures fall—then snow!Part poem, part silent stage, this luminous picture book puts autumn on display and captures the spirit of change that stays with us long after fall leaves. Unlock the secrets of this busy and beautiful time of year as the natural world makes way for winter.

Hooray for Fall!

Mama has a surprise for her three little squirrels: three bright red sweaters to keep them warm throughout the fall. Imagine the siblings’ surprise when they find that everything in the autumn woods—the leaves, the berries, even the setting sun—is red too, just like their sweaters.This celebration of a perfect fall day will have young and old alike looking for signs of autumn in their own neighborhoods. Kazuo Iwamura’s books celebrating the seasons (Hooray for Spring!, Hooray for Summer!, Hooray for Fall!, and Hooray for Snow!) are perennial favorites—introducing children to the beauty and joy of each season. Iwamura masterfully captures the small wonders of nature in his illustrations and his stories with their gentle humor warm the heart.

Hopefully the Scarecrow

The perfect Fall book for kids! A poignant picture book about a scarecrow who befriends the young girl who reads to him day after day until one day he's left wondering where she is.A scarecrow stood in the garden. Tall, proud, and smiling. Every day a girl brought her favorite books to the garden and she read to him. He heard tales of courage and of hope. And when she said, "The End," the scarecrow always felt a little bit taller and braver. Year after year, she came and she read to him.Until one spring, two different hands picked him up from the garden shed and placed him in the garden. He waited, but she didn't come to read to him.With poignant words from award-winning author Michelle Houts and lush illustrations by Pura Belpré Honor winner Sara Palacios, Hopefully the Scarecrow is a tender distillation of the enduring power of friendship and a heartwarming look at the ways stories connect us.

Maple & Willow Apart

Funny, relatable sibling dynamics make this story a wonderful way to address navigating big changes. Lori Nichols’s expressive artwork beautifully portrays Maple and Willow’s strong bond, and children will love the creative, kid-powered solution. Maple and Willow have always been inseparable. So what happens when Maple starts big-girl school and Willow stays behind? Well, of course, both girls have marvelous adventures of their own, but the truth is, they miss each other. And when they see that the missing is mutual, they find a unique way to feel connected even when they have to be apart.

Now It's Fall (Lois Lenski Books)

School bells and apples and big ripe pumpkins-all the pleasures of fall come alive in this newly reissued classic by award winner Lois Lenski. First published in 1948, Now It's Fall is a timeless celebration of autumn that will enchant a whole new generation of young readers with its gently recolored illustrations.

But, what else can you do with a bag of fresh cranberries from the grocery store?

CRANBERRY FUN RECIPE IDEAS

Make cranberry sauce. Cranberry sauce can be enjoyed all year long.

Kids can help to make cranberry sauce by washing the cranberries, chopping them up, and adding sugar and water.

  • Make cranberry juice. Cranberry juice is a refreshing and healthy drink that is perfect for kids. Kids can help to make cranberry juice by squeezing the cranberries and straining the juice.
  • Make cranberry muffins. Cranberry muffins are a delicious and nutritious snack that is perfect for kids. Kids can help to make cranberry muffins by mixing the ingredients and baking them in the oven.
  • Make cranberry soap. Cranberry soap is a gentle and moisturizing soap that is perfect for kids. Kids can help to make cranberry soap by melting the soap base, adding the cranberries, and pouring the soap into molds.

Today’s activity is going to incorporate all your child’s senses.

First encourage your child to give the fresh cranberries a taste straight from the bag and describe the look, taste, and smell.

Then you are going to put together a simple sensory bin that will keep them engaged for hours as they “cook” and sort and explore the items.

5 CRANBERRY FACTS FOR KIDS

  1. Cranberries are not true berries but are instead considered “false” berries or epigynous fruit.
  2. They are one of only a few fruits that are native to North American, concord grapes and blueberries are the others.
  3. Cranberries are often harvested in the most unique way. They are grown on sandy bogs or marshes, but because cranberries float, some bogs are flooded when the fruit is ready for harvesting and they are scooped off the top of the water.
  4. They are made up of approximately 90% water and still pack a nutritional punch with a healthy dose of vitamin c and other important vitamins and minerals.
  5. Native Americans used cranberries to make their survival cakes known as pemmican. They also used this fruit in poultices and dyes.
How To Create An Engaging Cranberry Sensory Bin

Next, look at hands-on cranberry ideas.

HANDS ON CRANBERRY FUN

Make this Easy Crockpot Cranberry Sauce Recipe with just 5 ingredients and let your child dump each of the ingredients in the crockpot and occasionally stir.

Learn How to Make the Best No-Cook Cranberry Playdough and then use it to practice forming letters, create unique shapes, and build fine motor skills.

Here you will find 11 Fun Handwriting Activities For Preschoolers | Easy Cranberry Sauce Writing Tray, another sensory activity that will get your child really involved in their learning.

You have to Make Cranberry Oobleck Recipe for yet another sensory play idea that they will love, what is it about this Newtonian fluid kids just love? (I mean, me too)

Find out what cranberries and Ivory soap have in common in The Science Behind Cranberries, I love a good stem activity.

How To Create An Engaging Cranberry Sensory Bin

Finally, look at how to create a cranberry sensory bin.

HOW TO CREATE AN ENGAGING CRANBERRY SENSORY BIN

Now, anything on this list of supplies is optional (except cranberries of course).

Use what you have on hand to add scent, texture, and color to your sensory bin. It is fun to change it up a bit for fall and winter themes.

You will need:

  • A large shallow bin, tray, bucket, etc.
  • water
  • Fresh cranberries
  • Cinnamon sticks
  • pinecones
  • An orange
  • An apple
  • Whole cloves, star anise, allspice
  • Essential oil-optional
How To Create An Engaging Cranberry Sensory Bin

You will also want to grab some fun kitchen implements like a wooden spoon, bowls, spatulas, strainer, etc…

First, fill a shallow bin with several inches of water, you can use whatever you have on hand but I thought this metal tub was fun and it gave plenty of room for exploring.

How To Create An Engaging Cranberry Sensory Bin

Add a bag of fresh cranberries.

How To Create An Engaging Cranberry Sensory Bin

Slice fresh apples and oranges to add to the mix.

How To Create An Engaging Cranberry Sensory Bin

Then, include your other elements like pinecones, whole spices, and cinnamon sticks.

How To Create An Engaging Cranberry Sensory Bin

If you like you can add a drop or two of your favorite seasonal essential oil to ramp up the scent.

How To Create An Engaging Cranberry Sensory Bin

Extend the play by adding spoons, bowls, strainers, measuring cups, and other kitchen items so that your child can fill, dump, measure, mix, sort, and explore the bin.

How To Create An Engaging Cranberry Sensory Bin

You may want to move this one outdoors or place a plastic disposable tablecloth underneath to contain the mess.

You can also add alphabet tiles to spell out’ cranberry’ or ‘cranberries’ and practice letter identification with your child.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: cranberries, fall, fall crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, science

Fun and Easy Leaf Hedgehog Craft for Autumn Days

November 7, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making an adorable leaf hedgehog craft that is worthy of display on any wall, amid family pictures and other decor. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

Of course, while we do that, we can learn about them through facts, videos, books, and other hands-on activities.

Hedgehogs are small, spiky mammals that are found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Fun and Easy Leaf Hedgehog Craft for Autumn Days

They are nocturnal animals, meaning they are active at night.

Hedgehogs have long snouts, short legs, and round bodies.

Their backs are covered in sharp spines that they use to protect themselves from predators.

Hedgehogs are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals.

Their diet includes insects, worms, snails, fruits, and vegetables. Hedgehogs are also known to eat beetles, caterpillars, snakes and even mice.

Hedgehogs are solitary animals, meaning they live alone.

They only come together to mate.

Female hedgehogs give birth to a litter of 4-8 babies, called hoglets.

Hoglets are born blind and deaf, but they quickly grow up and become independent.

Hedgehogs are important members of the ecosystem.

They help to control the population of insects and rodents. Hedgehogs are also a source of food for other animals, such as owls and foxes.

Hedgehogs are popular pets.

They are known for being friendly and gentle animals.

And hedgehogs are relatively easy to care for, but they do require some special attention.

Hedgehogs need a diet that is high in protein and low in fat.

They also need a cage that is large enough for them to move around and exercise.

HEDGEHOG BOOKS AND RESOURCES FOR KIDS

Next, look at some of these fun books and resources.

5 HEDGEHOG BOOKS AND RESOURCES FOR KIDS

Add these fun resources and books to your learning day.

Miss Jaster's Garden

After getting caught in Miss Jaster's spring planting, Hedgie the hedgehog discovers he has become a four-legged, walking flower garden.

The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems

Be they practical (how to mix a pancake or how to bird-watch) or fanciful (how to scare monsters or how to be a snowflake), the poems in this book boast a flair and joy that you won’t find in any instruction manual. Poets from Kwame Alexander to Pat Mora to Allan Wolf share the way to play hard, to love nature, and to be grateful. Soft, evocative illustrations will encourage readers to look at the world with an eye to its countless possibilities.

Hedgehog Plush

Little ones love to hibernate with this realistic stuffed animal hedgehog with a multicolored overcoat in their arms.

Hedgehogs (National Geographic Kids Readers)

Packed with beautiful and engaging photos, kids will learn all about these adorable animals--their fascinating features, behavior, and habitat. This reader is carefully leveled for an early independent reading or read aloud experience, perfect to encourage the scientists and explorers of tomorrow!

Hedgehog Hustle

  • The Owl is on the Prowl in the Hedgehog hustle ping pong ball Game . Draw a card and take the given number of shots to bounce your Hedgehog ball into the food targets. Don't miss!
  • Additionally, look at facts about hedgehogs.

    HEDGEHOG FACTS

    If you are thinking about getting a hedgehog as a pet, be sure to do your research and find a reputable breeder.

    1. There are 19 species in five genera of hedgehogs worldwide:  Erinaceus, Paraechinus, Mesechinus, Atelerix and Hemiechinus.
    2. Hedgehogs can roll into a ball when they are threatened- this is called “hogging.”
    3. Hedgehogs have very poor eyesight, but they have a keen sense of smell and hearing.
    4. Hedgehogs are very good swimmers and can swim for over half a mile, pretty good for such a little swimmer.
    5. When they are born their spines are soft and short. But soon after birth, about 3 weeks later, their spines harden, becoming stiffer, sharper and longer.
    6. Hedgehogs can live for up to 8 years in captivity, so it is important to be prepared for a long-term commitment.

    We found a hedgehog card in our Professor Noggin Pet’s Game; you can learn more about them and other unique pets by playing.

    Fun and Easy Leaf Hedgehog Craft for Autumn Days

    In addition, look at some fun hands-on hedgehog activities.

    HANDS-ON HEDGEHOG FUN

    • Grab a plastic disposable fork and create this Fork Painted Hedgehog Craft, an excellent project for the youngest of learners.
    • Autumn Spiky Paper Hedgehogs
    • I just love a good tp roll craft for its frugalness but they usually just come out adorable like this Hedgehog Toilet Paper Roll.
    • Where do they live? What do they eat? Watch 15 facts about Hedgehogs to find out the answers to these questions and more.
    • Build number recognition skills at the same time that they build fine motor skills by creating and playing with this clever Hedgehog Counting Craft.
    Fun and Easy Leaf Hedgehog Craft for Autumn Days

    Finally, look at how to make this adorable leaf hedgehog craft.

    LEAF HEDGEHOG CRAFT

    The next time you are on a nature walk or wandering in the backyard, gather a basket of dried fall leaves and a few small sticks for this autumn leaf hedgehog craft.

    Fun and Easy Leaf Hedgehog Craft for Autumn Days

    You will need:

    • A canvas
    • Dried fall leaves
    • Sticks
    • Glue stick
    • Hot glue gun/sticks
    • Dried berries, buttons, or beads
    • A pencil
    Fun and Easy Leaf Hedgehog Craft for Autumn Days

    First, decide if you would like your hedgehog walking along the ground or a little more whimsical and upright like we did ours here.

    Sketch the outline of a rounded body and a tipped-up nose with a pencil.

    Fun and Easy Leaf Hedgehog Craft for Autumn Days

    Once you are happy with your design, retrace the pencil with a fine line marker.

    To help children develop fine motor skills you can let them trace the pencil outline with a pen or permanent marker.

    You may want to mark with a pencil where to stop the leaves for younger children.

    Demonstrate for your child how to add a generous amount of glue to the line along the back and press leaves into the glue down to the base.

    Fun and Easy Leaf Hedgehog Craft for Autumn Days

    Repeat until he has a full back of leafy spines 2-3 layers thick.

    Use a google eye, small button, or something like these little dried berries we found outside to make his eye and little upturned nose and glue in place.

    Fun and Easy Leaf Hedgehog Craft for Autumn Days

    Erase the pencil lines if there are any showing to clean up the work a bit.

    For the framing part of this craft, you will want to use hot glue to be sure that it holds in place well.

    Break your sticks to the approximate length of the four sides of the canvas and glue into place.

    Fun and Easy Leaf Hedgehog Craft for Autumn Days

    Allow it to harden and it’s ready to hang and bring some autumn memories to your wall.

    Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: fall, fall crafts, fall leaves, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, science

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