2.Using the same shapes and paint dip a long piece of string into paint allow it to fall onto paper and lift. 

3.Mix the scents into the play dough and use leaf shaped cookie cutters make scent filled leaves.

4.Cut squash and pumpkins in half and dip in paint. Use as a stamp on colored paper

Pipe Cleaner Spiders
Provide the children with pipe cleaners to make spiders. Have the children twist the pipe cleaners together to form a body and legs. Discuss how many legs a spider has.

Paper Plate Jack o Lanterns
Have your child paint a paper plate orange. When dry, have the child glue on pieces of black construction paper for the facial features. These pieces may be cut with scissors or torn, depending on your child's ability level. For older children, try using glue to form the facial features and sprinkle glitter, or various items (i.e. buttons, beans, noodles, pebbles) on the glue.

Pumpkin Puppets
Each child should cut out a pumpkin shape from orange construction paper. Then either cut out facial features, or color them on with a black crayon. Paste to the bottom of a paper lunch bag. Then add a green construction paper stem.

Sponge Painted Ghosts
Cut out or buy ghost shaped sponges. You will need black construction paper and white tempera paint when showing the child how to dip the sponges in the paint and press on the paper to make ghost prints.

Spider Paper Plates
Use a smaller and larger paper plate to make these spiders. Staple the smaller plate onto the larger plate, as if the smaller plate will be the spider's head. Have the child paint both sides black. Then add black streamers for legs and white construction paper for eyes. Hang them from the ceiling.

Tissue Ghosts
Supply each child with two pieces of tissue paper and a piece of string or yarn.  Have each child ball up one of the tissues, then place it in the center of the second tissue. Next, have the child, or assist the child, in tying the yarn around the second tissue to hold the balled tissue within the second tissue.  The child may use a marker to make eyes.

Pumpkin Seed Art
Collect pumpkin seeds from inside a pumpkin.  Let them air dry and have the children use the pumpkin seeds to make a collage.

Pumpkin Seed Shakers
You need: dried pumpkin seeds from inside your pumpkin, two paper plates (for each child) and a stapler. Have the children put some seeds on one of the paper plates (bottom side down). Next, have them place the other plate on top of the first plate (bottom side up). Help the children staple their plates together with the seeds inside. Let the children paint, use markers or crayons to decorate their shakers.

Fingerprint Pumpkins
Have the children make orange fingerprints on a piece of paper. Use a non-toxic orange ink pad. Show the children how to use one finger at a time. Use a green pen to draw stems on the paper and draw vines to connect some of the pumpkins.

Fingerprint Spiders
Have the children use a black non-toxic ink pad to make fingerprints on a piece of paper. Have the children draw on eight legs on their fingerprints to represent spiders.

Spider Gum drops
Supply the children with large black gum drops and eight toothpicks per child. Have the children push the toothpicks in the gum drops to represent the spiders legs.

Witch Hat
Cut out triangular shapes from black material to represent a witch hat. Let the children decorate the hats with glitter and foil.

Broom Art
Supply the children with a broom, a large piece of butcher paper and some paint. Tape the paper on the floor and add the paint. Have the children use the broom to paint the paper. You may want to have the children take off shoes and socks, and roll up long pants... this is REALLY MESSY!!!

 Games, Math & Science

Autumn Leaf Book
Preschool and kindergarten observe the differences in leaf shape and color during this early childhood activity. Using fall colors of construction paper, 4 white sheets of copy paper, Fall item stickers, red, yellow, green & brown crayons, Poem and yarn or staple to form a book. Have each child design a cover for their book using art supplies and stickers. The next pages are leaf rubbings  The last page can have the poem or song about autumn leaves.
 

Red and yellow, green and brown.
count off colors on fingers
Leaves are falling to the ground.
simulate falling leaves with hands
We pile them up OH SO HIGH:
'pile' leaves with hands
Then we JUMP in!
pretend to jump in
 My friends and I!

Easy Pumpkin Pudding
1 cup vanilla pudding for each child 
2 tsp. Libby's easy pumpkin pie mix per child
Help young children measure and place one cup of vanilla pudding in their individual bowls. Next, measure out 2 tsp. pie mix with each child. Ask children to mix the vanilla pudding and the pie mix together for a seasonal and yummy treat.

Fall Sorting
Gather a variety of autumn object like: 4 egg cartons, 12 acorns, 12 maple seeds, 12 pine cones, 12 leaves, or other fall objects small container. Place objects in small container on table. encourage children to sort the objects into the egg cartons.

Spider Webbing
Provide children with a chair and some yarn or string.  Ask them to create a spiders web by wrapping the string around the legs of the chair.

Pumpkin Patch Di-vine!
Promote body awareness and stimulate discussion about the uniqueness of each child's fingerprints with this preschool activity. Using yellow construction paper, orange and green washable paint, paint brushes, green markers or cotton swabs you and your children will create a pumpkin patch. Place the paper on a table and have the children make a fist with one hand.  Paint the top of the fist (fingers and knuckles) orange.  Press the fist onto the sheet of paper to resemble a pumpkin.  Repeat until the  paper has as many pumpkins prints as desired.  Next, make a green fingerprint at the top of each pumpkin for a stem.  When the paint is dry, use a green marker to  add vines to the picture.  You may wish to use a cotton swab for this so that the children can make the vines with green paint

Witch Match
You may be able to find witch stickers or Halloween stickers. Make sure that you have at least two identical sheets. Place two identical stickers on one index card. One on the left side and one on the right. Then cut the card in half in a funny shape. Follow with all the stickers. Then set out the cards and ask the child to pick out one, then find it's match. Next, place the cards together. My son loves this one!!!

Spider Legs
Draw eight different spiders on index cards. The spiders should be drawn with 1 to 8 legs. Ask your child to arrange the spiders according to how many legs the spiders have.

Fall Wreath
This Autumn activity with an outdoor nature walk and ends with and indoor craft activity. Using leaves, acorns, pine cones, bow, brown paint and paper plates. Cut the center out of a paper plate and have the children paint the paper plate, brown. Next,  go for a walk to find fall leaves, acorns and pine cones.  When the plates are dry give the children glue and let them have fun.

How Many Nuts Does a Squirrel Have?
Counting is the name of this game! Using a squirrel patterns or pictures and glue it to paper cups. Write a number on each squirrel.  Now, have the child count out how many nuts they need for that squirrel.  Have a different number on each squirrel. You can also have the child take nuts away from the squirrel, to see how many he has left.

Spider Walk Race
Have the children do a spider walk, by placing their hands and feet on the floor and lifting their bottom off the floor. Have the children race each other while walking like a spider.  Or try a relay race.

Pumpkin Science
What is inside a pumpkin?  Let the children explore the insides of a pumpkin.  It's a great sensory experience.

Pumpkin Seeds
Save the pumpkin seeds from a pumpkin.  Boil 2 cups seeds in 1 quart water with 2 tablespoons salt for 10 minutes. Drain the seeds and toss them in 1 tablespoons of butter. Spread the seeds on a baking pan, and bake for 30 minutes. Stir frequently.

Pumpkin Faces
Provide the children with many different pumpkin faces.  Ask the children which pumpkin is happy?  How does this pumpkin feel?  How does that pumpkin make you feel?

Dramatic Play

Magic Pumpkin Seeds
Using pumpkin seeds, a small paper bag and small pumpkins show the children a small bag of pumpkin seeds and explain that you believe these are magic pumpkin seeds. Tell a dramatic story--encouraging the children to add details to the story. Take the children outside to the  playground where they can toss the seeds onto the ground. The next day, before children go outside gather the seeds up and put small pumpkins in their place. Take children outside to show them the magical pumpkins that have grown. Then organize a pumpkin hunt like an Easter egg hunt!    

Pretend to be a Spider
Have the children pretend to be a spider.

Halloween Dress Up
Supply your children with costumes to dress up in.  Have them dress up, then ask them what they are.  Some of my favorites are dresses, high heeled shoes, scarves, plastic hats, sports jackets, and children's costumes.

Go Trick or Treating
Create an imaginary neighborhood for your children to trick or treat in. Have the child go around from house to house (pretend)  and practice trick or treating. You can use boxes for the houses, or tape on the floor.

Group Time

Halloween Safety
Talk with the children about Halloween safety rules. Ask your local police for a list of safety rules that you can send home to the parents.

Spider Watch
Place some real spiders in a clear container for the children to watch. Be sure to return them to their natural habitat.

5 Little Pumpkins Finger Play
Five little Pumpkins sitting on a gate
The First one said "Oh, my it's getting late!"
The Second one said "There are witches in the air!"
The Third one said "Well, we don't care!"
The Forth one said "We will run and run and run!"
The Fifth one said "We are ready for some fun!"
Whoooo oooo went the wind
And out went the light
and the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

Variation of song above
Five little witches stirring a Halloween brew
The First one said "There is nothing to do!"
The Second one said "Let's go out and have some fun!"
The Third one said "Halloween has begun!"
The Forth one said "Let's go out and "trick or treat"!"
The Fifth one said "We will get a lot of candy to eat!"
Whoooo oooo went the wind
And out went the light
and the five little witches flew out of sight!

Pumpkin Song
Sung to "Have you ever seen a lassie?"
If I could be a pumpkin,
a pumpkin, a pumpkin,
If I could be a pumpkin,
Which face would I have?
Sad or Happy
frightened or scary
If I could be a pumpkin,
I would scare you now.

There's a Spider on the Floor by Raffi

Spider Song
Sung to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
Spider, Spider
In the sky
Weaving your webs way up high
Catching bugs, and insects too
What a chore it is for you
Spider, Spider
In the sky
Weaving your webs way up high

10 Little Ghosts
Sung to "10 Little Indians"
1 little, 2 little, 3 little ghosts,
4 little, 5 little, 6 little ghosts,
7 little, 8 little, 9 little ghosts,
10 little ghosts in the sky!

Variation of song above
10 Little Pumpkins
10 Little Cats
10 Little Witches etc.
 

Where is Pumpkin?
Where is Pumpkin? Where is Pumpkin?
Here it is! Here it is!
This one has a happy face, This one has a scary face!
Roll away, Roll away!

You can provide the children with pumpkin puppets (see art project) or let them use their own that they made.  Have each child say what kind of face their pumpkin has.

Pumpkin Man
Sung to "Muffin Man"
Yes I am the Pumpkin man,
the pumpkin man, the pumpkin man,
Yes I am the pumpkin man,
Who has a silly face.

Little Witch
Sung to "I'm a Little Teapot"
I'm a little witch
All dressed in black
Here is my broom, Here is my cat
Halloween is my favorite night
I can dress up as a ghost in white

Halloween Witches
Sung to "I'm a Little Teapot"
Halloween Witches here and there
Halloween witches everywhere
You better watch out!
You better beware!
Or they will give you a great, big, scare!