Fall and Winter Centers
Lesson One: Fall Center (Art, Mathematics, Drama and Discussion)
Circle time:
Poem about Fall by Melissa W.: Acted out
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 laves with hands)
Then we JUMP in!
(pretend to jump into leaves)
My friends and I!
Explain the set-up to the children: two tables, half the children at one and half at the other, they will switch when both are complete.
Table one- Sorting fall objects
Children will sit around table that has various fall objects placed in the center.
The children will take each item and describe what it is, how it feels, what
it looks like. After they have looked and talked about each item they will sort
them into separate piles according to similarities determined amongst themselves.
Objects include: acorns, pinecones, leaves, tree bark, gourds, pumpkins, feathers,
nuts and dried veggies.
Table two- Leaf Rubbing
The children will sit around the table with various different color and shaped
leaves in the center. The children will identify the different shapes and colors.
They will be asked what colors are the leaves and why are they different shaped?
Then each student will be given a piece of white paper and fall colored crayons.
The students may then select a leaf of their choice, the leaf will be placed
under the paper and the crayon (color of their choice) will be rubbed over top
to recreate the leaf by coloring. Save the leaf rubbings for the end of the
week.
After the tables have switched and completed call the children back together and discuss the changes in fall and what will happen to the weather next. Transition into Winter Center.
Lesson two: Winter Center (Art, Science, Drama and Discussion)
Circle time:
Wintery Wind song
(Stand up and move to song)
The winter wind blows
The winter wind blows
It gives me the shivers
From my head to my toes!
Talk with the children about their favorite winter activities, what good about winter and what they see during the winter.
Explain the set-up, once again two tables the class split in two, one group at one table the other group at the other.
Table one- Snow Scenes 
Have the children color their favorite winter scene on a piece of plain paper.
Have them paint over the entire picture with a mixture of 16 ounces of Epsom
salt dissolved in 4 ounces hot water that you assist with. After painting over
the picture place aside and allow them to dry- explain to the students that
the mixture they made will dry and frosty crystals will appear. Show the students
later that day what happen to the pictures.
Table two- Identifying Animal Prints
With the children seated around the table ask them about animals in the winter.
Which ones they see and how they live. Show the children pictures of the animals
that are around in the winter. Then present them with pictures or moldings (if
available) of snow tracks. Ask the students if they can match the animal to
its tracks to its picture.
After the tables have switched and are complete have a class discussion about
what is like- what it feels like, looks like and what happens to it. Ask the
children why it melts. Transition to rain and water cycle for spring and summer
centers.
