Remote preschool is a ton of work, getting supplies and instructions for every activity I send home prepped, recording read aloud videos, hosting zoom meetings, and do you know what? I love it. Yes, I’d much rather be in my classroom as usual, but I can’t tell you how much I love teaching, even this exhausting new form of it. In a few weeks, when we start exploring the summer to fall season change, I will be sending these simple fall discovery bottle activities home for each student. This is part of my effort to create tools and materials that are familiar in the classroom home and help my students feel like they are a part of something special. The activity will be used at home as a visual discrimination activity, but it will also lead to a less structured leaf hunt activity to do outside. Also, this could EASILY be used in an in-person class where you make these discovery bottles together as a center activity.
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Fall Discovery Bottle Activity
Gather your materials. You will need some rice, plastic bottles ( I bought these here), some fall foam shapes ( I got mine here) or mini erasers, food color, and zip locks if you want to dye the rice and some duct tape.
Before I started, I knew I wanted to make a guide for my students to look for the foam shapes. I decided to add a little math in. I took a photo, removed the background, and added text. If you want, you can download mine here.
Dye the rice. I pop the rice in a bag, add a few drops and shake.
It usually doesn’t make such a big mess, but it’s 2020, so expect the worse. This is why I use a tray while making these – easy cleanup.
Add the fall shapes.
Add more rice making sure to leave room for movement, and secure the top with duct tape. Use a funnel if you have one, mine must be at preschool. Again, the tray helped as I spilled the rice everywhere!
Use the guide as you look for the shapes!
BOOK ABOUT FALL FOR PRESCHOOL
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak is a beautiful book that teaches children all about the changes in our environment as the season shifts from sunny warm days of summer to chilly autumn ones. It starts on a late summer morning, and as a child walks through their environment, both natural and urban, they note all the ways that things are changing. Eventually, the weather turns, and the child wakes to find Autumn has arrived.
PRESCHOOL THEMATIC UNITS
Need more simple preschool lessons to send home for remote learning or use for homeschooling? Check out my Build Preschool Thematic Units!
Remember to choose activities that won’t overwhelm parents. Some parents are eager and enjoy this role of teaching at home, and others are trying to balance working at home full time and caring for young children. It’s tough, know your audience. My thematic units have been super helpful for me as I plan because they have printable materials that are easy to send home ( don’t worry, these aren’t worksheets). Directions for activities are already written out so I can easily share them with families.
Check out my library of affordable thematic units here.
Anurag Nautiyal says
Best Activity for kids for learning.