November is a fantastic month to explore fun and creative activities with preschoolers. The changing season, the upcoming holidays, and the spirit of thankfulness provide plenty of inspiration for educational and engaging experiences. These November Preschool Activities blend learning with play, allowing children to explore fall themes while developing their cognitive and motor skills. Let’s dive into some exciting November-themed preschool activities, each designed to bring out creativity, curiosity, and fun!
November Preschool Activities and Fun Things to Do With Kids
What is the theme for November for preschoolers?
November Themes to plan the month in your preschool classroom! Includes popular themes like fall, Thanksgiving, and nocturnal animals. There are lesson plans, arts and crafts, and hands-on learning activities included with each theme idea!
1. Leaf Painting and Collages
With the beautiful fall foliage in November, a great activity is to take preschoolers on a nature walk to collect leaves of different shapes and colors. Once they’ve gathered their leaves, they can use them to create art. Set up a painting station where kids can dip their leaves into paint and press them onto paper to create leaf prints. You can also help them glue the leaves onto construction paper to make colorful fall collages.
This activity helps children develop their fine motor skills, explore texture, and get creative with colors and shapes. Plus, it’s a perfect way to introduce them to the concept of seasonal changes.
2. Handprint Turkeys
One of the most iconic Thanksgiving crafts for preschoolers is the handprint turkey. It’s easy, fun, and allows kids to express their creativity. Using paint or colored paper, children can trace their handprints to create the turkey’s feathers. Once the handprint is complete, they can add details like eyes, a beak, and legs to finish their turkeys. This craft provides an opportunity to talk about the meaning of Thanksgiving and the importance of gratitude, while also working on their creativity and hand-eye coordination.
3. Pumpkin Science Experiment
Science experiments are a great way to engage young minds, and in November, pumpkins are still widely available. A simple and exciting science experiment involves creating a pumpkin volcano.
Here’s how to do it:
- Cut the top off a small pumpkin and hollow it out.
- Add baking soda and a few drops of dish soap inside the pumpkin.
- Pour vinegar into the pumpkin, and watch the bubbly reaction as it overflows!
This experiment is a fun introduction to basic chemical reactions and allows preschoolers to witness a little “science magic.” The combination of fall themes and learning makes this activity especially exciting.
4. Fall-Themed Sensory Bins
Sensory bins provide a fun, hands-on way for preschoolers to explore textures and practice fine motor skills. For a fall-themed bin, you can fill it with items such as dried corn kernels, small pumpkins, pinecones, acorns, and leaves.
Add tools like scoops, tongs, or measuring cups so children can manipulate and explore the different items. This not only strengthens their fine motor skills but also engages their senses and encourages imaginative play.
5. Storytime Books
As the weather cools down, cozy indoor storytime becomes a great way to connect with preschoolers. November offers many wonderful seasonal books to read with kids. Some favorites include:
- “Bear Says Thanks” by Karma Wilson
- “The Leaf Thief” by Alice Hemming
After reading, you can discuss the story or invite the children to draw their favorite parts. Incorporating puppets or acting out parts of the story can make storytime even more interactive and fun.
6. Gratitude Tree
Teaching preschoolers about gratitude is an important lesson, and November is a perfect time to introduce it. Creating a gratitude tree helps children express what they are thankful for in a visual way.
To make a gratitude tree, you’ll need a large piece of paper for the tree trunk and branches. Then, have the children cut out leaf shapes from colored paper. Each day, ask them to write or draw something they are thankful for on a leaf and add it to the tree. Over the month, the tree will fill up with leaves representing things the children appreciate.
This activity not only helps with fine motor skills (cutting and drawing) but also promotes emotional development and mindfulness.
7. Outdoor Leaf Maze
November is still a good time to enjoy outdoor play before winter sets in. Create a leaf maze in your yard or playground using piles of fallen leaves. You can arrange the piles to form paths, creating a fun maze for kids to navigate.
This activity encourages physical movement and problem-solving as they try to find their way through the maze. You can also incorporate a race or scavenger hunt to make the activity more challenging and exciting.
8. Corn Painting – Making Scarecrow
Corn is another symbol of the harvest season, and it can be used to create beautiful art. For this activity, provide each child with a small cob of dried corn. Let them dip the corn in paint and roll it across the paper to create unique patterns and designs.
The texture of the corn creates interesting prints, and children can experiment with different colors and techniques. It’s a great way to combine art with sensory play, as they get to feel the texture of the corn while painting.
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9. Turkey Trot Relay Race
If you’re looking for a fun way to get kids moving, organize a “Turkey Trot” relay race. You can use small stuffed animals or bean bags to represent turkeys. The children can race while balancing the turkey on their heads, backs, or between their knees.
This game helps with coordination, balance, and teamwork. It’s also a great way to burn off energy and enjoy some friendly competition.
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10. Pie Counting Game
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, pies are a popular theme in November. You can turn this into a math game by creating paper pies and writing numbers on them. Provide small pom-poms or buttons as “pie toppings” and ask the children to place the correct number of toppings on each pie.
This activity helps preschoolers practice counting, number recognition, and fine motor skills in a fun and thematic way. You can add variations, like sorting the toppings by color or size, to make it even more engaging.
Conclusion
November Preschool Activities offers endless opportunities to explore fun and educational activities with preschoolers. By embracing the themes of fall, harvest, and gratitude, you can create enriching experiences that foster creativity, learning, and connection. From crafting handprint turkeys to performing science experiments with pumpkins, these activities are sure to keep preschoolers entertained while developing their skills. Whether indoors or outdoors, the magic of November provides a wonderful backdrop for playful learning.
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