Pumpkins! Pumpkins! Pumpkins!

This is the season for pumpkins and I am going to show you how you can use this theme in all of your Learning Centers.rnPumpkin Theme in Learning Centers: Blocks: rnMake a pumpkin patch by covering blocks with construction paper- Put in tractors. Have paper, pencils, crayons available for the children to make signs for the pumpkin patch. They can make scarecrows in the art area and bring them to the pumpkin patch. Math Area:rnOn the table, have pumpkins with numbers written on them and a container of pumpkin seeds next to the pumpkins. The children will put the seeds on the pumpkin that is the number on the pumpkin. Teacher makes a puzzle out of a pumpkin and the children put it together. Dramatic Play Center:rnAnother pumpkin patch made from paper bags that are painted orange. There can be a cash register, play money. Aprons and hats can be provided for the children to wear. If you have enough room, put in some hay. Science Area:rnA real pumpkin on the table with lots of spoons, aprons and newspapers. Have the children "explore" the pumpkin by taking out the seeds with hands or spoons- spreading them on the newspaper- Art Area:rnOrange play dough with pumpkin cookie cutters and pie pans. Put on the easel the shape of a pumpkin for them to paint. Literacy Area:rnMaterials for the children to make pumpkin books. They could make a book of pumpkin faces- happy, sad, scary and funny. Great pumpkin books for the Library Area:rnPumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne TitheringtonrnThe Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons. rnToo Many Pumpkins by Linda White,rnFive Little Pumpkins flannel board pieces for children to act out rhyme. Sue Widneyrn"How to Create A High-Quality Preschool Classroom", an EBookrnhttp://www.preschoolknowledgecenter.comrn