Scarecrow Craft and Circle Time Activity

Every fall I like to do a theme on scarecrows. There are so many great books, songs, poems and art projects that can be utilized. My students especially enjoy making paper plate scarecrows and shape crows. They glue them onto jumbo craft sticks, and they’ve got the perfect hand props for our Sammy the Scarecrow circle time activity!

The children hold their props while I recite the action poem and demonstrate the appropriate motions. After reciting the poem a few times the children enthusiastically join in. If the children wish, they can take turns being scarecrows and crows.

SAMMY THE SCARECROW

Sammy the Scarecrow is my name
On the farm I’ve gained some fame

Standing high on a stick (raise scarecrows)
Scaring crows is my trick

When they fly and caw (move crows about)
I wave my arms of straw

Then I loudly shout
Hey you crows, GET OUT (children who are crows leave the circle)

I often repeat this activity throughout the fall months. It’s always a hit and it helps to strengthen listening, memory, and recall skills. It also develops phonemic awareness.

MATERIALS USED:

– Small paper plates
– Felt
– Construction Paper
– Buttons
– A variety of decorative items
– Crayons or markers
– Googly eyes
– Straw or raffia
– Feathers
– Jumbo craft sticks
– Scissors
– Glue
– Our free scarecrow hat pattern
– Our free shape crow pattern
– Sammy the Scarecrow poem

- Arts and Crafts, Fall, Language, Music and Movement, Social Emotional Development

- auditory discrimination, crows, following directions, large group, phonemic awareness, rhyming, scarecrows, templates

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Rainmaker Craft

This week we will be participating in NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child™, which celebrates early learning and young children, along with their teachers and families. So let’s get started – Happy Music Monday!

Over the course of the last couple of weeks, the children have been working on their rainmakers and on their moves in preparation for our big rain dance this afternoon. We will be preforming to the tune of Rainforest Rock & Roll!

It’s going to be so much fun, and the kids are beyond excited.

Below are the materials that I presented to my class, but anything will work to decorate the rainmakers; markers, paint, stickers, felt, construction paper, glitter, and so on. You just want to make sure that what you offer is developmentally appropriate for your group of little learners. Note: I did have to assist my kids with tying the twine during this project, which turned out to be amazing teachable moments.

MATERIALS USED:

– Paper towel rolls
– Rice
– Twine
– Raffia
– Burlap
– Animal print paper
– Faux fur
– Jewels
– Feathers
– Tacky glue

- Arts and Crafts, Music and Movement

- #woyc17, naeyc

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