Scarecrow 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 Developmemt, Music and Movement, Social Emotional Development

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

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The Colored Hens Circle Time Activity

One of my favorite children’s books is The Little Red Hen. I read it every year to my class. I often pair the story with this interactive circle time activity, which is designed to improve listening skills, and teach colors. It also gives children an opportunity to follow directions and to participate during large group.

Cut out colored hens to match the colors in the poem (the hen pattern is provided here). I happened to have some extra felt, so I just used that. However, construction paper will work just as well. Glue the hens onto paper plates, add some googly eyes, and coordinating craft sticks. I used watercolors to color the sticks.

During circle time, give each child a hen. Some colors may have to be repeated depending upon how many children are in the circle. Instruct the children to hold up their hen when they hear their color, then read the poem below. This is a fantastic attention grabber. My preschoolers, even my “busy” ones, hold their breath with anticipation, just waiting to hear their color words; they get so excited to spring into action!

THE COLORED HENS POEM

This little hen is brown
You’ll never catch her with a frown

This little hen is red
She’s laid all her eggs in her bed

After the poem is read, and all the hens have been held up, talk about the different colors. To build phonemic awareness, the rhyming words should also be repeated and discussed.

MATERIALS USED:

– Colored felt or construction paper
– Our hen template
– Scissors
– Tacky glue
– Paper plates
– Jumbo craft sticks/tongue depressors
– Washable liquid watercolors
– Googly eyes

• Barnyard Texture Collage
• Favorite Farm Animal Graph
• Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Farm Pig Craft
• On the Farm Math and Literacy Activities
• Yummy Rice Cake Pig Snack

- Early Literacy, Language Developmemt, On the Farm, Social Emotional Development, Spring, Writing

- auditory discrimination, circle time, color recognition, following directions, large group, listening skills, phonemic awareness, rhyming, templates

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