Article

Pumpkins! Pumpkins! Pumpkins!

Written by Sue Widney

Topic: Child DevelopmentPublished October 13, 2009

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

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About the Author

I have been in Early Childhood Education with San Diego Unified School District since 1971. I started as a preschool teacher, and then Lead Teacher. In 1975, I was promoted to a Center Administrator until 2003 when I retired from the district. I was chairman of the Literacy Committee from 1999-2003. I helped organize and present numerous literacy workshops on topics concerning pre-literacy skills. These workshops included topics on Shared Reading, Read Aloud and Print Rich Environment. The second series of workshops involved integrating literacy throughout the program. I also trained various Early Child Development Centers teachers in a developmentally appropriate emergent literacy program. One of my sites was recognized by the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education’s Schools of Success for the successful emergent literacy program at that site. I have written an EBook called, "How To Create A High-Quality Preschool Classroom". My book is gives teachers skills and resources in creating a classroom that integrates literacy throughout and contains developmentally appropriate activities. I am very excited about the book because I am so passionate about quality education for all preschoolers.

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