Submitted by: Karen LaVarnway, a Head Start teacher from Plattsburg NY.
Objectives:
To teach the children the changes to the environment during each season.
What You Need:
variety of construction paper
clear contact paper (optional)
What You Do:
I put up a tree on the wall that I have made of construction paper (include the trunk and branches).
At the beginning of the school year, I put up a green piece of paper that looks like a tree with lots of leaves.
I then have apples, one for each child and staff in the room and put it on the tree. (We visit the apple orchard this month). I have extra apples down low and a basket made of paper for them to use as counting aides (Put 5 in the basket...)
I put up clouds with their name and birth date on it. (We often refer to the birthday throughout the year and it saves time, instead of looking it up all the time).
As the season changes, so does the board...
In October I have the children put up some colored leaves on the branches with the green removed. I also have some falling and some on the ground. When we do pumpkin projects they go next to the tree, like a pumpkin patch. (We also visit a pumpkin patch).
For winter, we make snowflakes and put it on the tree branches. I also have a snowman made up with each part separate, and have the kids put the pieces in the appropriate places.
In the spring, all of our caterpillars, flowers, and butterflies go near the tree and we make grass by using a narrow piece of green paper and making many cuts (it looks pretty much like grass). On the tree I make (large) apple blossoms and put the children's class picture in it, with a sign saying, "Look how we've blossomed".
All of the pieces (except for the apples, blossoms, and the clouds), I clear contact paper for use for the next year.
Continue with each change, changing the tree and the environment around it. The kids love it. The kids will ask if there any changes each week. I think this helps with understanding how the environment changes and they have much input as to what we will put up.
It works well for displaying their artwork too!
At the end of the year, their apples, blossoms, and clouds go home in a Farewell book. The parents love this, and we started it at the beginning of the year!!!
KinderArt® Lesson/Activity 