November preschool curriculum
November in the free preschool curriculum: 4 theme weeks (scarecrows and harvest, families, food and cooking, thankful), each on one sheet with its parts, the skills they work on, box-free materials and open-ended ways in.
← OctoberDecember →The whole year
- Week 10: Scarecrows and harvest, the full plan
- Week 11: Families, the full plan
- Week 12: Food and cooking, the full plan
- Week 13: Thankful, the full plan
A harvest week for twos to fours: what farmers pick in the fall, why a scarecrow stands in the field, and sorting the crops.
| Part | This week | Works on |
|---|---|---|
| Circle time | What do farmers pick in the fall? | Language, Social and emotional |
| Books | At the Farm; Meg and the Seed; The Big Truck; Henny Penny | Early literacy, Language |
| Craft | Paper-plate scarecrow: Draw a happy face on the plate. Glue straw strips around the edge. Glue the hat on top. | Moving, Thinking and exploring |
| Song | Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary | Language, Moving |
| Snack | Ants on a Log | Social and emotional, Early math |
| Letter pack | S is for scarecrow | Early literacy |
| Outside | Scarecrow freeze: Children flap like birds; when the grown-up calls "Scarecrow!" everyone freezes with arms out. | Moving, Social and emotional |
Box-free materials
Craft: paper plate, crayons, yellow paper strips (straw), a paper triangle hat, glue stick.
Snack: celery, peanut butter, raisins.
All week: paper, crayons, a ball or a scarf for the outside game.
Words for the wall
harvest · corn · field · basket
Open-ended ways in
- Process art: put out paper plate, crayons, yellow paper strips (straw) and a paper triangle hat with no finished sample to copy, and let each child make their own scarecrows and harvest picture.
- Invitation to play: the four words (harvest, corn, field, basket) on cards in the reading corner with this week's books, paper and crayons.
- Wonder wall: ask “What do farmers pick in the fall?” on Monday and again on Friday, and write both answers up.
- Twos: a grown-up pours the paint and holds the glue.
- Mixed ages: the twos do the craft with help; the fours help the twos.
Ask at pick-up
Ask about what a scarecrow does. Ask about which crops we sorted.
A families week for twos to fours: who is in a family, how families are different and the same, and what we do together.
| Part | This week | Works on |
|---|---|---|
| Circle time | What do you like to do with your family? | Language, Social and emotional |
| Books | Pat, Pat, Pat; Dad Naps; Get Up, Gus!; A Boo for Bea | Early literacy, Language |
| Craft | Family house: Glue on window flaps. Under each flap, draw someone in your family (pets too). Open the flaps and tell a friend who lives there. | Moving, Thinking and exploring |
| Song | Hush, Little Baby | Language, Moving |
| Snack | Fruit Dip | Social and emotional, Early math |
| Letter pack | F is for family | Early literacy |
| Outside | Family game: Play a game families play: follow the leader, with a new leader each time. | Moving, Social and emotional |
Box-free materials
Craft: a paper house shape, crayons, paper window flaps, glue stick.
Snack: cream cheese, marshmallow creme, cinnamon, strawberries, an apple.
All week: paper, crayons, a ball or a scarf for the outside game.
Words for the wall
family · home · together · love
Open-ended ways in
- Process art: put out a paper house shape, crayons, paper window flaps and glue stick with no finished sample to copy, and let each child make their own families picture.
- Invitation to play: the four words (family, home, together, love) on cards in the reading corner with this week's books, paper and crayons.
- Wonder wall: ask “What do you like to do with your family?” on Monday and again on Friday, and write both answers up.
- Twos: a grown-up pours the paint and holds the glue.
- Mixed ages: the twos do the craft with help; the fours help the twos.
Ask at pick-up
Ask about who is in their family house. Ask about what they like doing together.
A food week for twos to fours: where food comes from, washing hands, measuring and stirring, and a play kitchen.
| Part | This week | Works on |
|---|---|---|
| Circle time | What is your favorite food, and where does it come from? | Language, Social and emotional |
| Books | Sip, Sip, Sip; Jen and the Jam; A Bun for Fran; Yum! | Early literacy, Language |
| Craft | Paper-plate meal: Draw or glue on a food for each part of the plate. Add something to drink. Tell a friend what is on your plate. | Moving, Thinking and exploring |
| Song | Old Mother Hubbard | Language, Moving |
| Snack | Butter in a Jar | Social and emotional, Early math |
| Letter pack | C is for cook | Early literacy |
| Outside | Mud kitchen: Spoons, pots and water in the sandbox or mud: cook a pretend soup and serve it. | Moving, Social and emotional |
Box-free materials
Craft: paper plate, food pictures or colored paper, glue stick, crayons.
Snack: heavy whipping cream, salt, round crackers.
All week: paper, crayons, a ball or a scarf for the outside game.
Words for the wall
cook · stir · pour · taste
Open-ended ways in
- Process art: put out paper plate, food pictures or colored paper, glue stick and crayons with no finished sample to copy, and let each child make their own food and cooking picture.
- Invitation to play: the four words (cook, stir, pour, taste) on cards in the reading corner with this week's books, paper and crayons.
- Wonder wall: ask “What is your favorite food, and where does it come from?” on Monday and again on Friday, and write both answers up.
- Twos: a grown-up pours the paint and holds the glue.
- Mixed ages: the twos do the craft with help; the fours help the twos.
Ask at pick-up
Ask about how we made butter. Ask about what was on their plate.
A thankful week for twos to fours: saying thank you, sharing food, and the people and things we are glad of.
| Part | This week | Works on |
|---|---|---|
| Circle time | Who would you like to say thank you to? | Language, Social and emotional |
| Books | A Bun for Fran; Pat, Pat, Pat; Ring the Bell; Fish in a Dish | Early literacy, Language |
| Craft | Thank-you handprint tree: A grown-up draws a tree trunk on the paper. Each child presses a painted hand on as a leaf. Write by each hand who that child is thankful for. | Moving, Thinking and exploring |
| Song | Polly Put the Kettle On | Language, Moving |
| Snack | Banana Oat Cookies | Social and emotional, Early math |
| Letter pack | T is for thank you | Early literacy |
| Outside | Helper relay: Pass a basket of balls down a line, saying "thank you" with each one. | Moving, Social and emotional |
Box-free materials
Craft: large paper, brown crayon, washable paint in fall colors, wipes.
Snack: very ripe bananas (brown spots), rolled oats, cinnamon, chocolate chips.
All week: paper, crayons, a ball or a scarf for the outside game.
Words for the wall
thank you · share · kind · help
Open-ended ways in
- Process art: put out large paper, brown crayon, washable paint in fall colors and wipes with no finished sample to copy, and let each child make their own thankful picture.
- Invitation to play: the four words (thank you, share, kind, help) on cards in the reading corner with this week's books, paper and crayons.
- Wonder wall: ask “Who would you like to say thank you to?” on Monday and again on Friday, and write both answers up.
- Twos: a grown-up pours the paint and holds the glue.
- Mixed ages: the twos do the craft with help; the fours help the twos.
Ask at pick-up
Ask about who they are thankful for. Ask about what they shared this week.