Oct.

2022
Fall Thematic

Unit
Themed activities surrounding the Fall season

Genevieve
Banning
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Broad Unit Understandings/Goals:
Students will understand that fall marks changes in the environment which include leaves
changing color, the weather becoming colder, and the garden-grown foods we eat changing.
Students will understand what appropriate clothing is for fall weather.
Students will understand different traditions are celebrated in the fall season including Halloween
and thanksgiving.
September, October, and November are fall months.
Fall is one of four seasons.

Unit Questions:
What makes fall unique from other seasons?
How does fall weather affect our day-to-day life?
Could fall be considered a season of change?

State/Common Core Standards:

Standards:
3.1.K.A3 Observe, compare, and describe stages of life cycles for plants and/or animals.
7.3.K.A Describe how weather affects daily life.
3.1.K.A9 Distinguish between scientific fact and opinion. • Ask questions about objects, organisms, and
events. • Understand that all scientific investigations involve asking and answering questions and
comparing the answer with what is already known. • Plan and conduct a simple investigation and
understand that different questions require different kinds of investigations. • Use simple equipment
(tools and other technologies) to gather data and understand that this allows scientists to collect more
information than relying only on their senses to gather information. • Use data/evidence to construct
explanations and understand that scientists develop explanations based on their evidence and compare
them with their current scientific knowledge. • Communicate procedures and explanations giving priority
to evidence and understanding that scientists make their results public, describe their investigations so
they can be reproduced, and review and ask questions about the work of other scientists.
CC.2.1.K.A.2 Apply one-to-one correspondence to count the number of objects.
CC.2.1.K.A.1 Know number names and write and recite the count sequence.
CC.2.1.K.A.3Apply the concept of magnitude to compare numbers and quantities.
5.1.K.F Identify significant American holidays and their symbols.
CC.1.2.K.E Identify parts of a book (title, author) and parts of a text (beginning, end, details).
CC.1.2.K.L Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
CC.1.3.K.C With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
CC.1.4.K.J Make logical connections between drawing and writing.
CC.1.4.K.B Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to focus on one specific topic.
Eligible Content:
S.K-2.B.1.1.2 Identify a plant or animal based on a given life cycle stage (e.g., butterfly, frog, seed‐
producing plant).
S.K-2.A.1.1.1 Identify a scientific fact as something that can be observed using the five senses.
Learning Objectives:
Students will be able to identify and explain at least 2 different celebrations which occur
during the fall season.
Students will be able to identify the four seasons and describe the characteristics consistent
with fall weather.
Students will be able to make educated decisions on what to wear outside based on the
season they are given.
Students will be able to list the months during the fall.

Description of Unit
Introduction
Students will be engaged to think about the fall season and how it relates to various aspects
of life. Fall is one of four seasons where changes in the environment occur. Fall is also a time of year
when families observe and celebrate traditions consistent with the fall season, like Thanksgiving and
Halloween. For this grade level, it is important for students to contemplate how the time of year and
the season we are in relation to life and what we wear, eat, and the activities we do.
Play-based learning allows students to use their imagination in order to relate to and
further understand concepts taught in class. Play-based learning is implemented in this thematic unit
through activities like the creative writing assignment based on the book "Little Yellow Leaf".
Children will be able to draw a fall leaf and create their own story about where they would travel if
they fell off a tree during fall. Not only does this teach a concept about the life cycles of trees and
the changes that occur during the fall in our environment, but this also allows students to engage in
their own way to make a more meaningful connection to the academic concept.
To pair with the reading of "Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn" by Kenard Pak, I have a play-
based learning activity planned where students will create their own paper doll of themselves.
Students will be provided with a variety of paper doll clothes. To explore seasons and how weather
affects clothing decisions, students will dress their dolls according to the weather scenario given by
the teacher.
The social studies activity for Johnny Appleseed will give students an opportunity to play and
learn. Students will make their own pot to dress like Johnny Appleseed. Students will explore
themselves in relation to the topic of Johnny Appleseed by also exploring different apples and
when/how they grow.
Movement activities in this thematic unit support play-based learning. The fall leaves activity
will challenge students to hunt and fill their bags with the coordinating leaf color. The fall scavenger
hunt will support the fun exploration of objects in nature, especially during the fall seasons.
Pumpkin painting will be an awesome play-based learning activity as students will bring their
own creativity into fall traditions and make meaningful connections.
Students will also build connections through play-based learning when singing "Days of the
Week" and "Old MacDonald" song variations. For "Days of the Week", students will mimic Halloween-
themed gestures and sounds between verses. This fun interaction makes connections between the
fall season and the traditions celebrated within fall. The same can be said for "Old MacDonald" song
variations. One could do a haunted house or thanksgiving, having students list things falling under
either category. After students list coordinating nouns, students may also think of a sound to
coordinate with them for the "Old MacDonald" song.
Experience-based learning puts the students in action to learn content through hands-on
activities and real-world learning. The leaf hunt, fall scavenger hunt, and pumpkin seed counting
activities all fall under experience-based learning. Pumpkin seed counting has students explore a
popular type of fall fruit while implementing math in the somewhat scientific exploration.
Science is a topic that easily ties experience to learning. The gourd observation activity will
have students take a real-life object and apply the 5 senses related to scientific observation, giving
them an experience-based learning opportunity.
Fall graphing of the class' favorite thanksgiving foods will also bring in real-life experience
while promoting the learning of skills, like counting and graphing.
Project-based learning has students develop meaningful works to represent information
known to them. Several activities in this thematic unit fall under project-based learning, the first
being based on the book "Pumpkin Soup" by Helen Cooper. Students will develop a visual and dictate
one thing that they are good at and would be able to teach someone else. This relates to the text
and has students develop a work of art unique to them to display a grasp of the concept discussed
in the book: Everyone has something they can teach others.
When discussing foods growing during the fall, students will have an opportunity to design
their own fall garden. Students will develop this project by using their knowledge of fall fruits and
vegetables. This allows students to make a garden they would eat from and builds connections to
seasons and plants that grow.
Projects are a great way to tie many concepts from a lesson together. Thanksgiving
encompasses many different ideas. When teaching Thanksgiving, students will learn about
geography, Native Americans, pilgrims, food, and more. The Thanksgiving lapbook activity will be a
project-based learning task for students to combine this information in an organized and more
accessible fashion.

References
Fall Leaf Hunt Activity: Gather & Sort. (2021, July 15). This Little Home of Mine.
https://www.thislittlehomeofmine.com/fall-leaf-hunt-activity/

Fishtank Learning. (n.d.). Kindergarten Language Arts | Celebrating Fall | Free Lesson Plans.
Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.fishtanklearning.org/curriculum/ela
/kindergarten/celebrating-fall/

Hagen, L. (2022, August 1). 15 Fall Vegetables to Plant in Your Garden. GardenDesign.com.
https://www.gardendesign.com/vegetables/fall.html
 Additional Standards &
Assessment
Standards Linked to Unit Categories
1. Children's Book related to the topic:
C.C.1.3.K.C With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a
story.

2. Ways to integrate social studies using any of the arts into the topic:
8.3.K.A. Identify American people related to national holidays.

3. Ways to integrate math using any of the arts into the topic:
CC.2.1.K.A.1 Know number names and write and recite the count sequence.

4. Multicultural ideas related to the topic:

8.4.K.A. Explain how cultures celebrate.

5. Visual art ideas related to the topic:

9.1.V.K.B1 Combine a variety of materials to create a work of art.

Standard-based Assessments
1. Read "The Leaf Thief" by Alice Hemming to the class. Ask questions to students about the story:
Who were the characters in this story? Squirrel, bird, mouse, and woodpecker.
What was the problem in the story? Squirrel was losing leaves off of their tree and could not
figure out why.
What did squirrel try to do at first to feel better about the leaves? He tried to work out,
breathe, take a bath, and sleep.
Who did squirrel think was stealing the leaves? Woodpecker and mouse.
Who was the leaf thief? The wind.
Hand out the sequence craft to go with the story (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/
Product/The-Leaf-Thief-Retelling-a-Story-Fall-Sequencing-Fall-Craft-7384148?
st=b3d1abee65703ea927efbf7356ad9802)
Students will place events in sequence order and paste it on their squirrel. This will assess their
understanding of key events which took place in the story and were discussed in class.

2. Discuss with the class what Thanksgiving is.

The people living in England wanted to leave because their beliefs were not accepted by the
King. These people, the First Peoples, were also known as Pilgrims.
Living in America was very hard, especially during the first winter. A lot of the first people got
sick and did not know how to grow food to eat because they were not used to the land.
There were already people living in America when the Pilgrims arrived. They were Native
Americans from the Wampanoag tribe. They helped the Pilgrims to grow food to eat and
showed them how to honor and treat the land properly.
Read "Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story" by Alexis Bunten, Anthony Perry, and
Danielle Greendeer.
Discuss difficult concepts and vocabulary from the text as you read or before you read.
Thanksgiving was a meal of celebration for the Pilgrims as they finally mastered growing food
and surviving in their new home.
One of the most important plants Native Americans taught the New People to grow was corn.
Have children complete a multicolored corn craft (https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/indian-
corn-craft-and-five-kernels-of-corn-legend.html). When each child is done, have the child
dictate one thing they learned about Thanksgiving from the story: "We celebrate Thanksgiving
because..."; attach this to their corn craft.

3. For a math craft activity, give students each a different number of apples (up to 10). Have them
make the apple basket craft (http://myfabulousclass.com/2018/10/fall-math-crafts-and-
activities.html). Have students glue the apples into their baskets. Then, instruct students to count
their apples and write how many there are in the blank space.

4. When approaching Thanksgiving, begin to discuss with your students the ways they celebrate
with their families.
Read the book "Fry Bread" By Kevin Maillard
What are some ways you and your families spend time together? (The context of your students'
homes should be carefully considered before doing this lesson... Some phrases may need to be
adjusted for sensitivity).
Have students draw a picture of this and write what the student dictates for how they spend
time with family.
Have students share with the class their finished product.
What is something someone in the class does that you also do? What is something different
that you thought was cool that you have never tried?
Students will be assessed based on the completion of the given art project.

5. Play a would you rather thanksgiving food game. Have students go to one side of the room for
one food and one side of the room for the other.
Are there any other foods you eat for Thanksgiving?
Have students go to their seats and cut out pictures of food from magazines and make their
ideal thanksgiving plate.
Collect this work of art and completion will be the assessment.
Thematic Graphic Plan
Page 1

Reading
1. "Goodbye Summer,
Hello Autumn" by
Kenard Pak

2. "Pumpkin Soup" by Helen Writing

Cooper 1. "I am thankful for..." Turkey
Feathers writing activity
2. "The Little Yellow Leaf"
storytelling and illustration
activity.

Science
1. Gourd Observation
5 Senses Activity Art

2. Farm to Table Fall Foods & 1. 4 Seasons

Weather Activity Tree Art

2. Pumpkin Painting
Thematic Graphic Plan
Page 2
Social Studies
1. Thanksgiving Interactive
Lapbook
2. Johnny Appleseed Craft
and book

P.E./Movement
1. Leaf Color-hunting
activities

2. Fall Scavenger
Hunt

Music
1. Days of the
Week ( with
substituted
Halloween
Math actions/sounds)

2. Old MacDonald
(Haunted House or
Thanksgiving
1. Pumpkin Seed Counting
Themed)
2. Favorite Thanksgiving Food
Graphing