Fun Activities for Kids, Families, and Teachers

The following song lyrics are just so cute, I have to share! This song is on the Safety and Manners CD which is part of the Story Time Felts Let’s Play House felt board set. I wish I could hum a few bars for you here; it is really a cute song! My kids used to listen to this CD in the car and I always hoped the lyrics would sink in! There are other songs that teach such as don’t be a grouch, say please and thank you, etc. The tune is catchy, you can sort of pick it up just reading it (I hope). If enough people request it, I will see about uploading the song as an mp3. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Executive National Director
Story Time Felts

I’m a kitchen helper, yes I am,
and every meal I help to plan
I like to set the table too,
the dishes, knives, the forks and spoons.

I even sweep the kitchen floor,
after meals and just before.
When everything is in its place,
it makes for such a happy face.
I’m a kitchen helper every day,
I do my work before I play.
I like to wash the dishes too;
I dry them off before I’m through.

I neatly put them on the shelf.
This I do all by myself.
Everyone is proud of me,
and I’m as happy as can be.
I’m a kitchen helper day and night;
I have a healthy appetite.
Keeping busy keeps me glad,
There’s never time for being sad.

A kitchen helper, yes it’s true;
I’m proud of all the work I do.
A kitchen helper through and through,
Would you like to be one, too?
I’m a kitchen helper, yes I am,
and every meal I help to plan.
I like to set the table too,
The dishes, knives, the forks and spoons.

I even sweep the kitchen floor
After meals and just before.
When everything is in its place,
It makes for such a happy face

Here are some ideas for using leaves the children can collect around
the neighborhood:

Leaf People
Glue a leaf to a sheet of paper and draw features to make them into leaf people, such as arms and legs, necks and heads, tails, etc. Then draw a scene around your leaf person!

Leafy Trees
With paints or markers using Fall colors, draw a tree trunk with branches. Then glue leaves in clusters on the branches.

Leaf Prints
Trace several leaves on fine-grained sandpaper to form a design. Color over your design with heavy pressure using crayons in autumn colors. Place a sheet of thin white paper over the design, then press with a medium-heat iron.

Leafy Crown
Be a Fall Princess! Make a 2 inch-wide headband large enough to fit the child’s head and staple. Glue leaves all around the crown.

Leaf Shapes
Draw basic leaf shapes on separate cards and place into a basket. Collect numerous leaves and then play this game. The child draws a card from the basket and then finds a leaf that matches the shape on the card. Have the child explain why they chose that leaf as a match by describing the 2 leaves.

Leaf Rubbing
Most people have done basic leaf rubbings where you place paper over the leaves, and rub over the paper with the side of a crayon. Try outlining the edge and veins of the leaves with a thin line of glue which is allowed to dry. Then do the rubbing and see the distinct patterns!

Leaf Mosaic
Draw a picture on construction paper, leaving spaces to fill in (do not make it to detailed!). Collect many different types of leaves from the neighborhood and tear them into small pieces. Use the leaf pieces to glue into your design as a mosaic, using the different shades of green, yellows, and reds for variety.

Preserving Leaves
Collect samples of colorful leaves and place the leaves between sheets of wax paper. Set the iron to a hot setting. Cover the layers of wax paper with a couple sheets of newspaper and iron them. Attach yarn to the corners and you have a nice window hanging.

Changing Colors
Observe the effects of light on the color of leaves. When leaves on a tree are still green, cover part of a leaf with aluminum foil. (Choose a tree that you know will turn bright colors.) Use masking tape to tape the foil to the leaf. Sign your name on the masking tape. Wait until the leaves on the tree change color. Then remove the foil and see the colors that were in the leaf all summer!

Graphing Leaves
Take a census of the trees in your school yard, an area of a nearby park, or another defined area. Draw the types of leaves found and how many of those trees are found. Use the survey data to create bar graphs that show the numbers of trees of different species.

Identifying Leaves
Collect a variety of leaves and use a tree guide from the library to identify the kind of tree from which each leaf comes. To protect the leaves, you might laminate them.

Leaf Exchange
Ask parents or teachers in other regions (email friends are great for this!) to join in a leaf exchange. Compare and contrast the leaves found in other areas.

Independent Story Time Felts Consultant