Storytime Lesson Plan for Preschoolers: Autumn

"Everything Has a Season I: Autumn"

Ecclesiastes 3:1

This series of lesson plans was developed and used in NSW, Australia. Some books and/or songs may not be available in your area. Please adapt these suggestions to suit your resources.

I. Introduction: Show the children a collection of leaves and other Fall items. Discuss how God made the trees and the seasons. Talk about how trees change throughout the seasons.

II. Fall Fingerplay:

Red and yellow, green and brown (count off colors on fingers)
Leaves are falling to the ground (simulate falling leaves with hands)
We pile them up, oh so high ("pile" leaves with hands)
Then we JUMP in (pretend to jump in leaves)
My friends and I!

III. Story: Ten Tall Oaktrees, by Richard Edwards. Discuss how God wants us to care for the Earth He created. Discuss ways we can care for the Earth.

IV. Song: "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," from "Sunday School Songs" recording by Cedarmont Kids.

V. Fall Song/Game: "The Leaves on the Trees" (tune: "The Wheels on the Bus")

Form a circle with the children then sing:

The leaves on the trees came tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down (flutter hands down while singing)
The leaves on the trees came tumbling down, all over town (flutter hands down then turn around.)

The leaves on the trees are red, red, red. Red, red, red. Red, red, red (everyone wearing red goes to center of circle and shake themselves)
The leaves on the trees are red, red, red...all over town.

Repeat for orange, yellow, green, brown, and purple (or any other colors, until all children have had a chance to be in the center of the circle.)

VI. Story: The Tiny Seed, by Eric Carle. Briefly discuss the significance of a plant's life cycle.

VII. Bible Verse Bracelets: Print out, on a brightly-colored sheet of paper, today's verse repeated down the page. Cut between each verse so that you have 10-15 strips, each with the verse printed on it. Ask the children to form a line, and using tape to stick the ends together, wrap a "Bible Verse Bracelet" round each little wrist. Some children do not want to wear it; in that case, hand it to them and tell them to use the verse as a bookmark. The children love these, and come to expect them at each session! The verses also find their way home to parents and siblings, and help to spread the news about the storytime topic.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven."

VIII. Prayer: "Thank you, God, for the trees, and for the different seasons You created. Help us to take care of the beautiful world You made. Amen."

IX. Art: Leaf Rubbings.

Use a variety of boldly-textured leaves. Help the children place paper over the leaves and make colorful rubbings using pencil, chalk, and/or pastels.