Scarecrow activities are a delightful way to add some seasonal learning to hands-on play. Every activity, from creating and counting to matching letters and drawing their own scarecrow, provides youngsters with the opportunity to learn while having fun.
So don’t let your classroom scarecrow sit around and do nothing! Give this cool autumn figure a job and let the fall learning begin.
Learn About Scarecrows: Birds, Crops and Wind
A scarecrow may look like a silly guy standing in a field, but it has a very vital role! This classic fall icon will expose young students to farms, crops, birds and how farmers maintain their plants. Change the subject into a basic science and observation lesson with questions, discussion and hands on inquiry.Why Do Farmers Use Scarecrows?
Ask children, ‘Why would a farmer put a person who does not move in a field?’ Tell them that farmers sometimes use scarecrows to help protect crops from birds and other animals that might eat seeds, fruits, or growing plants.Show the students pictures of different scarecrows and fields. Talk about what farmers cultivate, like corn, wheat, vegetables and fruits. Ask your young students what they believe would happen if birds and other animals eat too much of the crops.
What Scares Birds Away?
Ask your students to imagine themselves like a bird! Ask: “What might cause a bird to not land in a field?” Scarecrows can frighten away birds with their movement, bright colors, reflective materials or noisy objects.Use a simple classroom experiment where your kids are shown various materials, such as shiny paper, ribbons, bells or colorful objects. Have them choose the items they believe would be most obvious to a bird and explain why.
Observe How Wind Affects Scarecrows
When the wind blows, scarecrows do more than stand there! Create a small classroom demonstration using a paper scarecrow attached to a craft stick. Put it near a fan and watch with the children what happens as the air moves.Ask questions such as:
- What happens to the scarecrow when the wind blows? It moves, sways, or wiggles as the air pushes against it.
- Which parts move the most? Loose parts, such as the arms, legs, hat, and ribbons, usually move the most.
- What happens when the wind is stronger? The scarecrow moves faster and may sway more strongly.
- How could we design a scarecrow that moves more in the wind? Use lightweight and loose materials, such as paper, yarn, ribbons, or fabric strips, so they can move easily.
4 Creative Scarecrow Activities For Young Kids
Scarecrow activities make an ordinary classroom day a fascinating autumn experience with colourful crafts and hands-on learning games. Kids can focus on fine motor skills, counting, letter recognition, creativity and collaboration, all with a seasonal theme they can relate to.Have a scarecrow you want to put to work? Check out these 4 exciting scarecrow autumn activities for kids in the school. They are easy to create, pleasant for young students to do and are the perfect way to add a little fall fun to your lesson plans.
1. Build-a-Scarecrow Craft
Have the kids build their own scarecrow out of simple classroom supplies. This project encourages creativity, fine motor skills, following directions, and self expression.Have paper, crayons, glue, craft sticks, yarn, fabric scraps and other safe craft tools available. Have children draw a face, hat, shirt, trousers and other features for their scarecrow. They can make a comical face for their scarecrow, dress it in colourful clothes, or even give it a ridiculous name!
Pro-tip: Hang the finished scarecrows around the classroom or build a “Our Scarecrow Patch” bulletin board.
2. Scarecrow Counting Game
Make a scarecrow a fun math activity! Kids can practice their counting, number recognition, one-to-one correspondence and simple addition.Draw or print a giant scarecrow and give children varied numbers of buttons, patches or pieces of straw to add to its attire. Say a number, and have children put that many objects on the scarecrow. For example, you could say, “Can you give the scarecrow 7 buttons?
Pro-tip: Make it a simple addition game for older preschoolers and kindergartners. The scarecrow has 3 buttons on his jacket. “If we add 2 more, how many does he have now?”
3. Dress the Scarecrow Fine Motor Activity
Who knew that dressing a scarecrow could be such a wonderful practice? Make a huge scarecrow figure and supply several items of clothing that youngsters may clip on with clothespins, Velcro, or simple clips.Children can choose a hat, shirt, trousers, shoes and other accessories. You can even order them to “Put the blue hat on the scarecrow” or “Give the scarecrow two red buttons.” This practice builds hand muscles and encourages colour awareness, listening skills and following directions.
Pro-tip: Have kids take turns being the “scarecrow stylist” and explaining to the class why they choose their costumes.
4. Scarecrow Letter Patch Match
Give your scarecrow a little reading makeover! Cut various colourful patches and write the letters on them (upper case and lower case). Create pairs of matching letters for children to find.Scatter the patches throughout the classroom and urge pupils to find a letter. When they find one, they can place the corresponding patch on the scarecrow.
This helps with letter recognition, matching upper case and lower case, beginning sounds and vocabulary development.
Pro-tip: For an added difficulty use beginning noises. For example, show a picture of an apple and ask students to spot the letter A patch.
Creative Scarecrow Resource For Kids This Fall
If you’re looking for a fun way to keep your students engaged about learning this fall, scarecrow-themed activities are a must! This resource transforms classroom instruction into practical learning opportunities for children to experiment, explore, and create.
Bring autumn learning to life with this interactive read-aloud while building important reading and language skills throughout the week. These engaging scarecrow and pumpkin patch activities provide differentiated, standards-based reading lessons designed to strengthen comprehension while teaching students about problems and solutions and expanding their vocabulary.
Guide your students through whole-group and small-group reading instruction as they explore problems and solutions, character traits, and making predictions. This week-long, differentiated read-aloud unit includes engaging vocabulary activities, writing exercises, instructional posters, graphic organizers, crafts, and more!
Looking for a fall or autumn scarecrow craft for your October or November bulletin board? This easy-to-make scarecrow craft and glyph pack is a fun, hands-on activity that helps young learners practice cutting and fine motor skills while creating a festive seasonal display.
With simple printable scarecrow patterns, students can easily create their very own scarecrow boys and scarecrow girls! The templates are perfectly sized for PreK, Kindergarten, and First Grade, making this a fun and engaging fall activity for the classroom.
Scarecrows are a fun fall teaching theme because they are creative, versatile, and full of opportunities for exploration. So grab some craft supplies, roll up your sleeves, and let the scarecrow fun begin!
Keep in mind that every little spark of curiosity you spread in your classroom can grow into a lifelong passion for learning. Keep up the good work, teacher! You're doing a fantastic job of bringing the fall season to life for your young students.
Looking to discover more fall-related resources for your fall unit? Check out these blog recommendations!
Pumpkins Galore! 5 Fun Fall Activities For Pre-K To 1st Grade