Preschool Activities for September

September marks many things: for many schools throughout the world, it’s the beginning of the school year. The September Equinox marks the first day of fall, and Labor Day takes place in the last week of September. This month is also Children’s Good Manner’s Month. Incorporating these holidays into your preschool activities for September is both fun and educational.

Painting with Fall Leaves

This is great to include in your preschool activities for September. Before the day starts, go outside and select some leaves that have extra-long stems. When it’s time for arts and crafts, hand out the leaves to your students and have them use the leaves as paintbrushes. They can use the leaves themselves as the brush and the stems as the handle.

Making Fall Faces out of Leaves

This is another great September activity that involves autumn leaves. Collect a number of fall leaves in many different shapes and sizes. Cut out a 4- or 5-inch circle out of construction paper for each child. Instruct the students to glue the leaves around their circles to create hair, and then they can use markers to add in their fall faces’ facial features.

Make an Autumn Wreath out of Leaves and Acorns

Take the students on a nature walk around the school’s grounds, asking them to collect nuts, acorns, fall leaves, pine cones, and whatever other autumn items they find on the ground. Hand out pre-cut cardboard in a wreath shape to each student. Then, watch them have fun as they decorate their wreath with the items they collected on the nature walk. This wreath will be terrific for the children to bring home to their parents or to display around the classroom.

Celebrating Good Manners Month

Good manners are important, and they are best when instilled early on via preschool lessons. To celebrate September’s being Children’s Good Manners Month, create a pretend "tea party" where some students are "customers" and others are "servers". Emphasize the importance of saying "please" and "thank you" during this fun activity.

When the "customers" ask for something from the "servers," make sure that they use the word "please." When they receive what they have asked for, make sure that they use the phrase "thank you." Then have the children switch places so that everyone gets a chance to practice their good manners.

Celebrating the Beginning of Autumn

Decorate a bare wall with a large, brown cutout of a tree made with construction paper. On the first day of school, hand out green construction paper leaves to each student. Be sure to write the student’s name on his or her leaf beforehand. Have fun with the students while decorating the tree with their green leaves.

Throughout September, gradually have the students switch their green leaves with a red, orange or yellow one (again, with their name printed on it). During the second to last or last week of the month, gradually have the students move their leaves to the bottom of the tree, as if the leaves are falling off the tree. This is a great activity that can be continued throughout the school year.

Creating fun activities for each month is important, as it informs the students about the season changes and holidays that take place. These are just some of the many creative preschool activities for September that you can include in your lesson plan.