SCARECROW THEME FOR PRESCHOOL

This week’s #playfulpreschool theme is:  SCARECROWS!  All of the scarecrow activities by the playful preschool blogging team are designed for use at home or in the preschool classroom.  We hope your own children enjoy playing and learning along with us this fall!

Scarecrow Background Information:  Scarecrows derive their name from the duty they perform; a scarecrow is designed to scare birds or other animals from the harvest fields.  Humans were the original “scarers” in the fields.  When many humans died during the plaques, scarecrows began to replace humans.  Today, farmers will often hang pie tins or other noise makers from the arms of the scarecrow.  The noise keeps the animals from eating the fruits of the harvest while the scarecrow remains the decorative host.

5 Little Scarecrows – an original counting rhyme for preschool by The Preschool Toolbox – 5 Little Scarecrows Rhyme for Preschool

Objective:  To engage young children in early literacy and math through the use of a simple scarecrow counting rhyme that is FUN and easy to learn!

5 Little Scarecrows

5 Little Scarecrows all stuffed with hay;

Stood in the field on a sunny fall day!

The 1st one said, “It’s a beautiful autumn morn!”

The 2nd one said, “We’re here to protect the corn!”

The 3rd one said, “I’ll shoo the crows today!”

The 4th one said, “Let’s work hard and then we’ll PLAY!”

The 5th one said, “The crows are flying away!

Then the 5 Little Scarecrows took a break to RUN and PLAY –

The crows didn’t DARE snack on field corn that day!

~The Preschool Toolbox

Materials needed to create the scarecrow stick puppets:   5 craft sticks or straws per child, 5 Scarecrows (cut from this scarecrow puppet printable – Scarecrow Puppets for Preschool), scissors, permanent marker, and tape.

Prior to the activity:  cut out 5 scarecrows per child (or have the children cut out).

Set out all the stick puppet supplies on a table or a large tray.  Invite the children to tape one paper scarecrow on each of  the 5 craft sticks.  The children can then number each of the craft sticks with a number 1-5 (see photo above).

Print a copy of the scarecrow rhyme and read it to the children.  After the children are familiar with the rhyme, have them hold up one scarecrow (or the corresponding numbered scarecrow) for each line in the rhyme.  Our kids LOVE this rhyme and ask for it every year!  As the children gain confidence, they can put on scarecrow stick puppet shows for their peers and chant the rhyme independently!

5 Little Scarecrows PowerPoint

Download and play the PowerPoint to accompany the rhyme at home or in the classroom!  It’s fun to hear the children chant along as they learn the words!

Scarecrow Books Your Kids Will Love!

The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown – This is a great fall book that incorporates a moral lesson. We use this book as an introduction not only to scarecrow-themed projects, but also for family and all about me themes in the classroom.

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves by Lucille Colandro – this is our kids first choice for scarecrow books. The ending is not so surprising and the kids LOVE that they know what the old lady is up to!

The Scarecrow’s Hat by Ken Brown – this is a great book for teaching kids how to work through circumstances with a positive attitude. It is not a rhyming book, but it is written so that preschoolers can understand. Nice book to add to your fall reading list.

Scaredycrow by Christopher Hernandez – this is a cute book for preschoolers. Our kids LOVE it a little more than I do! I’ve read it no less than 10 times in the past two weeks (do you have some of those books in your own library)?:)

The Scarecrow’s Dance by Jane Yolen – I have to include this book as the illustrations are breathtaking. The rhyme has a few words that our preschoolers didn’t quite grasp, but after many readings, it has become a beloved book.   Wonderful storyline and a beautiful autumn-themed book.

Barn Dance! (Reading Rainbow Books) Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault – this is a FUN book with great rhyme and lyrics – hoe-down style! Your kids will ask for it over and over again!

For MORE Playful Learning Themes from the Playful Preschool Team, visit:

APPLES THEME ACTIVITIES, FAMILY and HERITAGE THEME ACTIVITIES, FARM THEME ACTIVITIES, HARVEST THEME ACTIVITIES, FALL COLORS, NIGHT SKY THEME, DINOSAUR THEME, COMMUNITY HELPERS THEME, CREEPY CRAWLIES THEME

For More Scarecrow Learning Activities for Kids from the ‪#‎PlayfulPreschool‬ Team:

Scarecrow Process Art by Fun-A-Day, Shape Scarecrow by The Educators’ Spin On It, Invitation to Build a Scarecrow with Play Dough by Mom Inspired Life, Alphabet Activity: Scarecrow Letter Patches by Growing Book by Book, Scarecrow Hunt with Free Printable by Capri + 3, Build A Scarecrow by Learning 2 Walk, The Benefits of Creative Collage for Kids by Still Playing School, Exploring Scarecrows with Technology by Rainy Day Mum, Stick Puppet Scarecrows by Tiny Tots Adventures