Lesson planner · classroom toolsPreschool / early childhood lesson plan (US)
Falling leaves
| Theme | Fall | Age group | 3–4 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Length | Half day |
Learning goals
Cognitive: sort leaves by color and size. Language: describe leaves using color and texture words. Physical: use tongs to pick up leaves. Social: take turns at the sensory table.
Early learning standards
Your state early learning guidelines for science exploration, language and fine motor skills.
Materials and resources
Real leaves (checked for safety), magnifying glasses, tongs, sorting trays, crayons, paper, a book about fall leaves
Key vocabulary
leaf, crunchy, smooth, big, small, red, yellow, brown
Circle / group time (15 min)
Sing a leaf song; pass a leaf around and each child says one word to describe it.
Learning centers
Science: magnifying glasses and leaves. Sensory: leaves and tongs in the sensory table. Blocks: build a tree. Dramatic play: raking and bagging leaves.
Art and sensory
Leaf rubbings with crayons (process art: no model to copy).
Music and movement (10 min)
Dance like leaves in the wind with scarves; freeze when the music stops.
Outdoor / gross motor
Leaf hunt: collect three different leaves; jump into a leaf pile.
Story and early literacy (10 min)
Read-aloud about fall leaves; children point to colors in the pictures.
Routines, snack and transitions
Transition song "Leaves are falling down"; talk about colors of fruit at snack.
Adaptations and support
Younger children: sort by color only. Older children: sort by two features and count each group. Home-language color cards.
Family connection
Invite families to collect a leaf on the way to school and talk about its color.
Observation notes
Watch for sorting by one or two attributes and use of describing words.
Planned time: 35 minutes