11 Acorn Books and a Craft for Preschool and Kindergarten
As the cooler weather of fall approaches and we get back into the groove of school, it’s the perfect time to bring some seasonal magic into your classroom. Imagine the excitement on your students’ faces as they explore the wonders of autumn through fun and engaging acorn-themed activities! Read-alouds are a fantastic way to kick off the season, and incorporating acorn crafts for preschool and kindergarten can make learning even more delightful and hands-on.
How Acorns Relate to the Preschool and Kindergarten Curriculum
Acorns are not only a symbol of the fall season but also a great way to introduce young children to concepts in nature, science, and art. These little nuts can help teach about the life cycle of trees, the importance of natural materials, and the changing seasons. Here’s how acorns can be used in different subject areas:
Science:
Use acorns to show how oak trees grow from tiny seeds. Students can observe real acorns, plant them, and watch them sprout. This will give them firsthand experience with germination and growth at a young age. Then, you can extend this lesson by discussing the role of acorns in the ecosystem, highlighting how animals like squirrels rely on them for food.
Math:
Acorns are fantastic tools for teaching early math concepts and developing fine motor skills. They can be used as manipulatives for counting, sorting by size or color, and creating patterns, which enhances both numerical understanding and hand-eye coordination. Additionally, acorns are perfect for skip counting exercises; by laying them out in groups, children can visually grasp multiples of numbers, making math more tangible and engaging.
Art:
Acorn painting is a fantastic way to spark creativity in children. By painting acorns in a variety of colors, kids can explore different textures and colors while working on their fine motor skills. Students can use acorn caps or acorn tops to create different patterns or designs! Children can also create adorable and imaginative art pieces like the paper bag acorn craft below! Acorn crafts for preschool and kindergarten have so many benefits.
Literacy:
Write uppercase letters on the acorn tops and lowercase letters on the bottom of the acorn. Have students match the letters. Weave acorns into your back-to-school read-alouds by selecting books that feature these fall treasures. This helps introduce new vocabulary and concepts, making it a fun and educational way to celebrate the changing seasons. Don’t forget to add some pumpkin books and apple books for kindergarteners into the rotation as well!
Sensory Play:
Easy acorn activities can involve just leaves and some scorns! Many of us live in areas where there is an abundance of acorns. Fill a sensory bin with acorns, leaves, and other fall items to create a tactile experience that engages the senses and provides opportunities for sensory exploration.
Incorporating acorns into your lessons is a fun way to engage students with hands-on learning while exploring play rhythms and fall colors.
11 Acorn Books for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners
I’ve rounded up 11 super fun acorn-themed books that are just right for preschoolers and kindergarteners. These stories are perfect for sparking little imaginations and getting kids excited about fall. These are some charming reads, and your students will love discovering the magic of acorns and the adorable animals that love them!
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Nuts to You! by Lois Ehlert
Follow a mischievous squirrel as he embarks on an adventure in an urban setting. Explore squirrel life and the importance of acorns in their diet.
Little Acorn by IglooBooks
A beautifully illustrated book that tells the story of an acorn’s journey to becoming a mighty oak tree, perfect for teaching about growth and change.
Because of an Acorn by Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer
A lovely introduction to the interconnectedness of nature, showing how one small acorn can affect the entire ecosystem.
Scaredy Squirrel by MĂ©lanie Watt
This is a funny story about a cautious squirrel who faces his fears and embarks on a surprisingly brave adventure. It is a fantastic read for kids learning about courage and curiosity.
Acorn to Oak Tree by Camilla de la Bédoyère
This is a nonfiction book that explores the life cycle of an oak tree, from a tiny acorn to a towering tree.
Acorn Magic by Maggie Stern
A whimsical tale that takes children on a magical journey, showing the wonders hidden inside a small acorn.
The Oak Inside the Acorn by Max Lucado
A heartwarming story about growing up and finding one’s purpose, perfect for discussions about personal growth and potential.
The Acorn Thief: A Story of Forgiveness and Friendship by Melissa Thomas
A heartwarming tale about an acorn thief who learns valuable lessons about forgiveness and the true meaning of friendship.
Those Darn Squirrels by Adam Rubin
A hilarious and heartwarming story about a cantankerous old man and the clever squirrels who outwit him, making it a delightful read filled with humor and charm.
The Busy Squirrel by Nancy Tafuru
This sweetly illustrated story about a busy squirrel getting ready for winter is now available in a sturdy board book format with a redesigned Classic Board Book.
Nuts Nuts Nuts: An exciting and fun picture book about one little squirrels crazy adventures out in the the big wide world by Ben Lucas
This book follows the crazy adventures of one little squirrel as he explores the big, wide world.
Acorn Crafts for Preschool & Kindergarten: Acorn Paper Bag Craft
When it comes to easy acorn crafts, this one takes the cake! The best part is it’s one of those craft projects that makes a great addition to a fall or Thanksgiving bulletin board display. Imagine all the little acorn decorations among tissue paper leaves and squirrels with googly eyes! It’s an excellent way to show how your classroom is celebrating fall and a great project younger kids can get done in a day! Plus, creating a fun fall craft like this acorn paper bag craft is a perfect way to incorporate art into your fall activities. Here’s a simple and fun project to try with your students:
Materials Needed:
- Brown paper lunch bag
- White, brown, black, and pink construction paper or colored paper
- Glue stick/Tape
- Black marker
- Scissors
- Template (download it at the end of this post)
Steps:
- Gather up all of the materials above and get ready to make the cutest acorn! Take a brown paper lunch bag and flatten it out. Students can decide if they want to keep the length of their bag or cut it and make it shorter. Just like snowflakes, every acorn is different!
- Make a template for the acorn top and bottom out of white paper. Grab the free printable template at the end of the blog post below.
- Trace the acorn template onto brown paper.
- Then, draw lines on the top of the acorn with a black marker. Glue or tape the pieces to the bag.
- For the smaller pieces, cut out small pink circles for the cheeks and black and white circles for the eyes.
- Glue or tape the eyes into place.
- Finally, draw a small smile and glue or tape the pink circles onto the bag. Now you have an easy fall craft that
This fun fall craft is a great way to help with fine motor skills and creativity in young children. It’s an easy way to bring the colors of fall into your classroom and create memorable art projects that your students will love. You can even add it to your Thanksgiving crafts if you are still looking for something out of the box!
Embrace the fall season with these engaging acorn-themed activities, books, and acorn crafts for preschool and kindergarten. They will make learning fun and exciting for your preschoolers and kindergarteners, and they will have so much fun while reading and creating their acorn paper bag craft.
Acorn Paper Bag Craft Template
To grab your free printable template click on the link below.
