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Learning Through Autumn: October Preschool Activities
- HIPPY Halton
- Oct 1
- 3 min read
At HIPPY Halton, we believe that children learn best through play, family connection, and simple routines. Each month we share activities that help preschoolers build important school readiness skills in language, math, science, and social development. These activities are easy to do at home and require only simple materials.
This October, we will explore autumn traditions, practice thankfulness, and enjoy Halloween fun. Each week has a special theme with hands-on activities to try together.
Week 1: Autumn Explorers
This week children will build early language, counting, and observation skills as they explore the changes in the season.
Activities to Try
Language & Reading: Collect fall leaves and talk about their colours and shapes. Use descriptive words like red, yellow, round, or pointy.
Math: Sort leaves by size, shape, or colour. Count how many are in each pile.
Science: Go on a “Signs of Fall” scavenger hunt. Look for pinecones, acorns, migrating birds, and chilly breezes.
Social/Emotional: Create a “Thankful Tree.” Each day, add a leaf with something your child is grateful for.
📖 Book Highlight: The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming – A fun story about autumn leaves and change.
Week 2: Thanksgiving Gratitude
This week children will practice thankfulness and learn how to count, sort, and observe.
Activities to Try
Language & Reading: Read a Thanksgiving story and talk about family traditions. Have your child draw what they are thankful for.
Math: Cut out a paper turkey body and add numbered feathers. Have your child match feathers in order 1–5.
Science: Test if pumpkins sink or float. Try with an apple too!
Social/Emotional: Start a Family Gratitude Jar. Each day, write down something kind or thankful, then read them together at the end of the week.
📖 Book Highlight: I Am Thankful: A Thanksgiving Book for Kids by Sheri Wall.
ek 3: Spooky Science & Halloween Fun
This week children will strengthen their pattern recognition, science curiosity, and courage.
Activities to Try
Language & Reading: Read Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson.
Math: Make candy corn patterns with real or paper shapes. Ask your child to continue the sequence.
Science: Use a flashlight to explore shadows. Shine it on a toy or pumpkin and watch how the shadow changes when you move closer or farther away.
Social/Emotional: Talk about bravery. Ask your child when they felt scared but tried something new anyway.
📖 Book Highlight: Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson.
Week 4: Costumes & Creativity
This week children will practice counting, creative expression, and social skills.
Activities to Try
Language & Reading: Read Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete.
Math: Draw pumpkins with numbers 1–5 on the floor. Play pumpkin hopscotch by jumping and counting.
Science: Make glow-in-the-dark sensory bottles with water, glitter, and glow sticks. Explore how they shine in the dark.
Social/Emotional: Role-play trick-or-treating. Practice saying “please” and “thank you.”
📖 Book Highlight: Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete by James Dean.
About the HIPPY Program
The Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Program at HIPPY Halton supports parents as their child’s first and most important teacher.
Through weekly home visits, free resources, and hands-on learning activities, we help families build skills that prepare children for school success. Our program also supports parents, especially newcomers to Canada, in feeling confident, connected, and included in their new community.