November Learning at Home with HIPPY Halton

HIPPY Halton
Nov 1
3 min read

Updated: Nov 11

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 November, we will explore changing seasons, kindness, and social emotional skills. Each week features playful, hands-on activities designed to nurture curiosity, compassion, and creativity.

Week 1: Falling Into November

This week children will explore how the world changes as autumn turns to winter, while practicing counting, observation, and reflection.

Activities to Try

Language & Reading: Read Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak. Talk about what changes happen when fall turns into winter.

Math: Collect a pile of leaves and count them together, can you reach 10?
Science: Try the Pinecone Weather Predictor. Place a pinecone outside and observe how it opens on dry days and closes on wet days. https://youtu.be/8estEa5V03k?si=Tk8KtZlO4sAcrH_i
Social/Emotional: Make a “What I like about fall” chart. Each child can add a drawing or picture.

Week 2: Kindness and Friendship

(World Kindness Day – November 13)

This week encourages preschoolers to explore empathy, generosity, and friendship through simple acts of kindness.

Activities to Try

Language & Reading: Read Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller. After reading, talk about small ways your child can show kindness at home or school, like helping a friend or sharing a toy.

Math: Create paper hearts numbered 1–10. Have children place them in order from smallest to largest number.
Science: Plant seeds in a small cup of soil to create a Kindness Garden. Water them regularly and watch kindness “grow.”
Social/Emotional: Make “kindness coupons” (like “I will help clean up” or “I will share my toy”) and let children give them to friends or family.

Week 3: Cozy Animals & Hibernation

This week invites children to learn about animals that hibernate and to reflect on comfort, rest, and feeling safe.

Activities to Try

Language & Reading: Read Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming. Talk about animals that hibernate.
Math: Print out pictures of animals and sort them into “hibernate” and “do not hibernate.” Count how many are in each group.
Science: Build a bear den using a box or blanket fort. Place a teddy bear inside and talk about how bears sleep through the winter. Or try this fun activity! https://www.prekprintablefun.com/blog/build-a-bear-den-stem-activity
Social/Emotional: Create a “Cozy Corner” with blankets or soft toys to teach comfort and self-soothing.

Week 4: Listen and Learn

(National Day of Listening – November 29)

This week helps children strengthen listening skills, focus, and communication — all key parts of early learning and social development.

Activities to Try

Language & Reading: Read The Listening Walk by Paul Showers. After reading, talk about what it means to really listen.

Math: Play a “Sound Counting” game. Sit quietly and count how many different sounds you hear — birds, cars, footsteps, voices.
Science: Explore how sound travels! Tap a spoon on different materials (wood, metal, fabric) and notice which sounds are loud, soft, or muffled.
Social/Emotional: Practice active listening by taking turns sharing something about your day. Encourage your child to look at the speaker and repeat back what they heard.