Hello October! It’s time for a month of pumpkins, bats and lots of learning magic! Planning out special activities & pulling those seasonal read alouds in advance makes the month feel extra exciting because you’ll have something to look forward to each week. Here’s a few ideas to help pop a little October magic into your lesson plans.
Gustavo / Broox Bat Jellycat / Bat Life Cycle / Fall Math Mats
October Early Finishers / October Craft Topper / Jasper
October Musings
- Feeling batty – bats do not have to be halloween! They can look like research and celebrate October being National Bat Appreciation Month. Learning about the bat life cycle is a favorite way to incorporate bats in Kindergarten without including halloween. Ask your librarian to pull some NF texts or create a digital collection on Epic! to learn more about these creatures. I also recommend Amara and the Bats for a realistic fiction read aloud.
- It’s the Season of… Jasper Rabbit – it’s time for the annual trip to Crackenhopper Field! Open up your book trio and dig into reading comprehension with Jasper. This series is also super fun for making a theme week/day. I recommend a little Jasper Rabbit day if your campus does not do halloween or a party! I grabbed the Jasper plush from Merrymakers a few years ago and it’s always a cute addition to a bookshelf.
- New Month, Fresh Math Centers – I like reaching for small plastic spiders, those craft wiggly eyeballs and LOTS of pom poms to use as math mat manipulatives during October. Target usually has small spiders without the ring part on the back so they lay flat. While not necessary, I just think they’re playful & usually a pretty value that can be reused.
- An October State of Mind – I purposely created themes within my early finisher packets that are inspired by experiences because I want students to feel connected. I hope this October set helps littles feel immersed in the magic of October while at school.
- Make it Homemade – October just feels crafty, cozy & handmade… and I absolutely love it. When the calendar changes, welcome the new month with a little craft session, Autumn playlist & calendar change. It’s also a relaxing way to let littles chat about the new month and what they’re excited about. Another perk – you have instant classroom decor. This pumpkin topper craft and calendar page is an easy way to welcome the new month.
- May your October read alouds runneth over – I say this every year and mean it! I think October/Autumn has the best picture book selection. I seriously want to crawl into the settings of the majority of them. Request & reserve copies in advance with your library before they fly off the shelves! My personal top picks all happen to be series: Gustavo the Shy Ghost (The World of Gustavo), Creepy Series and the newer collection of Millie Fleur books – I really & truly love them. If you’re a non-halloween campus – these are NOT actual halloween stories. Well, Gustavo’s World is technically marketed as “halloween” but the books do not mention Halloween in the text. They’re just spooky cute characters with a sweet message. Gustavo’s World is also wonderful for overlapping Hispanic Heritage Month.
Have an amazing October! I hope you found an idea that makes you feel excited to use in your primary classroom.
You can find classroom resources below and October picture book ideas on this blog post.
Shop the Post
Leave a Reply