Animals and insects in the autumn

It is exciting to wonder what happens to different animals and insects in the autumn. One can, for example, gain knowledge about bears, vipers and hedgehogs that go into dens. What happens to the anthill and the ants there? What happens to the insects? Let the children explore and form new experiences with nature.

Here are tips for different activities and plays that you can use when working with the topic animals and insects in the autumn.

Tips for physical activities:

How many animals do you remember?

Make laminated cards with pictures of animals you work with and place them along the path. The children must remember which animals they saw along the path. The adult may ask the children questions about what they saw along the path when they return.

Snake Chase

Play that the rope is the viper that is going into the den. The children tries to catch the viper.

The Ants and the Pine Needles

Play The Ants and the Pine Needles in the forest. The children can collect loose natural materials that illustrates the pine needles.

Pull the Tail

Imitate different animals that you work with.

The Bear is Sleeping (with a twist)

Play The Bear is Sleeping as normal, but now add other animals that you work with. In this activity, the children get to imitate the movement pattern of different animals.

The Train Ride

Play The Train Ride as normal, but now look for the animals in the forest.

Animal Tag

Use the animals that you work with in Animal Tag. Here the children get to imitate the movement pattern of different animals.

Large Catches Small, Small Catches Large

Make cards for large and small animals and insects that you work with in the autumn.

Nature Bingo

Make Nature Bingo of keywords from the topic you work with.

Memory in Uneven Terrain

Play Memory in uneven terrain and practice keywords related to the topic of Animals and insects in the autumn.

Excerpt from the Norwegian Framework Plan

From the learning area Nature, environment and technology:

“Kindergartens shall enable the children to appreciate nature and have outdoor experiences that teach them to move around and spend time in the outdoors during the different seasons” p. 52.

“By engaging with nature, the environment and technology, kindergartens shall enable the children to learn about animals and animal life” p. 52-53.

“Staff shall provide a variety of outdoor experiences and use nature as an arena for play, wonder, exploration and learning” p. 53.

Bingo and Memory

Bingo og Memory Cards can be used in various games, for example, when practicing keywords related to topics you work with in the preschool.