Leaf Man: Signs of Autumn

1. Non-fiction
2. Seasons
3. Leaf Man
4. Leaf Man's Journey

1. Autumn nature walk
2. Autumnal descriptive words
3. Leaf art
4. Memories

1. Autumn nature/sensory
2. Leaf art
3. Leafy maths
4. Seasons sorting

1. Display a non-fiction book about autumn. Browse through the Contents page; select headings. Look at the information carefully. Lastly, find information about how the seasons change.
2. Enjoy Leaf Man, but stop before the final double page spread. Predict how the story will end. Encourage children to use because to provide reasons for their ideas. Finally, read the ending.
3. Share Leaf Man. After, show the refrain (resources). Read it aloud together. Discuss how different seasonal weather may affect Leaf Man, e.g. Spring = rain, Summer = sun, Winter = snow.
4. Read Leaf Man. Look carefully at the different arrangements of leaves and the images they create. Generate descriptive language to describe some of them, e.g. bright orange pumpkin.

Poetry/Rhyme of the Week: Five Little Leaves – Anon, adapted by Hamilton Trust
Introduce the poem and tune on Monday (send a copy home). Rehearse and sing throughout the week, e.g. waiting to go to lunch, to focus on carpet, for fun! Develop and refine the performance.

Essential Text: Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

Desirable Texts: Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson; What Can You See In Autumn? (Seasons) by Sian Smith; Autumn (Seasons) by Stephanie Turnbull; Autumn (Thinking About the Seasons) by Clare Collinson; and Autumn is here! by Heidi Pross Gray

Websites
A year on your farm from bbc.co.uk/cbeebies
5 Little Ducks Went Swimming One Day from bbc.co.uk
The Wheels on the Bus from bbc.co.uk

Resources
Autumn 'nature' items (e.g. dried and fresh leaves, twigs, acorns, conkers)