No study or scarecrows would be complete without making a life-size one. Make a scarecrow with preschoolers by stuffing old shirts, pants, gloves and boots with straw or cotton batting. Draw the face on a small pillowcase and stuff it. An old hat completes the ensemble. Set the scarecrow in a rocking chair in the reading corner and encourage preschoolers to "read" books to it. Take a vote on what to name the scarecrow and chart the results as a literacy and math activity.
Cut circles and triangles out of black, brown, orange, yellow and red construction paper. Give each child a paper plate and glue the shapes on the plate to make the scarecrow's face. Use a large triangle for a hat and add strips of yellow construction paper for straw hair. Cut black crows or a row of corn from construction paper and display with the scarecrows for a fall bulletin board.
Roll out sheets of butcher paper large enough for a child to lay on. Position the child on the butcher paper so that their arms and legs are angled to resemble a scarecrow. Trace around the child's body to make the outline of the scarecrow. Give each child bits of straw, fabric, paper and glue to decorate the scarecrows. Hang the scarecrows in a row in the classroom. Label each scarecrow with the child's name.
Make a sugar cookie or gingerbread dough. Cut the dough with a gingerbread man cookie cutter and bake. Decorate the men with candy and frosting to resemble a scarecrow for a fall party treat. Boil corn on the cob or make a trail mix with candy corns, popcorn and dried cranberries.