Since most preschoolers are already learning about different colors, take the students on a nature walk in the fall to collect different colors of leaves. Bring them back to the classroom ,and categorize them into groups of green, brown, red, orange, and yellow. Make a bar graph using poster board and markers to show how many of each color were collected.
Have the students make a tree using washable finger paints, paper, and their own hands. Use the color brown to make one full hand print on the center of the paper. Then have students use green, or fall colors, to stamp fingerprints all over the tree to represent leaves. Once this is dry the students can turn it into a fruit tree by using the color of their choice (red for apples, orange for oranges) and using their fingerprint to stamp the fruit onto the tree.
Make a large paper tree trunk with branches, and hang it on a wall. Have the preschoolers help dress the tree up for the appropriate season or holiday. For summer have preschoolers make leaves to attach to the tree. In the winter have them make snowflakes. For fall have them either gather real leaves or cut out colorful leaves to put on the tree. When there is a holiday or special event, such as Christmas, have the students decorate the tree for the occasion.
Preschoolers are often apprehensive about starting school and leaving their parents for the day. Seeing new faces feels intimidating and often scary for a young child. To help with the transition into school, have students bring pictures of themselves to class. Draw or cut out a tree to put on the wall. Have the students help tape their pictures to the tree to create a classroom family tree. The students will be able to view their classmates and teachers as a group.