Use a piece of flexible, clear plastic (such as acetate) to create an Earth necklace or suncatcher. Instruct the preschoolers to color acetate circles with blue and green permanent markers to resemble the globe. Let the marker dry. Punch a small hole in the top of the acetate sheet, and then string yarn or ribbon through the hole to make a necklace (or to hang in a window). With the teacher's help, preschoolers can use a black permanent marker to draw a line representing Christopher Columbus's sailing route.
Prepare the preschoolers for a field trip to a pumpkin patch by creating a pumpkin-themed tissue paper "painting." Using a black permanent marker, the teacher should draw the outline of a pumpkin on a sheet of white construction paper. Cut out squares of orange, green, and brown tissue paper (make sure ahead of time that the tissue paper "bleeds"). The preschoolers use a paintbrush to wet areas of the picture, and then apply the tissue paper squares. When the water dries, the preschoolers can pull off (or blow off) the tissue paper squares to reveal the color underneath.
Use large Styrofoam blocks to create an "Autumn in My Backyard" display. Preschoolers can explore areas outside the classroom (or their own backyards) to find interesting autumn objects, such as colored leaves, twigs, acorns and fall flowers. Gather all the objects, and then use long straight pins or push pins to attach the autumn items to the Styrofoam (tacky glue also works). This craft activity helps teach preschoolers about what they can find outside in the fall.
Cut several apples in half lengthwise, and then have the preschoolers use a paintbrush to apply red, green, or yellow paint to the cut side of the apple slices. Instruct them to stamp the apple slices onto a large piece of white construction paper or even a small canvas tote bag (use fabric paint). This craft activity will teach the students about different types of apples and the parts of apples (skin, flesh, seeds and stem). Follow this craft activity with a trip to an apple orchard for apple picking or to a factory that makes apple cider.