A simple activity to do with junior kindergartners is leaf rubbing during the fall season. Take the children for a walk outside on a dry day to collect leaves of different colors, shapes and textures. Gather enough leaves so each child has at least three or four. After you return to the classroom spread the leaves out and allow each child to choose three or four for the leaf rubbing project. Give each student a piece of construction paper and crayons in a variety of colors. Instruct students to place the paper over the leaves and gently rub a crayon over the paper, creating the outline from the leaf onto the paper. Encourage students to use different colors.
Involve smaller children in this simple activity involving paint and nuts that can be found on the ground. Take the children for a walk outside and collect small nuts that have fallen from the trees. Once back inside, give each child a piece of construction paper and allow him to choose a few different nuts to paint with. Place a small amount of paint on each student's paper and have him place the nuts on the paper. Show the students that by using their hands to move the paper up and down and side to side, they can make the nut roll around on the paper through the paint, creating swirls. Add different colors of paint once the first coat has dried.
Arrange a trip for your junior kindergarten class to a local pumpkin farm. Allow each student to choose a pumpkin of her own to carve. Once back in the classroom, show the students a variety of shapes that they can use on the face of their pumpkin. Give students some time to draw the design for their pumpkin onto a sheet of paper. Using a permanent marker, help the students transfer ideas directly onto the face of the pumpkin, naming each shape as it's drawn. Carve each pumpkin for the children, allowing them to scoop out the pulp and collect the seeds, placing them in a small bowl. Once each pumpkin is finished, display them for the entire class to see, and use the seeds for other various activities.
Arrange a trip for your junior kindergartners to a local apple orchard. Allow the students to pick apples to use for an apple printing project. When the students are back in the classroom, lay down plenty of newspaper and have each student choose one apple to use for his project. Slice each apple in half and supply the students with trays of paint (small amounts of paint for stamping). Show the students how to use the apple as a stamp and create apple prints on paper or other objects such as a T-shirt or canvas tote bag. For additional designs, slice the apple again the same way or in a different direction.