Fall Leaves Finger Painting
- This activity is great for pre-k and elementary age children.
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- You will need a piece of brown construction paper (or white paper, brown paint/ markers/crayons), scissors, a glue stick and red, green, orange and yellow non-toxic finger paints. Colorful markers or crayons will also do the trick if you do not have finger paints on hand or if your child does not like using paints.
- Trace your child’s hand and arm onto the brown construction paper and have them cut it out, depending on age, some children may need help with this task.
- Glue this to a piece of white paper or color in the area that you traced on white paper. This will form the tree trunk and branches.
- Next, have your child add the colorful leaves to their “tree” using the finger paint, crayons or markers.
Visit A Local Farm or Orchard
- Family friendly farms abound in Maine! In addition to a few of my favorites listed below, a simple Google search will offer options nearby. These farms offer up a variety of family friendly activities and farm fresh seasonal produce for all ages.
A few of my favorites:
- Lakeside Orchards318 Readfield Road, Manchester.
- Pleasant Pond Orchard 430 Brunswick Road, Richmond.
- Bailey’s Orchard 255 N. Hunts Meadow Road, Whitefield.
- Kents Hill Orchard 1625 Main Street, Kents Hill.
- Applewald Farm 525 Huntington Hill Road, Litchfield.
- Lemieux Orchard 210 Priest Hill Road, Vassalboro.
Make Apple Sauce
- Homemade apple sauce is the perfect way to use apples and our Maine SNAP-Ed coordinators have the perfect recipe to share.
HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE
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Ingredients
- Medium Apples
- 1/2 Cup of Water
- 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 Teaspoon Brown Sugar (optional)
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Steps
- Wash the apples.
- Peel, core and quarter the apples.
- Cut the apples into small chunks.
- In a medium pot, combine the apples, water, cinnamon and brown sugar.
- Cover pot, and cook on medium heat until they come to a boil. Stir mixture. Then simmer over low heat until the apples are tender when you test with a fork, about 20-30 minutes.
- You can mash apples with a fork or potato masher for a smoother texture.
- Serve applesauce warm or cold if desired,
- Promptly store extra applesauce in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
Take A Hike and Have A Scavenger Hunt
- Take a hike in your own back yard, neighborhood, local park or walking path. Walking is a great physical activity and can be an adventure for the whole family. Adding a scavenger hunt to your hike can help keep kids engaged and on the move. You may want to bring a bag or a basket to carry your found items home.
- Visit the Maine Trail Finder to find a trail near you!
Roast Some Pumpkin Seeds
- Perhaps you picked some pumpkins to celebrate the season. Don’t let those seeds go to waste when they can make an excellent snack. To roast pumpkin seeds,
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- Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
- Clean and dry your seeds with a towel.
- Spread them on a lined or sprayed baking sheet.
- Spray with a bit of cooking spray and sprinkle a pinch of salt. More adventurous? Spice them up with other favorite seasonings like curry powder, taco seasoning, chili powder or cinnamon and sugar.
- Bake them for 15 minutes, cool and enjoy.
Pumpkin seeds are full of flavor, magnesium, antioxidants and fiber!
Want more fall recipe ideas?
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- Check out our Videos tab under Resources
- Visit Maine SNAP-Ed