Autumn (not so) Messy Table

Fall is in full-swing and we are getting ready for some Halloween fun this week! Typically there is a lot of planning and executing that takes place at the beginning of a new unit, and then I get to spend some time collecting data and enjoying new activities and materials. :)

This is what's going on at our ever-popular Messy Table...

We filled our water tables with wood pellets ($4.00 for 40lbs at Home Depot; reusable and smells good too!) to create an autumn farm scene that includes pumpkins, gourds, fake plants, animals, tractors, farmers, and scarecrows. We're working on theme-related vocabulary, prepositions, attributes, and wh- questions, among other language objectives.

Quick and easy to put together and so fun! Sensory experiences lend themselves to the elicitation of great spontaneous language and we're always looking for new, innovative materials to put in our 'Messy Table'. What are your favorite mediums?