Southside Elementary School

Celebrate Special Days in October

Popcorn Poppin’ Month

-Celebrate with a family movie night, complete with homemade popcorn.  Try one of these fun flavors:

  Italian-Flavored Popcorn-Melt 11/2 Tbsp. of butter.  Add ¼ tsp. each of oregano, parsley, and basil to the butter.  Pour the mixture over the popcorn and toss to coat.

  Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn-Shake cinnamon sugar over popcorn and toss.

Pizza Month

-Honor this Italian creation by making English muffin pizzas with your child.  Top an English muffin half with pizza sauce, cheese, green papers, mushrooms, onions, pepperoni, olives, or other toppings.  Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.

Month of the Dinosaur

- Check out and read books from the library about dinosaurs, such as Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton and Dinosaur Days by Joyce Milton.  If possible, plan a family trip to a museum to view dinosaur bones and fossils.

Child Health Day Oct. 4

-Talk with your child about ways your family can stay healthy.  Ideas could include hand washing, covering your mouth when you cough, exercising, etc.  Have your child make a family checklist for hand washing before meals.  Place the checklist on the refrigerator and have each family member check off his/her name after washing hands and before eating.

Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 3-9

-The Great Chicago Fire occurred on October 9, 1871 and famous because it brought about improvements in fire prevention and safety.  According to legend, Mrs. Catherine O’Leary’s cow kicked over an oil lamp, starting the fire that burned through the city.  Help your child practice your family’s fire exit plan.

Halloween is Oct. 31

-Discuss the following safety tips with your child to keep the holiday happy and safe!

  Walk with an adult.

  Do not eat treats which have not been checked by an adult.

  Carry a flashlight.

  Stay in familiar areas.

  Have fun!

Read in October

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert

-A child shares a scrapbook describing the life cycle of a maple tree from a seed to an ever growing tree, then shares a favorite leaf from the tree.

-Go on a walk to collect leaves with your child, then use them to make an autumn leaf booklet.

When the Frost is on the Punkin by James Whitcomb Riley

-A child enjoys an autumn morning on a farm.  The text is a classic read-aloud poem celebrating autumn changes.

-Have your child clap out the rhythm of the story as you read it aloud.

Pumpkin Fiesta Caryn Yacowitz

-foolish Fernando decides he can grow better pumpkins than Old Juana and thinks he has figured out her secret.

-Have your child predict what will happen each time Foolish Fernando tries to outwit Old Juana.

The Ghost-Eyed Tree by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault

-Two children take a journey past the dreaded ghost-eye tree, where their imaginations run wild.

-Challenge your child to find the cat hidden on each page of the story.

The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown

-A scarecrow boy wants to help his father in the cornfield, but his father tells him he is not fierce-looking enough to scare a crow.

-Ask your child to name something he wishes he/she could do but is too young.  Then, have him/her name some things he/she can do well already.

Possum’s Harvest Moon by Anne Hunter

-When Possum wakes up one autumn night and sees the bright harvest moon, he decides to have a moonlit party for his forest friends.

-Have a harvest party with your child, complete with apple juice and cookies.

Dem Bones by Bob Barner

-This classic African-American story also includes factual information about bones.

-Take turns with your child naming different bones and pointing out where they are located.