AUTUMN ACTIVITY PACK

FREEAUTUMN

ACTIVITYPACK

Free online activity pack to entertain your children this half term with autumn themed bakes, crafts and family activities .

Locality Team

School’s Out

Free

activities

Locality Team

Find more activities on our website at www.southsomerset.gov.uk/childrensactivities

A lot has been cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, including the School’s Out programme. However, we will continue to provide fun activities during your school holidays. Find out more about our autumn themed activities below:

Contents

Arts & Crafts

Cooking & Baking

Family Activities

• Paper craft Pumpkin

• Salt Dough Decorations

• Pumpkin Soup

• Hedgehog Bread Rolls

• Apple Bobbing

• Autumn Scavenger Hunt

• Leaf Lanterns

• Conker Spiders

• Leaf & Pebble Monsters

• Chocolate Covered

Apples

• Owl Cupcakes

• Halloween Treasure Hunt

• It’s Competition Time!

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Family ActivitiesFree

activities

Apple bobbing is typically a Halloween game where you try to catch apples floating in water with your mouth. The most apples bobbed in one minute is 37 and was achieved by Cherry Yoshitake in Japan. Can you beat the world record?

What you will need:• Apples• A large container• Water

Apple Bobbing

1. Find a large container such as a bucket or washing up bowl and make sure it is clean. Then fill ¾ of the container with cold water.

2. Place the container on the floor, preferably somewhere you don’t mind getting wet.

3. Put a handful of apples in the container, the apples should float.

4. Take it in turns for each player to kneel beside the apple container with their hands behind their back and try and catch an apple with their teeth. The aim is to pull the apple out from the container with only your mouth, if you catch hold of the apple but drop it back into the water you will need to try again.

5. Time how long it takes each player to retrieve an apple, the player with the shortest amount of time wins.

You can also play this game with two containers of apples with equal amounts of apples in each and race the opposite person or team to retrieve all the apples.

If you are playing by yourself, time how long it takes you to retrieve 4 apples and try again to beat your best time.

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activities

Autumn Scavenger HuntAre you ready for a expedition? Then grab your coats and lets get exploring. On your travels, whether in your garden or on a walk, can you find some of the following?

Some of these treasures will help you with your crafts and games in this activity booklet so keep your eyes peeled.

Some pebbles - 6 points

A spooky spider or spiders web

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activities

Halloween Treasure HuntParents, we ask you to prepare this activity for your little ones.

Firstly cut out the cards from below, then hide each one at the place given by the previous clue. These locations are also beside each card. Remember to hide a treat at the final place and to give clue number 1 to your children to set them off on this treasure hunt.

Children, are you ready? Can you follow the clues to find the hidden treats?

2

3

8

1. G

ive

to c

hild

ren

3. H

ide

by th

e TV

5. H

ide

in w

ardr

obe

7. H

ide

near

boo

ks

2. H

ide

in b

edro

om4.

Hid

e by

the

sink

2. H

ide

at th

e di

ning

tabl

e8.

Hid

e by

the

door

Remember to hide a treat by the shoes

Now you need to think, where do you get a drink? Go to the

sink and see if it stinks!

Witches carry a broom the next clue is

hidden in your...

Sit and watch until your eyes are square, you will find the

next clue hiding there.

Witches are known to have a crooked nose. Have a look

where you keep your clothes.

It’s Halloween and it’s time for a treat, find the next clue where you eat.

The next place to look is where you keep your story book.

Costumes, parties and yummy sweets to eat go to

where people say trick or treat.

We are now on our final clue. Witches cackle and ghosts go boo. Find the final clue by your shoe.

1

7

5 6

4

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activities

Find more activities on our Facebook page

We have more virtual activities on our PlayYouthSouthSomerset Facebook page.

Find out more at www.facebook.com/PlayYouthSouthSomerset

Yeovil County Park are also hosting some great Halloween activities on their Facebook page, such as a pumpkin carving tutorial and virtual Halloween trail around Yeovil Country Park.

This year due to the recent pandemic we are unable to hold our usual Halloween trail at Yeovil Country Park. However, we won’t let that stop us!

The rangers at Yeovil Country Park have worked hard to create a virtual Halloween trail, you will be walked around the trail as you look out for the mystery letters.

Will you be able to work out the ghostly word to complete the witches spell?

Find out more at www.facebook.com/YEOVIL-COUNTRY-PARK-318969131459283/ or by searching Yeovil Country Park on Facebook

Win a £20 book voucher

It’s competition timeBe in with a chance of winning a £20 book voucher by telling us your favourite autumn activity.

Send us a photo of your craft, bake or activity you enjoyed participating in the most for a chance to win a £20 book voucher.

Simply send us your photo to [email protected] by the 2nd November to be in with a chance of winning.

Please be aware that photos may be used in publicity on our social media channels, no other personal details will be shared.

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Cooking & BakingFree

activities

Have you carved your pumpkin? If so, don’t throw away the pumpkin pulp or ‘meat’ when you can make pumpkin soup.

Ingredients:• 1 tbsp oil• 1 onion finely diced• 1 medium pumpkin diced into 1-2cm cubes• 3 medium potatoes diced into 1-2cm cubes• 2 cloves of garlic (optional)• 500ml vegetable or chicken stock • Salt and pepper

Pumpkin Soup

1. In a large saucepan over a medium heat, sauté the onions in oil until soft. This will take around 3-5 minutes.

2. Add pumpkin, potato, garlic if using, and sauté for a further 5 minutes. Stir regularly to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. You may need to add a small amount of water.

3. Add the vegetable or chicken stock, season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil.

4. Once the soup is at boiling point, reduce the heat to low and simmer for around 30 minutes until the potato and pumpkin have cooked through.

5. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for around 5 minutes.

6. Use a blender to blend until smooth. If you do not have a blender, you can mash the content and push it through a sieve. Add some boiling water if the soup is too thick.

7. Serve hot and enjoy with a slice of crusty buttered bread.

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activities

These autumn themed bread rolls are a great treat and very easy to make. The are really nice with some butter while they are warm and could compliment your pumpkin soup.

Ingredients:• 340 g Strong White Bread Flour• 1 and a 1/2 tsp Quick Yeast about half a packet• 1 tsp Sugar• Salt pinch of• 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil• 220 ml hand hot water• Raisins for decorating

Hedgehog Bread Rolls

1. Put all the dry ingredients into a bowl and mix to combine them.

2. Add in a table spoon of vegetable oil and the warm water.

3. Start to mix the ingredients together, as it becomes sticky get your hands in the bowl and start to knead the dough.

4. If the mixture is a little sticky add some more flour and if it’s a little dry sprinkle some water into the dough.

5. Once the dough is combined turn out onto a lightly dusted surface and knead the dough, this will take at least five minutes until it is ready.

6. After you have kneaded the dough, divide into 4 or 5 small rolls and shape into mini hedgehogs. A tear drop shape is best to make a hedgehog.

7. Take some scissors and cut spikes into the dough to give the hedgehogs body spikes. Then add facial features by using raisins for eyes and a nose, you may need to cut the raisins into small chunks.

8. Leave to rise for around about an hour.

9. Pop them into the oven for about 25 minutes on 200C. Check they are cooked by turning them over and tapping the bottom, if they sound hollow then the bread is ready.

1. Prepare the apples by inserting lolly sticks into the apple core, careful not to push the lolly pop stick all the way through the apple.

2. Break the chocolate into pieces and place into a dry heat-proof bowl. Place the bowl over a saucepan of hot water and stir until melted. Make sure to stir regularly to keep it from burning and do not let any water get in the bowl with the chocolate. Once melted remove from the heat.

3. Dip the apples into the melted chocolate, turning the bowl at an angle to completely coat the apples with an even layer of chocolate. If the chocolate starts to stiffen put back on the heat.

4. Sprinkle with toppings such as dried fruit, nuts, sprinkles, sweets or drizzle with white or dark chocolate and leave to set.

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activities

Trick or treat? Make this sweet and sticky treat to get your teeth stuck into.

Ingredients:• 6 apples• 500g chocolate• Decorations include dried fruits, sprinkles

or nuts

Chocolate Covered Apples

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activities

Owl cupcakes are perfect for a autumn bake. Follow the recipe below to make these tasty treats.

Ingredients:For the cupcakes:• 250g butter• 250g caster sugar• 250g self-raising flour• Pinch of salt• 4 medium eggs• 4 tablespoons milk • Cupcake cases

Owl Cupcakes

1. Preheat the oven to 190C.

2. Beat the butter in a bowl until soft, then add sugar, flour, salt, eggs and milk and whisk until smooth.

3. Divide the mixture between cupcake cases and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, the cupcakes should be golden brown. Take out from the oven once cooked and leave to cool.

4. For the icing, break the chocolate into cubes and place in a bowl. Melt the chocolate in the bowl over a pan of hot water, alternatively microwave in bursts of 20 seconds. Allow the chocolate to cool but not solidify.

5. Beat the butter in a bowl until soft,then gradually add the icing sugar. Add the vanilla and beat again. Fold in the melted chocolate, if the icing becomes too think add some milk.

6. Spread a even layer of icing on the cupcakes.

7. Half your oreos and place two with the filling side up on the cupcakes, this will make the owls wide eyes. Add the centre of the eyes by placing two coloured m&ms in the centre of the oreos.

8. To make the beak add a bright coloured m&m, preferably yellow or orange, between the eyes. If you don’t have the right colours use another and make a multicoloured owl.

For the icing: • 50g dark chocolate • 100g butter• 200g icing sugar• 1 tsp vanilla extract• MilkFor decoration:• Pack of oreos• Pack of M&M’s

Image by Parker Feierback

from www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a55250/owl-cupcakes-recipe/

Free

activities

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Arts & Crafts

Fold and curl paper to make this paper craft pumpkin, a festive autumn decoration to be displayed in your house.

You will need• Orange card• Green paper (you can try out other colours too)• Glue• Scissors• Pencil, wooden skewer or quilling tool• Twigs

Paper craft Pumpkins

1. Take the orange card and cut 12 x1.5 inch strips from it.

2. Fold a small rectangle over at the top of the strip. Flip the card over and fold the rectangle back on itself. Repeat this until you reach the end of the card. This is called an accordion fold.

3. Cut two small circles from some orange card and put this to the side.

4. Glue the ends of the folded strip together to make a ring. Once the glue has set pull one side of the rings edges to the middle, this will form a orange circle. Then glue the small orange circles in the middle of your pumpkin on each side to secure the pumpkin. See an example on the image below.

5. Now get your green paper to make your leaves and vines. Firstly cut out one or two leaves from your paper. You can add texture to them by folding and creasing them.

5. Now cut some very thin strips from your green paper for the vines. Roll the paper tightly around a pencil, wooden skewer or quilling tool to form coils. If you think the curls are too tight you can carefully pull the curls out from the paper.

6. Break your twig down to a pumpkin stalk size and glue to the top of your pumpkin. Then arrange and glue your leaves and vines around it.

Image by BuggyandBuddy.com

from https://buggyandbuddy.com/folded-paper-pumpkin-craft

Image by BuggyandBuddy.com from https://buggyandbuddy.com/folded-paper-pumpkin-craft

Free

activities

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Arts & Crafts

Follow the steps below to make your scented salt dough and mould it into autumn or Halloween decorations which you can reuse year after year.

You will need• 1 cup plain flour• 1 cup salt• 1 cup of warm water• Food colouring of your choice, try yellow, red and orange

for autumn themed decorations and purple, green and orange for Halloween decorations.

• 1 tsp nutmeg• 1tsp cinnamon• String or ribbon (optional)

Scented Salt Dough Decorations

1. Mix the flour and salt in a bowl, then gradually add the warm water, mixing as you go. It should make a slightly sticky dough, if too sticky add some more flour.

2. Divide your mixture according to the amount of colours you wish to use. Add a few drops of food colouring to each ball of dough until you reach the colour you desire. Knead the dough to get a even colour.

3. Next add the spices to your dough by kneading them in. Beware that nutmeg can add a brown colour to the dough.

4. Now to begin making your decorations roll out your dough and start cutting out shapes such as leaves, pumpkins and bats. You may want to use cookie cutters, cut around real leaves or use templates. You can use real leaves to add indentations or use another coloured dough to add details.

5. If you wish to hang your decorations use a pencil to make a hole in the top of your decoration. Then place all the decorations on a tray lined with baking paper.

6. Set your oven on a low temperature between 100C and 140C and bake for around 3 hours. Check your dough to see if it has gone hard, if not turn the decoration over and pop it back in the oven. Watch that your decoration doesn’t start to burn and go brown. Once the dough has dried and gone hard remove from the oven and leave to cool.

7. Once the decorations have cooled tie string or ribbon through the hole of your decorations to hang them.

Image by The Imagination Tree

from www.theimaginationtree.com/autumn-salt-dough-recipe/

Free

activities

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Arts & Crafts

Did you find some leaves perfect for this project while on your scavenger hunt? Re-use your jam jars to make these lanterns. Bring a touch of light and a few autumn leaves to make this warm and cosy autumn decoration.

You will need• Clean jars (preferably re-used jam or food jars)• Some autumn leaves• PVA glue and paintbrush• Tealight candle, LED lights or a battery candle• Twine or ribbon to decorate

Leaf Lanterns

1. If you haven’t already, go out exploring to find the perfect leaves for this lantern. You can find a mixture of different size and colour leaves which have fallen from trees.

2. Paint an even layer of PVA over your jar. Start sticking your leaves onto the jar, make sure the centre of the leaves are stuck down. You may need to add more glue to the jar if the PVA has started to dry.

3. Once you have put all your leaves on, leave the jar to dry.

4. Next add more glue below the parts of the leaves which are sticking up and press the leaves down to secure them in place. Once you have secured all the leaves paint a thin layer of PVA over all the leaves and allow to dry.

5. You can add a finishing touch by adding some twine or ribbon around the neck of the jar.

6. Place you candle or LED lights inside the jar and enjoy. Please note: we recommend using LED candles or lights. If you are using a real candle please ask your parents for supervision.

Image by Mama Smiles

from www.mamasmiles.com/easy-leaf-mason-jar-lantern-craft/

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activities

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Arts & Crafts

Did you find any conkers while out on your adventures?If not then not to worry you can also use egg box cups to make spiders. Are you ready to make long legged spiders?

You will need• Pipe cleaners• Scissors• Conkers or egg box cups (preferably painted black)• Googly eyes• Glue and tape• Pens

Conker Spiders

1. Choose your conker, if you haven’t been able to find conkers you can use a egg box cup, these work best if they are painted black.

2. If you are using a conker, pick four pipe cleaners from the pack and tape them together in the middle of the pipe cleaner. For the egg box version pick four pipe cleaners, cut them in half making sure they are all the same length. Make small holes in the side of the egg cup, poke the pipe cleaners through and secure with tape.

3. Glue your conker onto the middle of the pipe cleaners where they have been taped together.

4. Bend the legs into shape and add googly eyes, you could even draw a smiley face or fangs on to your spider.

Image by Messy Little Monster from www.messylittlemonster.com/2016/11/conker-spider-craft-horse-chestnut-ideas.html

1. Paint each of your pebbles different colours and leave to dry.

2. Once dry, use a black pen and draw a mouth and teeth. Fill the teeth with white paint and add googly eyes with glue.

3. Use as puppet toys or hide around the garden.

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Gather the autumn leaves to create leaf monsters.It’s time to make monsters!

Ingredients:• Leaves• Sticks• Pom poms• Feathers• Glue• Lolly pop sticks• Paint (optional)

• You will need:• Pebbles of all shapes and sizes• Paint

• Goggly eyes• Black pen• Glue

Leaf Monsters

Pebble Monsters

1. Choose a leaf for the body of your monster to add arms and decorations to.

2. Add hair to your monster by using pompoms or feathers for hair, then add other leaves or little sticks for arms and finally glue on goggly eyes.

3. You can paint on additional details such as coloured spots or patterns, a big mouth full with pointy teeth or even a smile.

4. Attach the lolly pop stick to the back of the leaf using glue or tape. Give each member of your family a monster and have a puppet show.

Alternatively you can stick them to paper to create a scary picture with your monsters.

Free

activitiesArts & Crafts

Image by Messy Little Monster from www.messylittlemonster.com/2017/10/monster-leaf- puppet-kids-craft.html

Image by Messy Little Monster from www.messylittlemonster.com/2017/10/monster-leaf- puppet-kids-craft.html

AUTUMN ACTIVITY PACK

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