Introduction................................................................................................................................ 1

Your Seasonal Garden............................................................................................................... 2

The Festivals.............................................................................................................................. 4

Michaelmas........................................................................................................................... 6

Song Play......................................................................................................................... 8

Medieval Costumes and Games......................................................................................... 8

Stories and Imagery.......................................................................................................... 9

An Autumn Play.............................................................................................................. 10

Baking Dragon Bread...................................................................................................... 11

Halloween........................................................................................................................... 12

Costumes........................................................................................................................ 12

Simple Autumn Party....................................................................................................... 13

Journey Through the Autumn Forest................................................................................ 13

All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days............................................................................................. 16

Martinmas........................................................................................................................... 17

Thanksgiving........................................................................................................................ 18

A  Harvest Masque for Thanksgiving............................................................................... 19

Recipes............................................................................................................................... 20

Raw Apple Cake............................................................................................................ 20

Pumpkin Soup................................................................................................................ 21

Blue Corn Scones........................................................................................................... 21

Harvest Soup.................................................................................................................. 22

Halloween Doughnuts...................................................................................................... 22

Shropshire Soul Cakes.................................................................................................... 23

Savory Nut Roast........................................................................................................... 23

Nut Balls for Soup.......................................................................................................... 23

Best Nut Loaf................................................................................................................. 24

Pumpkin Nut Muffins...................................................................................................... 24

Activities.................................................................................................................................. 25

Lanterns.............................................................................................................................. 25

Grinding Grains.................................................................................................................... 26

Kites................................................................................................................................... 26

Costumes............................................................................................................................ 27

Leaf Transparencies............................................................................................................. 27

Nature’s Creatures.............................................................................................................. 28

Thanksgiving Baskets........................................................................................................... 29

Wreaths and Swags............................................................................................................. 29

Planting Bulbs...................................................................................................................... 30

Pressing Flowers................................................................................................................. 30

Carving Pumpkins................................................................................................................ 30

Shadow Puppet Theater...................................................................................................... 31

Stories..................................................................................................................................... 33

The Little Red Hen.............................................................................................................. 33

The Little House with No Doors.......................................................................................... 35

An Autumn Story................................................................................................................. 36

The Giant Turnip.................................................................................................................. 37

The Hungry Cat................................................................................................................... 38

A Thanksgiving Story........................................................................................................... 40

Shingebiss........................................................................................................................... 41

The Sweet Porridge............................................................................................................. 43

Grandfather......................................................................................................................... 44

The Mouse under the Granary.............................................................................................. 44

Singing Games and Finger Play................................................................................................. 45

A Sample Season of Song and Play..................................................................................... 45

Finger Games...................................................................................................................... 50

Songs.................................................................................................................................. 56

Autumn Ring Game......................................................................................................... 57

Suggested Reading................................................................................................................... 65

Parenting, Education and Enrichment.................................................................................... 65

Books For Children............................................................................................................. 65