Autumn Resources
Autumn Heuristic Play Prompt Cards
12 practitioner provision cards. A collection of everyday objects for children to handle, combine and investigate in their own way. These cards help practitioners prepare open-ended provision and notice what children choose to do. Warm wood, rust, ochre and olive colours give the pack its autumn character.
Follow the exploration
Use the action titles to help plan and reflect on provision. Children do not need to perform the named action, follow a sequence or make a particular result. An interest in filling may become carrying, hiding or something unexpected. Return to familiar resources and allow time for repetition.
Provide suggests a starting collection. Explore describes possibilities. Notice offers a focus for observation, not an assessment checklist. Adult response suggests ways to acknowledge a child’s interest when they seek contact. The pictures show possible materials and relationships, not models to reproduce.
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Autumn Transient Art and Loose-Parts Invitations
Twenty-four invitations for making temporary arrangements with autumn materials, plus six reusable action cards. Children place, move, combine and take apart loose pieces without glue. Enjoy the choosing and changing as much as the picture or arrangement that emerges.
Offer an invitation
Place one card beside a small choice of suitable materials and a clear working space. The card sits beside the play; it is not a mat to fill or a picture to cover. Read the invitation aloud if useful, then allow time to explore. The illustrations offer a possible starting idea. Welcome abstract arrangements, stories, experiments and ideas that grow beyond the prompt.
The smaller “You could…” line is optional support if a child wants a way in. “Words to share” gives adults useful vocabulary to model through conversation, gestures or signs. Neither is a checklist. Children can point, choose, move pieces, direct a partner or watch before joining in; they do not need to read the cards or produce a finished picture.
Use the action cards freely
ARRANGE IT • CHANGE IT • ADD TO IT • TAKE SOMETHING AWAY • PHOTOGRAPH IT • START AGAIN
Choose any action card beside an invitation, or use the action cards alone. They are choices, not a sequence to complete. Ask before changing or dismantling a child’s arrangement. Offer a photograph if the child wants a memory, with adult help as needed. Agree when to leave work in place and when to gather pieces for another day. Photographing and starting again are always optional.
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Autumn Woodland | Small World Animal Figures
Eight movable woodland animals for small-world play, with optional name cards and folded supports. Use them alongside blocks, fabric, checked natural materials and animal figures you already have. Children can move, combine and reinterpret the pieces freely.
Approximate longest animal dimensions: hedgehog and mouse 6–7 cm; squirrel, owl and rabbit 8 cm; fox, badger and deer 9–10 cm. These are play sizes, not a true-to-life scale comparison. Illustrations show a grey squirrel, tawny owl and roe deer doe; names on the pieces remain simple.
Choose how to use them
Use flat on a tray or floor, place in suitable card holders, or secure to blocks. Keep any animal names separate so the figures stay open to imaginative use. Optional name cards are on page 4. Add only a few animals at first and follow the children’s stories.
Optional folded supports
Print page 5 on firm, foldable card, or use it as a template. Print it twice for eight identical supports. Make one first with your chosen card and check that it stands well before making the rest.
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Autumn Woodland | Small World Environment Pieces
Fifteen movable pieces to enrich your small-world provision: four trees, a log, a stump, two bushes, fungi, a leaf pile, stones, an empty nest, a burrow entrance, a tree hollow and a fallen branch. Use a few at a time alongside blocks, fabric, bark, checked natural materials and your woodland animals.
Trees are approximately 15–16 cm tall; most other pieces are approximately 6–10 cm across their longest dimension. These are practical play sizes, not a true-to-life scale. Use the 5 cm check line on page 7 to check the print size.
Page 8 includes optional cut, fold and stick supports.
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Autumn Woodland | Small World Finds & Signs
Eight woodland-find props and ten optional habitat signs to add to small-world play, with two blank signs for children’s own places. Use them with the animal figures and environment pieces, or with blocks, fabric and resources you already have. Offer a few pieces and follow the children’s stories.
The find props are approximately 6–7 cm across their longest dimension, including a little cutting margin. Signs measure 8 × 4 cm. These are useful play sizes rather than a true-to-life scale. The check line on page 5 should measure 5 cm.
Page 8 includes optional cut, fold and stick supports.
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Autumn Woodland | Small World Habitat Invitations
Eight habitat invitations and seven build-a-habitat cards to support children’s small-world ideas. Each has a new illustration and a few words to share. A blank invitation on the final sheet gives space for children’s own questions, drawings or dictated ideas.
Place one card beside a small choice of materials, or offer it when it connects with the children’s play. Read the prompt aloud if useful and allow time for children to notice, choose and try. The cards can be used in any order. Children can adapt the idea, choose another animal or follow a different story.
Offer materials that can change
Use blocks, short smooth logs, bark, suitable wood slices, fabric, trays and checked natural materials. Add your woodland animal figures or the printable pieces from Sections 1–3. Blue fabric can suggest water without needing a real water tray. Keep the space flexible so children can move, combine and add materials.
The pictures suggest possibilities, not models to reproduce. Animals in the illustrations can stand for the figures used in play. These invitations are for pretend small worlds, not instructions for housing or feeding real wildlife. Empty spaces can become homes for different characters; there is no fixed animal-to-habitat match.
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Autumn Woodland | Small World Story Invitations
Twelve story starters and six reusable prompts for imaginative small-world play. Each offers a possible moment in a story. Children can choose the characters, decide what happened and take the play in their own direction. Use the cards with your woodland figures, loose parts and movable environment pieces.
The starters include a disappearance, a coming storm, someone lost, an animal needing help, approaching winter, an unusual find, a new arrival, a blocked path, too little food, a new home, an overnight change and a hidden sound. The reusable prompts ask what happens next, who comes along, where they will go, what has changed, who could help and what they might need.
Offer one idea and follow the play
Place a card near a small choice of figures and materials, or introduce it when it connects with a child’s story. Read the short line aloud if useful, then pause. Children might act, make sounds, move a figure, point or tell you an idea. They do not need to read the card, answer a question or complete a story.
The pictures are possible starting points. Children can choose different animals, invent another explanation or ignore the suggestion. For “Something has disappeared”, the missing thing is theirs to decide. For the hidden sound, leave its source open. These are pretend story situations; use animal figures and suitable props.
Keep the conversation responsive
Notice what the child has already introduced: “The mouse stopped at the path.” You could echo an idea or add a few words that help them express it. Offer one reusable prompt when helpful, then allow time. Avoid running through all six questions. A repeated action or a very short episode can be a worthwhile story in its own right.
Use the reusable cards with any starter, with a child’s existing story or on their own. They are choices, not a sequence. Follow children’s feelings and interests; choose a gentler starter or change the wording if loss, storms or needing a new home feels uncomfortable. Children can stop, change or return to a story whenever they wish.
Make room for different ways to join in
Offer fewer figures, larger lightweight pieces and a reachable play space where helpful. Children can select a character, use gesture or their usual communication supports, direct a partner or watch first. If a child wants a record, an adult can write down their words or help them photograph the play. Recording is optional.
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Autumn Woodland | Small World Position and Tracks
Seven illustrated invitations and six movable track strips support spatial language, investigation and storytelling in small-world play. Offer them with animal figures, blocks, logs, fabric and woodland pieces. Children can move, combine and reinterpret the materials freely.
Choose the pages you need
Pages 2–5 | Beside, beneath, behind, between, inside, above and through; plus one optional blank card.
Pages 6–7 | Fox, deer, rabbit, badger, squirrel and bird track strips.
Use position words within play
Offer one card when it connects with the play. Read the invitation if helpful, then give children time to move a figure, point, gesture or explain. The image shows one example; children can choose other animals, materials and arrangements. There is no need to copy the model or work through all seven cards.
Describe what is happening: “Your mouse is beneath the bark.” You can connect beneath with under and beside with next to. For between, show two reference objects. For behind, look from the child’s viewpoint and notice what is hidden. Above does not have to mean touching or resting on something.
Let children direct a partner or adult if moving the pieces is difficult. Use larger figures, fewer objects or a reachable play surface as needed. Children can respond with their usual communication supports. Change one position at a time if helpful; reading and spoken answers are not required.
Let tracks become part of the story
Lay one strip beside a log, lead it towards a tree or let children build a route with several strips. They might follow it with a figure, choose who made it or decide where it leads. Ask “Where might these go?” when it helps the play. The animal names are preparation labels outside the cut lines, so the strips can remain unlabelled.
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Autumn - Animal Masks - Colouring
Autumn animal masks pack. Ideal for autumn themed role play and art and craft!
Pack includes 8 masks: badger, hedgehog, fox, deer, barn owl, red squirrel, grey squirrel and deer with antlers.
Keywords: owl, owls, badger, badgers, hedgehog, hedgehogs, fox, foxes, deer, deer, barn owls, red squirrels, grey squirrels, deer with antlers, owl babies, owl baby
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Autumn - Animal Masks
Autumn animal masks pack. Ideal for autumn themed role play!
Pack includes 8 masks: badger, hedgehog, fox, deer, barn owl, red squirrel, grey squirrel and deer with antlers.
Keywords: owl, owls, badger, badgers, hedgehog, hedgehogs, fox, foxes, deer, deer, barn owls, red squirrels, grey squirrels, deer with antlers, owl babies, owl baby
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Autumn Writing for Purpose - Messages
Offer paper where messages can be delivered: a pretend ranger station, a woodland postbox or a small-world home. Children can ask for help, share news, invite a friend or leave a note in a story. Missing and Found are notices about a play object or story character.
Choose a layout together
A offers space for drawing and marks. B combines drawing with emergent writing. C offers more room for independent writing. These are choices of paper, not ability groups or a sequence to complete. Children can choose any version, switch between them, dictate to an adult or combine pictures, symbols, letters and words. The small footer code is only for finding a version.
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Autumn Walk - Writing, Drawing & Mark Making
Autumn Movement Challenge Cards
Have great fun with your children whilst all acting out Autumn sights with this set of 8 Autumn Activity Challenge cards. Perhaps children could stand in a circle around the pile of cards and take turns to pick one for everyone to do. Cards could equally be shrunk down and placed on a key ring to take out on adventures or featured on an indoor or outdoor display board and referred to with everyone carrying out the activity on floor space in front. Once the children get to know the cards they will be able to relate the action to the picture without necessarily needing the card read to them...For example an adult may be able to simply hold up a card and everyone will be able to do the activity together! For those children who are exceptionally engaged, these cards explored in sequence could even be set to music as a dance performance! Great for physical development, descriptive language, understanding the world and turn taking.
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Autumn - Senses Prompts
These prompts are intended to encourage discussion and thinking about our senses during the autumn.
Together with each mini-banner there are small note sheets for children to mark-make/write/draw their thoughts and experiences.
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Autumn - Leaf Display
These leaves can be used by the children to draw and/or write on with the goal of creating a group display.
For example, a kindness display could be created by the children drawing/writing on their leaves about kind things others have done for them, or that they have done for others.
The cutting out of the leaves also helps as fine motor practice.
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Farm Shop Role-Play Pack
Download this one stop 'Farm Shop' role play pack. Ideal role play area for the Autumn Harvest term. Pack includes banner, menu with prices, blank proforma menu for children to fill in, picture cards of various things to be sold in the role-play shop (to ideally cut out and laminate), food signs, open/closed signs, advert posters, shopping list templates, opening times poster (including days of the week) and product price signs (pre-written versions and those to be filled in by children).
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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My Autumn Senses Booklet
These mark making prompt sheets will help encourage your children to draw and/or write about their senses…perhaps after the children have been on an autumn walk! The sheets can be used separately or joined together to form a senses booklet.
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Autumn Picture Snap Cards
Consolidate children’s knowledge of Autumn sights whilst playing a fun game of ‘snap’ (or a memory game of ‘picking up pairs’ if you only print 2 of each card) with this set of large snap cards. The cards are made with a tab which can be folded before lamination in order to strengthen the final product. This also means that when turned over, the picture on the front can not be seen.
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Autumn Number Snap Cards
Ideal as part of an 'Autumn' topic. These Autumn themed Snap cards (1-10) can be printed, cut out and laminated to consolidate children's recognition of numbers and Autumn themed objects! Also why not use them to create addition and/or subtraction number sentences?...E.g. place the cards on the floor '4 (bats)' + '1 (fox)' = how many objects all together? (Children can use 1:1 correspondence counting to physically count all of the objects.) For a more robust design, try backing them on card. (Word cards available to help with children's subject knowledge).
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Autumn 'What Can You See?' Poster
Display this poster in your setting to encourage children to look closely and pay attention to details. Whilst children will benefit from looking at this poster independently, you may choose to ask them open and closed questions about what they can see, how many, the colours, if they were there, what they might be able to hear, feel, smell, etc. Adaptable for all ages, including those very young to begin to categorise and label the world around them developing understanding before speech. In addition as challenges, older children may like to create their own maths problems, write their own word cards for the picture or even make up their own stories based on it (oral, drawings or written). Look out for more 'What can you see?' pictures.
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Squirrel Dash Game
Fun and original game we’ve invented called ‘Squirrel Dash!’ Great for working on addition to 10 and number recognition. Who will gather 10 acorns and make it to the tree first?
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Autumn Leaf Fall Game
Simple, original and fun Autumn Leaf Fall Game. Help children to consolidate number recognition and also learn about subtraction whilst engaging in this fun Autumn themed game. Instructions included on front page. As an extension to this game, use a normal 1-6 dice and print (and laminate) more sheets per child.
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Autumn Phase 2 Words Game
Simple, original and fun Autumn Leaf Fall Game. Help children to learn and consolidate their knowledge of Phase 2 high frequency words. Instructions included on front page.
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Autumn Reward Chart - Portrait
A4 sized portrait Autumn themed reward chart.
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Autumn Leaves Mark Making Sheet
Two autumn themed sheets, one lined and one blank. For drawing, writing and mark-making during an activity or within role-play.
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Leaf Writing, Drawing & Mark Making
Writing and/or drawing sheets in an autumn leaf outline to prompt independent and emergent writing.
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Rainy Day Mark Making, Drawing & Writing Sheets
Two rainy day themed sheets, one lined and one blank. For drawing, writing and mark-making during an activity or within role-play. Ideal for Autumn or Weather topic.
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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Wellies Favourite Colour Pictogram
Wellies Pictogram Chart pictures designed for children to not only think about their favourite colour, but also realise that others may not have the same favourite. In addition, children begin to learn about simple graphs and charts. Ideal for use in a classroom, preschool, nursery or childminder setting. Children do not have to complete the activity at the same time, but a chart can be added to a display and individual children can add their own favourites at appropriate times.
Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.
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