Easy activities inspired by "The Scarecrow"| Fall activities for kids

In the fall book “The Scarecrow” by Beth Ferry, we follow the heartwarming journey of a lonely scarecrow who defies his role to care for a helpless baby crow. This story takes us through the changing seasons, showing us the growth of a beautiful friendship. Use these activities to help you and your children get more from this beautiful fall book.

Activity #1: Character Puppets

The Scarecrow Activities — Get “The Scarecrow” puppets here!

To bring this story to life, we’ve created Character Puppets that kids can use to retell the tale and explore the themes of kindness and friendship.The puppets help children engage with the story in a hands-on, interactive way. By retelling the tale with their puppets, they’re able to recall details, sequence events, and explore the deeper themes of the book.

What You’ll Need:

Craft sticks (or popsicle sticks)
Printed puppet templates (includes the scarecrow, two crows, baby crows in a nest, and seasonal elements)
Scissors
Glue or tape

How to Make the Character Puppets:

Print the Templates: Grab it here!
Cut Out the Characters: Carefully cut out each character and seasonal element from the template.
Attach to Craft Sticks: Glue or tape the cutouts onto craft sticks to create the puppets. Make sure they’re secure so they’re ready for play.
Retell the Story: Using the puppets, encourage your child to act out the events of the book. Guide them as they use the scarecrow puppet to show kindness, the crows to demonstrate growth, and the seasonal elements to highlight the passage of time.

Activity #2: Friendship Bracelet

The friendship bracelet represents the connection between two individuals, just as the scarecrow and the crow shared a unique bond. By making and sharing these bracelets, children can understand that friendship is about giving, caring, and standing by someone, just like the scarecrow.

There are so many ways to make a friendship bracelet with varying levels of complexity. You can weave with embroidery floss or yarn using a book with patterns or keep it as simple a string beads on yarn.

Instructions (simple version):

What You’ll Need:

Bead with a heart or special charm (optional)
Colorful beads
Yarn or string
Scissors

How to Make It:

Share the Bracelet: Encourage your child to make a second bracelet to give to a friend, symbolizing the bond of friendship just like the scarecrow shared with the crow.
Choose Your Beads: Let your child pick out beads in colors that remind them of fall or that represent special memories shared with a friend.
Cut the String: Measure a piece of string long enough to fit around your child’s wrist and cut it.
String the Beads: Help your child string the beads onto the yarn, alternating colors or patterns. You can also add a special heart bead in the middle to represent kindness and friendship.
Tie the Bracelet: Once all the beads are strung, tie the ends securely to make a bracelet.

Activity #3: Kindness Crown

The Scarecrow Activities (1) — Get the “Kindness Crown” printable here!

A Kindness Crown is fun, hands-on activity that encourages children to spread kindness, just like the scarecrow did. This crown is a physical reminder that, like the scarecrow, we all have the power to show kindness to others.

Just like the scarecrow’s act of kindness made a big difference for the baby crow, this crown encourages kids to think about how their actions can positively affect those around them. It’s a wonderful way to bring the story’s lesson to life and to remind little ones that they, too, can be a hero of kindness.

This activity is perfect for reinforcing themes of empathy, friendship, and generosity—core values that resonate throughout “The Scarecrow.”

Instructions

What You’ll Need:

A list of kind acts (see below)
Construction paper
Scissors
Glue or tape
Markers or crayons

How to Make It:

Decorate the Crown: Let your child decorate the crown with markers, stickers, or drawings
Cut the Crown Base: Cut a strip of construction paper long enough to fit around your child’s head.
Glue the decorated crown cutout to the crown base
Create a list of kind acts with your child: Make a list with your child of acts they could perform around the house
Wear the Crown: Have your child wear the crown and act out the kind deeds throughout the day.

Activity #4: Write a card to a friend

This activity is all about helping our kiddos understand that even the smallest gestures—a kind word or a thoughtful note—can really make someone’s day. In the book “The Scarecrow”, the scarecrow’s kindness changed everything for the baby crow. By writing a card, our kids get to experience that same magic, realizing how their words can bring joy and show someone how much they care.

It’s such a lovely way for them to learn that their actions matter, and that spreading a little kindness can create beautiful, lasting friendships—just like in the story!

What You’ll Need:

Envelopes (optional)
Blank cards or construction paper
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
Stickers (optional)

How to Make the Friendship Card:

Fold the Card: Start with a piece of construction paper and fold it in half to make a card.
Decorate the Front: Let your child decorate the front of the card with drawings inspired by the story—maybe a scarecrow, a crow, or elements from the fall season.
Write a Kind Message: Inside the card, help your child write a message to a friend. Encourage them to express why they appreciate their friend, just like the scarecrow showed care for the crow. Some ideas include:
- “You are a great friend because…”
- “Thank you for being so kind.”
- “You make me feel happy because…”
Sign and Deliver: Have your child sign the card and give it to a friend or family member. If they want to mail it, pop it in an envelope and send it off!