Last week I made this poster on 11×14 paper, with color clipart, and laminated it.
Then looking at a jigsaw puzzle template online, I scored it into pieces with a ballpoint pen.
I cut the puzzle into pieces, re-laminated each piece so all of the edges were sealed, and hid them in the garden. When I took the K students out for afternoon garden class, they hunted for the pieces, returning to the table to fit it together. I had little rolls of masking tape on the table to help the pieces stay together.
After we assembled the message, I passed out magnifying glasses and we went looking for signs of fall.
In the process, we discovered a stick bug. We made a circle and gently passed it around.
And then we posed for this picture! I love how this activity turned out and plan to make a set for each season. Fun way to end: I gave each student a piece and they re-hid them for my next class—almost as much fun as finding them!