My drive to school is much more colorful this time of year. Leaves of red, yellow, and orange decorate the trees and swirl in the wind. They turn the usual green landscape into a kaleidoscope that shifts day-by-day. My yard is full of leaves as well, waiting to be racked into piles for jumping and playing. It’s work and play at the same time.
Changing seasons are part of nature’s cycle of life. Help children connect with the season of fall by inviting them to join in one or more of the following activities.
Scavenger hunt. Provide children with a list of fall objects to find outdoors. Use words or images to create the list. You might include descriptions such as “find two oval leaves of different colors”, “find a leaf with 3 (or 5) points”, or “find a leaf that is as big as your hand”. Or provide pictures of different kinds of leaves to match. Include other items as well, such as pine cones, acorns, seed pods, gourds, wheat, and pumpkins, that are common in your area or used as decorations.
Apple tasting. Collect several different kinds of apples. Invite children to sort them by similar features, such as peel color, size, or texture. Slice or cut them into chunks and encourage children to compare how they taste. Create a chart that describes similarities and differences, allowing for diverse perspectives.
Fall detective. Gather several different fall nature items and hide them in a covered container. Invite children to close their eyes and then hand them one of the items. Encourage them to keep their eyes closed and use their other senses to figure out what the item is. Guide them with questions as needed, such as “how does it smell?” and “what does it feel like?” Once they guess the item, invite them to give you something to detect.
Seasonal baking. Apples, pumpkins, and cranberries feature big in fall baked goods. Bake a pie or mix up a cookie bar featuring one or more of these seasonal fruits. Use a family recipe or search together online for a new recipe to try. Make sure that everyone gets a turn to measure and mix ingredients. Then enjoy your treat together or invite others to join you in a mini-feast.
Garden experiments. Set up an observation center where children can predict how quickly different leaves will decompose. Lay several leaves on paper towels or plates and check them each day to see how they look and feel. Pile some up and leave others separate. Try putting water on some leaves and keeping others dry. Use a hair dryer or heating vent to see how adding hot air affects the leaves. Children might want to record their observations in a small notebook or online journal.
Guesstimations. Fill a clear container with pumpkin seeds, dried corn kernels, or other small seeds and invite kids to guess how many items are in the container. Then count the items together and celebrate how close or wildly wrong your guesses were. Use the items, along with your favorite art supplies, to create a mosaic of a favorite fall event or activity.
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