It’s that time of year again. The weather is getting cooler and pumpkin spice is everywhere! It's always fun to incorporate fall themes and ideas into your teaching.
Here are some of my favourite fall teaching ideas and activities:
Leaf Rubbings
Take a leaf, put it underneath a white piece of paper and rub the side of a crayon over it. Your students will get a lovely copy of the leaf on the paper. Sometimes it works better to have a partner hold the paper down while you rub with the crayon.
Create a Nature Frame
Go on a nature walk with your class. Collect leaves, sticks, stones, grass, pine cones and anything else you can find. When you get back to school have them create a cardboard picture frame and glue all of their natural findings onto it. They can then paint or decorate it. It makes a nice gift!
Fall Dot Painting
All you need is a canvas, some paint, and the back of a pencil to make dot paintings like this one! Students can make sunflowers, pumpkins, leaves, or anything they like!
Be sure to leave lots of time for this activity though as it takes awhile to add each dot.
Go Apple Picking
If you can arrange a field trip to an orchard, students will get a chance to learn how apples grow and how they are harvested. Cut open an apple and check out its seeds. Students can draw a cross section of an apple and label its parts (seeds, core, flesh).
There are also many writing opportunities around apples. Students can write a recount of their trip. You can make applesauce together and write out the procedure.
You can also introduce Apple Themed Math and Literacy centers like these!
Play Fall Charades
To get students thinking about topics for fall writing you can start with a game of charades. You can use these FREE Fall Charades cards.
Read and Draw
Give students short, descriptive instructions and have them draw simple pictures. This is a great way to assess their reading comprehension.
This Fall Read & Draw Literacy Center is great for grade 1 students or early finishers!
Anything About Pumpkins
Pumpkins are truly a symbol of fall. You can go pumpkin picking, carve a pumpkin, roast and count pumpkin seeds, or create a pumpkin recipe together as a class! If you are teaching art you could have students draw pumpkins with a focus on line, texture, and shading. When Halloween draws near, students could design their own jack-o-lantern faces and you could choose one for the class to carve out together.
You might like to have your students work on these FREE Pumpkin Patterning Worksheets! They make a great activity for kindergarten centers.
Patterning
Here are some fun fall patterning worksheets your students might enjoy! They are great to use as busy work or even as an assessment piece!
Students also love these Fall Themed Composing Numbers Mats for some hands-on learning!
If you are looking for some more autumn activities that are good for K-2, be sure to check out my Fall Math & Literacy Bundle.
If you are looking for winter ideas, check out my Winter Activities Blog Post!