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Autumn Leaves are Falling Unit Study

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Hands-on Learning Activities to Celebrate the Fall Season

Leaves are crunching below your feet and geese are flying overhead. It's time to gather in the pumpkins and munch on crisp ripe apples. Watch the squirrels gather nuts and the birds fight over the sunflower seeds. Fall is here and learning is all around.Listen to the carousel as a young girl reads Chris L. Demarest's poem of the sights and and sounds of a crisp fall day.

This Autumn Unit Study finds learning activities falling from the trees and hidden inside apples. They are counted in the sunflower seeds and written in the applesauce.

Use all five senses to explore the sights and sounds of Fall...

Photo Credit: Autumn Leaf Craft
Used under creative commons

Fall Table of Contents

Overview of the Autumn Unit Study

Photo Credit: Playing in the Autumn Leaves on Flickr, Creative Commons


Fall Leaves
  1. Fall Leaves Crunch
  2. Sunflower Seeds ripen in the Fall
  3. Geese form V's in the Fall Sky
  4. Apples Fall from Trees
  5. Pumpkin Seed Words
  6. Spring Froward, Fall Back
  7. Acorn People
  8. Squirrels Collect Acorns in the Fall
  9. Which fun autumn activities do you like to do?
  10. Autumn Nature Table
  11. Autumn Leaves in the Sensory Table
  12. What do you do in the fall?

Fall

by Chris L.. Demarest

Listen to a storyFallPlaying in the Leaves


Photo Credit: Audio Books on Flickr, Creative Commons
Photo Credit: Fall: Seasons Board Books Available on Amazon
Photo Credit: Raking the Fall Leaves on Grandma's Graphics


Does your child love to go out on a crisp fall day and play in the leaves? Fall by Chris L. Demarest is the book for you. With simple words, written in large print, a rhyming text and simple but clear pictures this book is sure to be one of your child's favorites.

Fall comes in a board book edition which is ideal for the amount of use this book will receive but it also comes in a new format which makes it possible to keep your child happily reading no matter where you are.
MobiStories: Fall
Screen time is Reading Time with MobiStories.

Fall Leaves Crunch

Learning to read the color words of fall.

red fall leafred fall leaf

Photo Credit: Green Autumn Leaf on WPClipart
Photo Credit: Red Autumn Leaf on WPClipart


Fallen leaves become natural glitter in this fun Autumn Unit Study.

1. On a nice fall day go outside and collect some leaves.
2. When you come back in, separate them into piles of red or green leaves.
3. Leave the leaves out to dry.
4. After a few days put one color of leaves in one sensory table and the other color in another sensory table. (Dishpans will do.)
5. Show the children how to make the leaves crunch and crumble.
6. Make large outlines of the letters in the words red and green.
7. Give one letter to each child.
8. The child covers the letter in glue and then sprinkles the crushed leaves onto the glue.
9. When the glue has dried assemble the words and post.

I use this activity during center time and have parent volunteers help children with the gluing.
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Sunflower Seeds ripen in the Fall

Autumn Sunflower Math Activity

Last SunflowerBirds eating Seeds

Photo Credit: Frog Tongue on WPClipart
Photo Credit: Bird on Flickr, Creative Commons


Make mathmats with a sunflower on the left hand side and birds on the other.

1. Children put 5 sunflower seeds on the sunflower.
2. The birds have no sunflower seeds.
3. 5+0=5 seeds all together.
4. One sunflower seed falls to the ground.
5. 4 sunflower seeds on the sunflower plus 1 sunflower seed on the ground equals 5 sunflower seeds all together.
6. 4+1=5.
Continue on with the rest of the seeds.
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Geese form V's in the Fall Sky

Bird Migration

Canadian Geese

Photo Credit: Geese Fly South
by Catherine Clark


Notice how Canadian Geese gather together and begin to fly south in the fall. Listen to them honking to each other. What do you think they are saying?

Look at the shape formed by the geese as they fly. This is the letter V.

1. Make outlines of the letter V,
2. Children use the flying goose stamp to stamp the letter V.

Variation:
With an adult helper you might ask them to stamp each V ten times. That way you could count the geese by 10's. For younger children I put ten dots along the V shape for them to stamp on.
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Apples Fall from Trees

Look what's hidden inside!

Apple Star

Photo Credit: Star inside the Apple
on Flickr, Creative Commons.



Over the course of the year take trips to an apple orchard. Take lots of pictures as they will come in handy as you illustrate books and poems you write.

Think about the orchard using all five senses as you explore. Compare the smell of the apple blossoms in the spring to the smell of the apples in the fall. Do the leaves feel differently when they first start to grow compared to those that have fallen to the ground in the fall?

Fall is the time to pick some apples. This is the time of year that they are crisp, juicy and perfect for eating. When you come back from your trip, look for the star that is hidden in every apple.

Apples are my favorite snack-
all juicy, red, and round.
I love how every tasty bite
comes with a crunchy sound.
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Apples in the Fall

Apple Unit Study

Apples are associated with fall. You will find dozens of ideas to teach across the curriculum on my apple lens.
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Pumpkin Seed Words

Pumpkins are another symbol of Fall

Plastic Pumpkinorange
pumpkin
seed
fall
apple
big
red
green
leaf
autumn

1. Blow up pictures of the pumpkin seed and write the letters to words on them.
2. Put the letters to each word in a Mini Plastic Pumpkin.
3. Children can use the seeds to form the pumpkin words.

Autumn Pumpkin Words

Plastic Pumpkins for Spelling Fall Words

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Numbers from the Pumpkin Patch

Find more math ideas in the Place Value Pumpkin Unit Study

Pumpkin MathPumpkin SeedPumpkin SeedPumpkin Seed

Use pumpkin placemats and pumpkin seeds as workjobs. The seeds can be stored in a plastic pumpkin.
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Important!

Change the Clocks

Spring Forward, Fall Back

At 2 am in the United States

During Daylight Saving Time, clocks are turned forward an hour, effectively moving an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.

Countdown to The time to change your clocks back

The time to change your clocks back: November 4, 2012

Acorn People

conker conkers acorn acorns figure figures boy

Photo Credit: Conkers Acorns Figures by LuckyLuke
Pixabay - Public Domain Images

Gather Nuts in the Fall

Autumn is the time to collect Acorns

Collect some acorns.

Of course you can use them for counting and sorting but you can also use them as cups and saucers for dolls.
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Squirrels Collect Acorns in the Fall

Autumn Squirrel Unit Study

This unit study pairs squirrels with acorns with delightful games, activities and ideas to create hands-on learning experiences for you children. Scurry on over for fun learning with an autumn theme...
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Autumn Groceries

Milk
Eggs
Bread
apples
pumpkins

MobiStories

Which fun autumn activities do you like to do?

Fall learning activities for Children

1

Vote Up
Vote Down

Play in the leaves and listen to them crunch.

4 points

2

Vote Up
Vote Down

Watch the geese form V's and fly south.

4 points

3

Vote Up
Vote Down

Pick and eat apples.

4 points

4

Vote Up
Vote Down

Make Pumpkin Pies and Count the Seeds.

3 points

5

Vote Up
Vote Down

Roll down a hill of leaves.

3 points

6

Vote Up
Vote Down

Gather nuts

3 points

7

Vote Up
Vote Down

Dance all around.

3 points

8

Vote Up
Vote Down

Collect and store sunflower seeds for the winter birds.

2 points

9

Vote Up
Vote Down

Play around all over the leaves.

Kneeling Chair A range of office bad back chairs with more...1 point

10

Vote Up
Vote Down

Play with my kids

Kids Toys TinyToys which works directly with manufacturers, more...0 points

Pixie in the Leaves

Pixies have fun in the Autumn Leaves

Photo Credit: Playing in the Leaves
on Grandma's Graphics, Public Domain


Your children will love to join this little pixie jumping in the autumn leaves. Listen to them crunch and crackle underfoot. Rake the the multi-colored autumn leaves into piles, run and jump and pile them up again. Children get lots of exercise without even noticing when the leaves begin to fall.

Come Little Leaves

by George Cooper

"Come, little leaves," said the wind one day,
"Come over the meadows with me, and play;
Put on your dresses of red and gold;
Summer is gone, and the days grow cold."

Soon as the leaves heard the wind's loud call,
Down they came fluttering, one and all;
Over the brown fields they danced and flew,
Singing the solf little songs they knew.

"Cricket, good-bye, we've been friends so long;
Little brook, sing us your farewell song-
Say you're sorry to see us go;
Ah! you are sorry, right well we know.

"Dear little lambs, in your fleecy fold,
Mother will keep you from harm and cold;
Fondly we've watched you in vale and glade;
Say, will you dream of our loving shade?"

Dancing and whirling the little leaves went;
Winter had called them and they were content-
Soon fast asleep in their earthy beds,
The snow laid a soft mantle over their heads.
The Poetry Archives
In search of a long lost poem? Remember only a fragment? Post here!

Fall Leaf Poem

Autumn Poem

Photo Credit: Gathering Leaves by Robert Frost
Used under creative commons



There is also a delightful poem for autumn fromHubbards Cupboard which teaches young children color words using autumn leaves.

These poems can accompany the Fall book and Autumn Unit Study.

Make up a tunes to these poems and sing them in the car on the way to soccer practice in the fall.

Write the words on large poster paper, one verse per page.

Read them with pointers. To help children start to notice words you can use dry erase markers to draw leaves around the word leaves, color the color words their color, etc.

Pressing Leaves

Fall Arts and Crafts

Pressing Leaves

Photo Credit: Pressed Leaves
on Flickr, Creative Commons

Fall Leaf Craft
Help your kids make a translucent mobile with this fall leaf craft.
Autumn tree craft
Autumn Fall Tree and leaves Craft Free Craft for Preschool Kids - Autumn tree craft - Craft Scope

Autumn Nature Table

A Fall Display

An autumn table is made from bits of nature that are found on daily walks with your child. In the fall we find colorful leaves, pine cones, and acorns. We cover the table with an earthy green or brown silk cloth and create an autumn woodland scene.

MobiStories allows you to bring Fall with you where ever you go.

Autumn Doll Autumn Nature Table

Photo Credit: Autumn Dolls on Flickr, Creative Commons
Photo Credit: Autumn Nature Table on Flickr, Creative Commons

Autumn Nature Table
by Echoes of a Dream:
Kinderdolls: Waldorf hand made dolls
The autumn sister has her broom ready to clean up before the winter storms. Her big orange pumpkin is ready for carving for the fall celebrations.

Understand the color of leaves in the Fall

Why do leaves change color in the Fall?

Color the top edge of a piece of absorbent paper with a brown watercolor marker. Put it in a jar of water as shown in the illustration. You will start to see the colors separate.

When leaves change color in the fall, green from chlorophyll is no longer being produced so the other colors are shining through.
"Discover Hidden Leaf Colors"
Discover Hidden Leaf Colors is a science project for kids that brings fall colors out of spring leaves. Learn about this science project for kids.

Autumn Leaves in the Sensory Table

Crunchy Leaves of Autumn

SEE-THRU SENSORY TABLE



Bring in fallen leaves and add them to the sensory table. At first they will be soft and supple. After a couple of days they will dry out and become crunchy. Let the children crumple them all up. Squeeze glue onto the outline of words such as Autumn Leaves and then have the children sprinkle the crunchy leaf dust on the words. It is a fun fall activity.

Consider adding a few acorns or maple keys to your sensory table. These add texture to your fall sensory table experience.
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Mp3 Players for your MobiStories Fall Book

Listen to Fall

Keep your children happily learning with MobiStories.

Mobistories offer children quality choices to enjoy great books on their terms, anywhere and anytime.
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More MobiStories

After the Fall there are more MobiStories

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More Fall Lenses

FREE DOWNLOADABLE BOOK

I invite you to try out MobiStories and I think you will find that your children will enjoy them as much as mine have. They are offering Salsa for Kittens and Puppies as a free download.
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Evelyn's Hands-on Learning Blog

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What do you do in the fall?

When have MobiStories come in handy for you?

  • SaintFrantic Oct 11, 2011 @ 7:56 pm | delete
    Another great Lens.Thanks for making so exciting
  • claudiatuli Oct 6, 2011 @ 9:02 am | delete
    great lens for children, I am sure you are a fantastic teacher! I enjoyed reading it
  • poddys Sep 15, 2011 @ 3:39 pm | delete
    Another wonderful teaching resource to add to your collection. You always do an exceptional job on these, and my blessing is well deserved.
  • LTPParents Sep 2, 2011 @ 10:18 pm | delete
    Great lense! I loved the poem with the changeable words and leaves.
  • LizMac60 Oct 26, 2010 @ 8:07 am | delete
    I do so enjoy your lenses. I liked the poem too.
  • gods_grace_notes Oct 17, 2010 @ 10:37 pm | delete
    What a great lens, Evelyn! Your choice of the fall theme really showcases your work... I really enjoyed this lens! Connie
  • Evelyn_Saenz Oct 7, 2010 @ 8:22 am | delete
    This lens is included in the Best Review - Top 10 Unit Studies With An Apple Theme
  • karanta Oct 2, 2010 @ 6:08 pm | delete
    Great lens :) I'll lensroll it to my Autumn lens :)
  • kt_glasses Sep 30, 2010 @ 4:25 am | delete
    cute lens~very delightful.
  • athomemomblog Sep 8, 2010 @ 1:19 pm | delete
    This is great! Since I live in Guatemala, we don't really have fall, but I still want my kids to learn about it, so this could be really handy. Thanks!
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Meet the Author of this Fall Lens

Evelyn's Hands-On Learning Blog.

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Playing in the LeavesFind out what I'm up to when I'm not playing in the fall leaves:
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Evelyn_Saenz

My passion is teaching and finding ways to teach children in fun, hands-on, creative ways. The unit studies I make on Squidoo reflect my view that learning... more »

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