First Signs of Fall

Materials:

Nature Journal, drawing utensils of choice, and a nature walk

Optional Materials:

The potted plant previously planted

Activity:

In early fall go on a walk in one of your nature study areas and ask the children to look for the first signs of fall. Have the temperatures changed? How many of the familiar bugs, birds, and flowers are still out? What do the grasses and trees look like? Have them record their observations in their nature journal.

Younger:

Ask them what things make them think of fall before sending them on a search. Giving small suggestions if they are unsure of what to look for.

Older:

Encourage them to write down questions about the changing of the seasons in their journal entry. Then investigate answers to their questions when they get home adding notes to what they discovered on their outing.

Take it Further:

Do a mini-lesson on seasons and observe the plant you planted in spring. Another resource for looking at the changes of seasons for young kids is “The Year at Maple Hill Farm” I usually only read a season at a time so it doesn’t go too long but it reviews the months of the year and the changes of the seasons at a small farm.