As the leaves begin to change and the crisp autumn air sets in, it’s the perfect time to engage your little ones in fun and educational activities that celebrate the beauty of fall! Below, we’ve outlined some delightful lesson plans across various subjects for preschool and toddler-aged children. These plans include objectives, materials, activities, and assessments, ensuring a holistic approach to learning. Plus, we've included a few fun and inexpensive fall crafts that kids can do at home with their parents. Let’s dive in!

 

Language

Objective: Introduce new vocabulary related to fall.

Materials Needed: Picture cards of fall items (leaves, pumpkins, apples), a fall-themed storybook.

Activity: Read a storybook about fall, pointing out the picture cards as you go. Encourage the children to repeat the names of the items.

Assessment: Ask the children to identify and name the fall items when presented with the picture cards.

 

Writing

Objective: Develop pre-writing skills by practicing drawing and tracing.

Materials Needed: Paper, crayons, tracing sheets with leaf outlines, and other fall shapes.

Activity: Provide tracing sheets of fall shapes. After tracing, encourage the children to color them in with vibrant autumn colors.

Assessment: Observe the children’s ability to trace the shapes and their use of different colors.

 

Science

Objective: Explore the life cycle of a pumpkin.

Materials Needed: A real pumpkin, picture book about pumpkins, seeds.

Activity: Show the children a pumpkin and discuss its life cycle. Cut open the pumpkin to show the seeds. Kids can separate the seeds.

Assessment: Ask questions about what they learned regarding the pumpkin’s life cycle and have them describe the seeds.

 

Math

Objective: Develop counting skills and number recognition.

Materials Needed: Small pumpkins or acorns, number cards (1-10).

Activity: Use small pumpkins or acorns for counting activities. Have the children count how many they have and match them to the corresponding number card.

Assessment: Observe if children can match the correct number card to their grouping of pumpkins or acorns.

 

Art

Objective: Encourage creativity through fall-themed art projects.

Materials Needed: Construction paper, scissors, glue, markers, fall leaves.

Activity: Have the children make leaf rubbings by placing leaves under a sheet of paper and coloring over them with crayons. They can also create a fall collage using cut-up leaves and construction paper.

Assessment: Display their artwork and ask the children to tell you about their creation.

 

Physical Activity

Objective: Improve gross motor skills through active play.

Materials Needed: Open space, small cones, or markers.

Activity: Organize an autumn scavenger hunt outside. Kids can run to find “fall treasures” like pinecones or colored leaves. Provide markers to place beside their findings.

Assessment: Assess their participation and ability to follow instructions throughout the scavenger hunt.

 

Fun and Inexpensive Fall Crafts

Leaf Garland

Materials Needed: Fall leaves, string, and a hole punch. 

Instructions: Punch holes in the leaves and string them together to create a colorful garland.

 

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

Materials Needed: Pine cones, peanut butter, birdseed. 

Instructions: Coat the pine cone with peanut butter and then roll it in birdseed. Hang it outside for the birds to enjoy!

 

Handprint Trees

Materials Needed: Brown paper, green and red paint. 

Instructions: Use brown paper to create the trunk and branches, and let the kids stamp their handprints in green and red to represent leaves.

 

These activities not only foster developmental skills but also allow children to enjoy the spirit of the season. Encourage parents to join in the fun at home, making lasting memories while engaging in learning. Enjoy this beautiful fall season with your little ones!