Are you looking for fall activities for your classroom?
Are you looking for Fall Activities for your classroom? It’s time to break out the sweaters, the pumpkin spice, and the fall activities for elementary school classrooms. There is nothing quite like that cozy feeling of a crisp fall day. It’s perfect for apple picking, hayrides, and jumping into piles of leaves. What better way to bring that fall feeling into your classroom than with some fun activities? With these activities, you can give your students a taste of that cozy feeling without having to bundle up. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
Leaf Rubbing Craft
Leaves changing colors are one of the first signs that autumn is coming in the North East and it’s a sign that my favorite time of year is coming! They provide an opportunity to teach children about the seasons, how plants grow, and why leaves change colors in the fall.
One of my favorite fall activities is to take a nature walk and pick up a few different types of leaves. Take them back to your classroom and try making leaf rubbings with crayons or pencils. You can also make leaf prints using paper plates or cups.
Leaf Man Read Aloud
If you are not from an area where you can see the beauty of autumn leaves in person, your class will love Leaf Man! The author uses fiery maple, brown mottled catalpa, and bright yellow Ginko leaves that take the shape of animals and objects on each page. The boldly colored background papers of varying textures make the leaves pop.
If you are fortunate to experience leaf peeping in your area, gather your students outside and let them collect leaves to create their very own Leaf Man scene. How cute are these?!
Fall Classroom Treats
You can also celebrate the harvest with pumpkin pie, apple cider, and other seasonal treats. I make homemade apple sauce with my class every year. Every year my class gets so excited to be able to make their own applesauce. It’s easy and delicious! I must admit that my favorite part is the incredible smell that fills our classroom all day.
Making Apple Sauce is the Perfect Fall Activity
Crockpot Apple Sauce Recipe
One of my favorite ways to celebrate fall is making apple sauce as a class. You will need about 12 apples (I ask each child to bring in an apple). I bring in a spiral peeler, and students help to peel the apples.
Ingredients
- 6 pounds of apples, peeled, cored, and sliced, (about 12 medium apples)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions:
- Place the peeled, sliced apples into the bowl of your crockpot. Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon over the apples and mix well. Pour the water into the crockpot and place the lid on top—Cook over high heat for four hours.
- When cooking time is up, remove the lid and mash the apples using a potato masher, stirring until smooth or until desired consistency is reached. It will be pretty hot; I let it sit for a few minutes after serving it in cups!
Shhhh…my dirty little applesauce secret is that sometimes I will bulk it up by adding a jar of store-bought applesauce. Voila! The most delicious of all the fall activities you’ll ever do!
Apple Orchard Virtual Field Trip
Whether you’re lucky enough to live near an apple orchard or you’re just wishing you did, a virtual field trip to an apple orchard is one of the quintessential fall activities for elementary school classrooms! This is a fun way to learn about apples, apple picking, and the different varieties of apples. Plus, it’s great to bring some fall feeling into your classroom. After completing this activity, your students will know everything there is to know about apples. They’ll know about the different types of apples, how they are grown, and even how to pick them.
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn Book
I love reading Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn near the end of August or the beginning of September. As you transition into autumn, read the book and then make a class book where they say goodbye to one of their favorite summer activities and hello to one of their fall activities. Bind their work together and create a class book. After completing the activity, you can bind their work and display your class book for students to read throughout the season!
What are your favorite fall activities?
Do you have any favorite fall activities or read alouds that you can recommend? I’d love to hear about it! Drop me a comment below or send me a message on Instagram!
Until next time!
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