Teachable Moments: Fall

 

Teachable Moments: Fall

Make every moment count. Children’s minds are like sponges, they readily absorb information. Utilize every possible opportunity to educate them. Even something as simple as the changing of the seasons can be a teachable moment. Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. Nature is bursting with vivid reds, oranges, golds, and browns. It also offers a whole canvas of learning activities.

Photosynthesis

During the fall, the leaves on the trees begin to change colors. And, your children are probably curious about this event. Now is a great time to nurture their love of science. Take them on a nature walk or a drive down the highway to look at the beautiful leaves. Explain the process of photosynthesis. Explain that plants turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar. They use chlorophyll, the substance that gives plants their lush green color, to do this. However, as the temperature drops and the sunlight levels decrease, the trees no longer go through photosynthesis. The amount of chlorophyll decreases in the leaves and causes the change in colors.

Fall Plants

There are a lot of different flowers and plants that grow in the fall. You can point out some of the different plants to your children. Fall vegetables include beets, cauliflower, carrots, celery, lettuce, potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, mustard greens, collard greens, onions, and peas. Plant some of these vegetables with your children. Not only will you have fun, but you will also be teaching your children responsibility and self-reliance. And, let’s not forget about the beautiful flowers that grow this time of year.  These include Golden Rod, Lemon Queen Sunflowers, and Chrysanthemums.

Fall Art

Autumn is synonymous with beautiful landscapes. Encourage your children to capture this beauty on canvas. How can drawing and painting be educational? Simple. Art has several benefits. It is mentally stimulating. By allowing your children to draw or paint, you are encouraging them to pay attention to details, and it can also help your children develop hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, creativity, and coping skills.

Poems and Songs

Autumn also provides a great opportunity for your children to improve their writing skills. Encourage your children to react to the changing seasons through poetry or music. These poems and songs can even be turned into a book of poetry or a book of songs.

Writing

Hone those writing skills this fall. The brilliant colors and the changing landscapes offer your children a wide variety of topics on which to write. They can write letters to Mother Earth and ask her questions. They can also write descriptive paragraphs or essays.

Greek Mythology

Fall is a great time to study Greek Mythology. As the seasons change, you can introduce children to the tale of Hades, the god of the underworld, and Persephone. This myth about the abduction Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, was the Greeks way of explaining the changing of the seasons.

Teachable moments happen all the time. Take advantage of them this autumn. Do some of the fun activities above.

Word Walls Can Be Used At Home

 

Word Wall in my son's room

Start of a  Word Wall from my classroom

Word Walls Aren’t Just for School

If you ask your child about a word wall, he or she will more than most likely tell you about the one that is located in his/her classroom. Word Walls are a common part of any elementary classroom. They are used to help students become familiar with words that they may encounter in their reading books or other settings. The word wall acts as a visual bridge between words and their use. Word walls are very effective, and the great news is that they don’t have to be used just in school.

Words walls are not just for the classroom. They can also be used at home. Are you wondering how? Simple. You can start a word wall in your child’s room or any other area of your home. If you don’t want to risk ruining your paint or wall paper, you can opt to turn your refrigerator door into a Word Center. Just place the words on your refrigerator door in the same way that you add pictures and notes. It doesn’t matter where you decide to place your word wall. All that matters is that the words are easily visible, and you and your child can interact with them on a regular basis.

I decided to do a word wall in my home after I saw my son’s reading scores. My child has always been a fluent reader, but I noted that lately-since the arrival of his new wii-he wasn’t reading as well as he used to. So, I decided to take immediate steps to prevent further loses in reading. I decided to create a word wall in my house and begin teaching him new words. I opted to use my son’s bedroom as a place for his word wall. My son is in the 2^nd grade, so I chose the words that were recommended for 3^rd grade. I simply looked on the internet for a list of 3^rd grade words and chose some to start the word wall with. I did this so that his vocabulary would increase as well as his reading level. Now, my son and I look at the words daily and discuss the meanings of the words that I added.

Word walls are a great way to help increase your child’s vocabulary and help him or her become a better reader. You can use the words that your child brings home from school each week or you can find age-appropriate words on the internet.