10 Educational Activities for Kids This Fall

                               

10 Educational Activities for Kids This Fall

Fall is a season filled with crisp air, colorful leaves, and the perfect opportunity for kids to explore and learn through exciting activities. Together we’ll explore ten educational activities that will engage and inspire young minds during the autumn season. These activities are not only fun, but they will also promote creativity, critical thinking, and learning in various subject areas.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Fall offers a beautiful landscape of changing leaves, acorns, and other natural wonders. Organize a nature scavenger hunt where kids can explore the outdoors and learn about different plant species, insects, and animals. Provide a checklist of items for them to find, such as a red leaf, a pinecone, a bird feather, and a spider web. This activity encourages observation skills, critical thinking, and appreciation for the natural world.

Apple Science Experiment

Visit an apple orchard and gather a variety of apples. Back at home or in the classroom, conduct a simple apple science experiment. Cut the apples into pieces and observe the different parts, such as the skin, flesh, and seeds. Discuss the concept of seeds being responsible for growing new apple trees. This hands-on activity introduces kids to basic biology and the lifecycle of plants.

Pumpkin Carving and Storytelling

Carving pumpkins is a classic fall activity that can be made educational by adding a storytelling component. After carving the pumpkins, encourage children to create a story based on the face they carved into their pumpkin. Each child can take turns telling their story, fostering creativity, public speaking skills, and imagination.

Fall Themed Art Projects

Engage kids in various fall-themed art projects, such as leaf rubbings, watercolor paintings of fall landscapes, and creating leaf collages. Discuss the changing colors of leaves and why they occur. Encourage children to explore different art techniques, enhancing their fine motor skills and artistic expression.

Fall Harvest and Nutrition

Teach kids about the fall harvest and the importance of eating seasonal fruits and vegetables. Visit a local farmer's market or a farm. Let the children pick their own produce. Back in the classroom or home, talk about the nutritional benefits of these foods and incorporate them into a cooking activity. Preparing simple recipes using fall produce encourages healthy eating habits and practical math skills through measuring and following recipes.

Fall-themed Science Experiments

Explore the science behind the fall season with hands-on experiments. Investigate the chemical process behind changing leaf colors by conducting chromatography on different leaves. Study the migration of birds and discuss why they fly south for the winter. These activities introduce kids to scientific concepts and encourage curiosity and inquiry.

Fall Math Games

Turn fall leaves, acorns, or pumpkins into math manipulatives. Use them to teach addition, subtraction, and counting skills. For older children, introduce concepts like multiplication and division through fall-themed word problems. These interactive math games make learning enjoyable and enhance children's math proficiency.

Fall Book Club

Create a fall-themed book club where kids can read and discuss books related to the season. Select a mix of fiction and non-fiction books about autumn, harvest, and the changing environment. After reading the books, hold discussions and encourage kids to express their thoughts and feelings about the stories. This activity fosters a love for reading, comprehension skills, and critical thinking.

Fall Geography Adventure

Embark on a fall geography adventure by exploring different regions and how they experience the autumn season. Discuss the changing weather patterns and seasonal differences between various locations. Encourage children to create maps and mark the places they learn about, broadening their understanding of the world.

Fall Music and Movement

Engage kids in fall-themed music and movement activities. Play music inspired by the season and encourage them to dance, move like animals preparing for hibernation, or act out the falling leaves. Music and movement enhance coordination, creativity, and provide a fun outlet for self-expression.

Fall is a fantastic season for children to learn and explore the world around them. These ten educational activities offer an exciting way to engage kids in learning during the autumn months. From nature scavenger hunts and pumpkin carving to science experiments and fall-themed art projects, these activities foster creativity, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation for the changing season. Whether at home or in the classroom, these activities will undoubtedly make this fall a memorable and enriching experience for kids. So, let's celebrate the beauty of autumn while providing our children with valuable educational opportunities.

Videos to Watch:

Counting Leaves! Ten Frames Count Numbers 0-10, Fall Autumn Math, Virtual School Online Learning

 FUN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8YIwUvVTI0

 

Teen Novels that Teach History

Historical Novels for Teens and Teachers

History and literature go hand in hand.  It is through journals, diaries, and storytelling that history is passed down from generation to generation. There are novels, both fiction and non-fiction, that can be used to make history come alive for students. 

*Night John

Gary Paulsen’s “Night John” tells the story of Sarny. Sarny is a young slave girl who lives on a plantation somewhere in the South in the 1950’s.  Sarny’s mother has been sold, and she is being raised by another slave named Dealey. One day the Master purchases a new slave named John.  John is unlike the other slaves because he can read and write which is against the law. Although he had escaped from slavery earlier, Night John has returned to the South to teach the other slaves how to read and write.

The book was first published in 1993. It can be used to teach about the slavery, the Civil War, and the importance of reading.  It can also be used to compare and contrast the lives of African slaves with those of the indentured servants that helped settle the first colonies in America. 

*To Kill a Mockingbird

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is the thought provoking book by Harper Lee.  It is set in 1936 in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. It is centered around the trial of Tom Robinson, a young black man who is accused of rape. It is told from the point-of-view of Scout, a teen year old girl, and it is based on the events surrounding “The Scottsboro Trials”.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a heartwarming novel.  It is rich with humor and innocence even though it discusses the serious social issue of rape. “To Kill a Mockingbird” can be used to discuss the effects of the Great Depression in America.  It can also be used to discuss Jim Crow laws, “The Scottsboro Trials”, racial inequality, and even the judicial system. 

*She Said Yes

“She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall” by Misty Bernall is the true story of Cassie Bernall.  Cassie Bernall is one of the victims of the Columbine High School shooting.  The book is based on witnesses’ reports that Cassie was praying when one of the shooters asked her if she believed.  Cassie reportedly said, “Yes, I believe” just before she was fatally shoot. 

Teachers can use this incredible sad novel to teach about the Columbine High School shooting and other similar acts of terrorism. 

*Out of the Dust

This novel by Karen Hesse is set in Oklahoma from 1934-1935 during the Dust Bowl.  It is about the life of Billie Jo and her family.  Although times are tough and the neighbors are all running away from the land and the endless dust, her father insists that they tough it out.  Unfortunately, they cannot win against the relentless dust, and one innocent mistake has disastrous results. 

“Out of the Dust” can be used to teach about life during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowls.  It can also be used to discuss the causes of the Dust Bowl and the things that the government and farmers did to try to stop them.

*Briar Rose

“Briar Rose” by Jane Yolen starts when Rebecca Berlin’s grandmother “Gemma” dies.  Rebecca becomes curious about her grandmother’s past and begins to ask questions about Gemma and the strange story she always told Rebecca at bedtime.  It is the German fairytale, “The Briar Rose” an alternate to “The Sleeping Beauty”.  The novel moves back and forth between the present and the past.  Rebecca eventually learns that her grandmother is actually a survivor of the Holocaust.

“Briar Rose” is an alternative to the traditional books used to teach students about on the Holocaust. It can be used to discuss World War II, the Holocaust, and Jewish culture.

*Sarah Plain and Tall

Written by Patricia MacLachlan, “Sarah, Plain, and Tall” is about life in the West during the 19^th century.  A widower, Jacob Witting, decides to place an ad for a mail-order bride to help him raise his two children Caleb and Anna.  Sarah, a tall and plain woman from Maine, comes to answer Jacob’s advertisement. 

This short novel can be used with young teenagers and tweens to teach about life in the Old West.  It can also be the basis for a discussion on “mail-order brides”.  The teacher can discuss the reason someone would become a mail-order bride and why western farmers would find the need to place an advertisement for a wife.

*Call of the Wild

Jack London’s “Call of the Wild” is a novel about a dog named Buck.  Buck is a family dog that is kidnapped from his home in California and taken to the Yukon to work as a sled dog.  The story takes place during the Klondike Gold Rush.  Buck learns the brutal lessons of life as a sled dog. Buck’s instincts help him to become one with the wilderness.

This novel can be used to discuss the Klondike and the California Gold Rush.  Students can also examine the effects of the discovery of gold on California’s demographics and economy. 

There are many different novels that are not just fun to read. They are also a great way to spice up any history lesson.  

"Where the Wild Things Are": Educational Activities

 

Maurice Sendak’s book, Where the Wild Things Are can be used to teach many different skills and fun activities that can be stretched across the curriculum.  The following are some exciting activities using Where the Wild Things Are that can be altered to fit different age groups while still being educational.

Character Education:  “Why Be a Wild Thing?”

The story is a great way to introduce a discussion on emotions and how to handle them. After reading the book, ask students if they know what emotions are.  Allow time for students to answer.  Then, explain that emotions are feeling.  Once you have explain what emotions are, ask students if they have ever been angry like Max and if they have, how did they handle that anger.  You can have them look at the consequences of Max’s behavior-being sent to his room without supper.  Then brainstorm with them things that they could do differently.

Social Studies:  “Where are the Wild Things?”

Have students design their own world map or globe. The model must include the 5 oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic) and at least two continents that actually exist. Then, allow them to create their own “Land of the Wild Things” on their map. Older students can make their model 3-D. 

Science: “And a Forest Grew”

Have your students grow their own forest.  Students can do something as simple as plant seeds in paper cups and watch them grow.  If you want to do something on a larger scale, you can plant a classroom garden in a designated spot outside.

Art: “Create a Wild Thing”

Students can draw and paint pictures of what they think a wild thing is.  They can also use pictures from the internet or various magazines to create their own “wild thing”.

Language Art:  “Wild Review”

Once the students have read “Where the Wild Things Are”, have them practice their writing skills by either doing a book review.  Have students include the story elements such as plot, setting, and theme.  They can rate the book on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being not interesting at all and 5 being very interesting.

“Wild about Books”

Students can also write their own children’s story.  The book can be about wild animals or how to deal with different emotions. Their story should also include fun illustrations.

Music:  “Wild Rumpus”

Students can make their own rumpus.  Let them use different musical instruments to make some fun “wild rumpus” of their own during playtime or music class.

Where the Wild Things Are is an unforgettable children’s book.  It can be used to teach students about anger management, geography, plant growth, and how to write book reviews.

http://voices.yahoo.com/where-wild-things-geography-lesson-281969.html

http://voices.yahoo.com/tutoring-lesson-plan-book-where-wild-things473279.html