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.
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