Looking for the perfect fall lesson plans and resources for elementary school? Check out these engaging fall science and nonfiction classroom activities for young learners about leaves, pumpkins, apples, and more!Â
Fall Nonfiction and Science Activities and Lessons
Do you teach themes to your students when making your fall lesson plans? Do you teach them about each season and the changes and events? I do, too!
I really believe it’s important for kids to understand the world around them, and we dive into it in all sorts of ways in class during the fall months.
Today, I’m sharing how I bring fall to life for my students using my fall-themed ELA science unit. These lessons are always a hit! Before we even jump in, I get posters, anchor charts, and all the materials ready to make sure everything runs smoothly. I’m big on visuals, so the kids have plenty of stuff to look at and refer to as we go.
Fall Vocabulary
I teach my students about essential vocabulary words that they will hear often in text and throughout our fall science lessons. We use vocabulary posters with real images and clear definitions. I post these on our whiteboard, and we refer to them often.
We also use theme word cards that children illustrate with definitions and illustrations. We use nonfiction books about fall and refer to the glossary for definitions. This is excellent practice in identifying text features.
Learning Facts About the Fall
We read a wide range of fiction and nonfiction books to learn about fall and its celebrations, harvest, changes, animals, and weather. Then, we use fact posters full of key facts and interesting information.
We read the posters together as a class and use them to help guide our future lessons. Students sometimes read and use these posters in small groups to help them complete activities like these question sheets.
During our small group lessons, we completed a question sheet where we had to recall information from the fact posters. We also practiced writing complete sentences, making personal connections, and making visual observations.
One of the follow-up activities we complete after reading our fact posters is the fact sorting activity. This is a great review activity for students to complete in pairs. Students enjoy cutting and sorting fact sentences that fall under the correct heading (harvest, changes, weather, animals, and celebrations).
Teaching Pumpkin Life Cycle Lesson
Of course, any fall lesson plan wouldn’t be complete without a study of pumpkins, apples, and leaves. We learn about all of them individually. I teach my students about a pumpkin’s life cycle. We often take a field trip to the pumpkin patch, so understanding how a pumpkin grows is very exciting for a kid.
Then, we create a life cycle anchor chart and record each step of the cycle using our pumpkin life cycle poster. We record each step from our anchor chart in our life cycle mini-books. As a culminating review activity, we cut and paste the steps of the cycle and label them.
We create pumpkin life cycle crafts using small pieces attached to a string and a paper plate. The paper is the pumpkin, and the string is the vine.
The Parts of a Pumpkin
We also learn about the parts of a pumpkin, both inside and out. To do this, we bring a pumpkin back from our field trip, or I will get one from the store for us to dissect.
Then, we use anchor charts and headings to make a large visual based on the labeled diagram poster.
The children enjoy adding large labels and coloring to the charts we create. After that, we create and color our diagram posters.
Learning about Leaves
I love taking my students outside for a nature walk in the fall. We each have our bags to collect a few unique leaves that have changed color and other signs of change. Once the bags are filled, we bring our collections back to class and take out our favorite leaves to share. Then, we created leaf pictures after reading the book Leaf Man by Ehlert.
As mentioned above, we completed the same activities and created more anchor charts for leaves. We hold, touch, and explore the parts of the leaves we’ve collected from outside. Engagement and retention are much more profound when students can use their senses to explore learning. We practice sorting facts about leaves with partners as a review. It is also a great opportunity to include a fall writing prompt!
Apple Exploration
Another fun event is completing an apple exploration. We read tons of apple books. Then, we measure apples and use our five senses to touch, taste, smell, feel, and listen to them.
Apple science experiments allow us to predict whether apples will float or sink. Finally, we create apple crafts and stamp apples.
In our apple post, you can see all the activities we do with apples, find a great list of books, and download a FREE apple exploration kit.
Parts of an Apple
We create our anchor charts and practice labeling an apple’s outer and inner parts.
We also learn that apples come from apple trees and are picked during harvest.
Comparing Seasons
Since fall is one of four seasons, we compare it with another season. We sort and compare spring and fall because they differ in many ways. We cut and paste the similarities and differences in the correct spaces on the Venn Diagram.
Fall Photo Analysis
During small group time, we make observations and build our use of vocabulary in describing and analyzing fall photos. We make connections, ask questions, and infer meaning from the pictures.
Fall Science Experiments
The most exciting part of our fall lesson plans is the science experiments we conduct. We do three science experiments: one on pumpkins, apples, and leaves. We practice making a hypothesis and record our observations.
Changes In Fall Mini-Book
As morning work, we make our fall mini-books. We color and fill in the blanks with the facts we learn about fall.
This book provides a lot of reviews and makes a great final activity.
Here is a book list of fiction and nonfiction titles to help you teach your students about fall.
So, now that you have all the fall lesson plans you need, what will you start with first?
Resources for Fall Lesson Plans and Activities
Free Pumpkin Life Cycle Activity
This free pumpkin life cycle activity from Proud to Be Primary is simple and helps students learn all about the pumpkin life cycle. Grab a paper plate and some colored pencils, and watch science learning come to life.
More Ideas for Fall Lesson Plans
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