Embrace the magic of fall!
As the crisp autumn air rolls in and the leaves begin to change, fall offers the perfect opportunity for kindergarten teachers to introduce new and exciting classroom activities. Whether you’re looking to bring the beauty of fall inside or venture outside with your little learners, there are endless ways to make the most of this season. Not only do fall-themed activities foster creativity and exploration, but they also help children make connections with the natural world while developing important skills.
In this post, we’ll explore some fun and engaging fall activities, perfect for kindergarten classrooms, inspired by resources from the Welcome to KindergartenTM kit and the seasonal wonders of autumn.
Leaf-Themed Art Projects: Bringing the Outdoors In
Leaves are an iconic symbol of fall, and they provide the perfect inspiration for arts and crafts. One great activity is creating a leaf collage or leaf-rubbing artwork. Take your students outside for a “leaf hunt” where they collect colourful leaves of different shapes and sizes. Once inside, they can use the leaves to create vibrant collages by gluing them onto paper or doing leaf rubbings using crayons.
Materials you’ll need: Leaves, crayons, paper, glue, and markers
Not only does this activity allow children to connect with nature, but it also helps them develop fine motor skills as they manipulate the leaves and art materials. You can also expand the activity by introducing colour theory—asking students to group leaves by their colour or match them to the different hues of crayons they use for rubbings.
Pumpkin Exploration: Hands-On Sensory Fun
No fall classroom activity list would be complete without pumpkins! These fun, festive gourds offer endless possibilities for exploration, both inside and outside the classroom.
Pumpkin Investigation Station
Set up a pumpkin station in your classroom where children can investigate pumpkins with all their senses. Provide small pumpkins of various shapes, sizes, and colours for them to touch, smell, and even listen to (what happens when you knock on the pumpkin’s surface?). Allow them to weigh and measure the pumpkins, sparking conversations about weight, size, and comparisons.
For even more engagement, set up a “pumpkin dissection” table. Slice open a pumpkin and let students scoop out the seeds. They can count the seeds or use them to create a fun math activity like sorting or patternmaking.
Materials you’ll need: Pumpkins, scales, measuring tape, paper, crayons
Afterward, don’t let the pumpkin seeds go to waste—roast them for a classroom snack or use them for art projects!
Outdoor Nature Walks: Exploring Fall Changes
There’s no better way to learn about the changing season than by heading outdoors for a nature walk. Take your class outside and go on a “fall scavenger hunt.” Create a checklist of fall items for students to find, such as acorns, pinecones, red or yellow leaves, and maybe even squirrels preparing for winter!
Materials you’ll need: Fall scavenger hunt checklist, magnifying glasses, clipboards
Give students magnifying glasses so they can get up close and personal with nature. Encourage them to observe the colours, textures, and smells of the season. This activity is great for teaching observation skills and developing language as students describe what they find.
After the walk, you can bring items back to the classroom for sorting, counting, or displaying in a “fall nature corner” to continue the learning experience indoors.
Fall-Themed Story Time and Literacy Activities
Fall is a great time to get cozy with a good book. Incorporate fall-themed storybooks into your reading time, and pair the stories with fun literacy activities to build on the themes in the books.
After reading, encourage students to retell the story using leaf or pumpkin props or to draw their favourite scene from the book. You could also create a fall-themed word wall by introducing new vocabulary like “harvest,” “autumn,” “leaves,” and “scarecrow.” Have your students practice identifying letters and writing words they associate with fall.
Materials you’ll need: Fall-themed storybooks, leaf/pumpkin props, paper, pencils
For a bonus, host a “fall-themed pj day” where students come dressed in cozy PJs, and the whole day is centred around reading books, drinking warm apple cider, and doing literacy activities. It’s a great way to make reading fun and special!
Apple-Themed STEM Activities
Apples are another classic symbol of fall, and they’re perfect for hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) learning. Here are a few fun ideas:
Apple Stack Challenge
This activity is all about problem-solving and engineering. Give each student a set of apples and challenge them to stack them as high as they can without the apples falling over. This simple challenge encourages critical thinking and teaches students about balance, gravity, and stability.
Apple Taste Test
Fall is the perfect time for an apple tasting! Gather different varieties of apples (Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Gala, etc.) and have your students taste each one. Create a class graph to compare the results—who liked the tartness of Granny Smith the most? Which apple was the sweetest?
Materials you’ll need: Apples (pre-cut into slices), paper, and graphing tools
Both of these activities combine sensory experiences with math and science, making learning both tasty and fun!
Fall-Themed Movement and Games
To get your students up and moving, incorporate fall-themed movement activities and games that allow them to burn off some energy while learning at the same time.
Pumpkin Patch Relay
Create a simple relay race by setting up a “pumpkin patch” (use small, soft balls or beanbags as pumpkins). Divide the class into teams and have them race to “harvest” the pumpkins and bring them back to the finish line.
Leaf Dance
Put on some fun, upbeat music and give each child a large paper leaf. They can dance around the room with their leaf, making sure it doesn’t touch the floor. This activity helps children develop gross motor skills while getting their wiggles out.
Materials you’ll need: Beanbags, paper leaves, music
Both games are quick to set up and can be used for indoor recess or a special fall-themed PE activity.
Crafting Fall-Themed Decorations for the Classroom
Finally, invite your students to help decorate the classroom with fall-themed crafts. Whether they’re making paper plate pumpkins, leaf garlands, or acorn crafts, these decorations can brighten up your space and make your classroom feel like a cozy fall wonderland.
You could even turn your classroom into a mini “pumpkin patch” by encouraging students to create their own paper pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns to display around the room.
Materials you’ll need: Paper plates, construction paper, paint, markers, glue
Fall is a magical time of year that offers countless opportunities for creative, educational, and fun activities in your kindergarten classroom. Whether you’re engaging in outdoor exploration, crafting fall decorations, or diving into a pumpkin investigation, these seasonal activities provide a perfect blend of learning and play.
So, as the leaves begin to fall and the air turns crisp, embrace the season and inspire your students with activities that celebrate the wonders of autumn! 🍁
For even more ideas, be sure to check out the resources available from WTK, where you’ll find a treasure trove of activities designed to enrich your classroom and bring out the best in your students!
You can find many of the materials listed in this post at Canadian Education Warehouse.
