Exploring Nature with Kids: Fall Leaves
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Today I’m sharing three simple ways to get outside and enjoy the fall leaves…with kids.
Fall is such a perfect time to head outdoors with—or without—the kids. It’s my favorite time of the year for family nature walks! The temperatures are just right and the leaves are starting to put on a pretty amazing display.
And those brightly colored leaves provide plenty of inspiration for kid-friendly nature activities. Here are three of my family’s favorite activities involving fall leaves…
3 Ways to Enjoy Fall Leaves with Kids
1. Leaf People
Inspired by Lois Ehlert’s Leaf Man, making Leaf People is a super-easy and creative activity for kids of all ages.
How To
1. Read–Read Leaf Man together, to introduce the concept. Take your time examining the way Ehlert used leaves and other natural objects to create images.
2. Walk–Go for a short walk, making sure to pick a spot where several types of leaves can be found. Keeping the walk short will allow for plenty of time leftover for creating Leaf People.
3. Gather–Bring a bucket, bag or something in which to collect leaves. Encourage the kids to gather a variety of shapes and colors. Watch for especially pretty, colorful and intact leaves, as well as nuts, twigs, moss, bark, long blades of grass, and more.
4. Create–Find a reasonably flat spot that is protected from the wind, and start creating! Some children will need guidance or perhaps even an example before they get the hang of it. If possible, you may want to bring along a copy of Leaf Man to serve as inspiration.
5. Document–Take a picture of your Leaf People, to remember your fun fall activity.
2. Leaf Crowns
Turn a fall nature walk into something special by creating an easy Leaf Crown. All you need is masking tape and leaves!
How To
1. Wrap & Stick–Wrap a long piece of masking tape around the head of each child, with the sticky side facing out. Extra-wide tape is best.
2. Gather–Go for a walk in a wooded area, collecting leaves as you walk.
3. Press–Press the best leaves onto the tape to form a crown of colorful fall leaves.
4. Document–Don’t forget to take a picture of each child wearing his Leaf Crown!
3. Leaf Books
Reading books about leaves is not technically an outdoor activity, but we’ve found it really adds to our outdoor time in the fall.
1. Picture Books–Beautiful picture books abound on the subject of fall leaves, and kids love to identify with the autumn activities portrayed in books about fall.
2. Nature Knowledge–Many fall books provide clear, simple explanations of how and why leaves change color in the fall, as well as the names of common trees and their leaves. This encourages kids to develop a “nature vocabulary,” which can be applied when they head outside.
3. Observation Skills–Instead of “Look at this pretty red leaf,” they can say “Look at this pretty red maple leaf.” Their observation skills will grow as they begin to distinguish between different types, shapes, and colors of leaves.
4. Field Guides–Also helpful are field guides geared towards kids, and even regular, adult-level field guides for older children.
Recommended books
Need some ideas? Check out our family’s favorites: Favorite Picture Books for Fall.
Recommended guides
What are your favorite fall nature activities for kids?
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