Early fall is an ideal time to teach your preschoolers about leaves changing color. Lead a discussion about how leaves need food, just like we do. Explain that their food comes from sunlight and a chemical called chlorophyll. Discuss how leaves are very green and healthy in the spring and summer, when they receive a lot of sunlight. Ask your preschoolers what colors leaves become in the fall, when there is less sunlight. Have the children pick leaves from a tree and leave them out in the classroom to observe for a week. Discuss how their colors and textures change when they are not making food.
Bring in pumpkins for your preschoolers to investigate. Cut off the tops and let the children explore the insides. Talk about what they see and feel. Pull out some of the insides so they can take a closer look. Have your preschoolers gather the seeds and then roast them for a treat. You can also make pumpkin cookies or pie together. Teach your preschoolers how pumpkins grow by discussing their life cycle. If there is a pumpkin patch in your area, take advantage of the opportunity for a field trip.
Take your preschoolers on a nature walk to explore the changes that occur during fall. Ask them to use their senses to describe the things around them. Provide the children with paper bags to collect items such as leaves and pine cones. Have them use their findings in artwork like leaf rubbings and collages. You can also discuss what the weather is like during fall. Discuss the temperature change and compare how they dressed in summer with how they must dress in fall.
Plan activities for the harvest season. Bring in corn on the cob for your preschoolers to investigate. Identify the husks and silk. Have the children peel back the husks and explore the kernels inside. You can even cook some corn for a special lunch. Have your preschoolers plant their own corn seeds in containers. Place the containers in the sun and let the children water their seeds and watch them grow. Plan a trip to a farm to learn more about how corn is grown and harvested.