Most children enjoy music, and there are many simple songs that celebrate fall. Try singing these words to the tune of “The Farmer and the Dell”: “The leaves are falling down, the leaves are falling down; red, yellow, green and brown; the leaves are falling down.” The classic “Ring Around the Rosie” becomes inspired by fall when the lyrics are changed to: “Autumn winds begin to blow, colored leaves fall fast and slow, whirling, twirling all around, till at last they touch the ground.”
Leaf rubbings are simple activities. Have the children collect different shapes and sizes of leaves. Provide a piece of thin paper, such as tracing paper, and a few crayons for each student. Place one leaf on the table and lay the paper on top of it. Help children hold the paper in place while they rub a crayon on its side (remove the paper wrapping first) back and forth over the paper. Another activity is to make a fall wreath by gluing a variety of nature items to a paper plate with the center cut out. Children can choose to use dried leaves, nuts or pine cones. If desired, embellish with a bow or ribbon.
Create a mobile by attaching leaves -- either real leaves collected by the students or colored leaves cut from paper -- to strings. Tie the strings to a hanger and hang the mobiles from the ceiling to create seasonal interest around the classroom. Another activity is to send the children on a scavenger hunt for fall things. Supply a list using pictures for each item, such as nuts, leaves, apples and small pumpkins. Have them collect the items. This can be done outdoors or inside the classroom. Be sure each listed item is put in place ahead of time.
Children love listening to stories. Choose a book with a familiar character (“Blue’s Fall Day”), select a theme that describes a process (“How Do Apples Grow?” By Betsy Maestro) or combine two fall themes (“Footballs and Falling Leaves” by Rebecca F. Davis) to help children become familiar with the season through pictures and words. Books about Halloween and Thanksgiving are ideal, too, and can be used to teach the origins of each holiday.