Fall teaching is one of the best times of the year! Everything is still fresh and the students are still excited about school. There’s just something about the crisp weather, beautiful colors, and fall outdoor activities that make being in school with our students more fun!
It’s also a great time to integrate science activities into your fall teaching. There’s so much going on in nature during this time of year that it’s easy to get students interested and engaged in your fall-themed science lessons.
Science Activities For Fall Teaching
If you’re teaching science in the fall, there’s almost an unwritten law that you have to incorporate apples and pumpkins! And why not? They’re both fall icons … and kids love to learn about them.
1. Pumpkin Measuring
- Measuring skills are highly useful in science. So grab some pumpkins of different sizes and let your students practice their measuring techniques.
- Have them try to predict which one is heaviest and then weigh them to find out.
- Use a flexible tape measure to measure the circumference of the pumpkins. Is there a correlation between the weight and circumference?
- Cut one of the pumpkins open and remove the seeds. Students can count the seeds. Try grouping them into groups of 10.
- Create a class bar graph that shows the relationship between weight and circumference.
2. Why Do Apples Turn Brown?
- You’ll need 5 different types of apples, some paper plates, some cups or small bowls to put apple slices in, and a measuring spoon. A timer is optional if you want students to time how long the browning takes.
- Label a paper plate for each type of apples you have.
- Cut 2 wedges from each apple of approximately the same size.
- Place one wedge in the cup or bowl and pour 1 tablespoon of lemon juice over it, making sure its all covered. Then place the cup on the correct paper plate. Place the other wedge of the same apple on the other paper plate.
- Now it’s a waiting game. Have the students observe as the apples start to brown. If you’d like to have them collect any data, they could time how long it takes.
- Students could journal about the process or write down predictions and observations.
The scientific explanation for the browning is that there is an enzyme in the apples that reacts with oxygen when the apples’ flesh is exposed. The enzyme prompts the apples to produce melatonin (the same substance that makes us tan!) in order to protect the apple. Basically, the apple is rusting!
3. Candy Pumpkin Engineering Challenge
- For this fun fall teaching activity all you’ll need is lots of candy pumpkins and toothpicks … lots and lots of toothpicks!
- For this activity, you can try both the candy corn style pumpkins and the gumdrop type. Seeing which type works best could also be part of the challenge.
- This activity can be as simple or involved as you want. You can challenge your students to build the highest tower, to make fall or Halloween shapes, or to simple free build and make whatever they can think of.
- They’ll be doing lots of measuring and counting without even realizing it!
apple and pumpkin life cycles
Young students love to learn about the life cycles of the common plants that they see. These pumpkin and apple life cycle mini units contain everything you’ll need to teach your students about this fun topic! Just click on the images below to explore these packs.
Both packs include:
- Teacher Notes
- Reference Poster
- Discussion/Sequencing Cards
- Teacher Review Life Cycle Wheel
- Student Review Life Cycle Wheel Craft
- Student Reader – color and ink-saving
- ACTIVITIES
- Life Cycle Cut and Glue
- Drawing and Writing sequentially
- CENTERS
- Ring Life Cycle Puzzle Center
- Life Cycle Match Up Cards – stage/name, picture
Do you have any other fall science teaching ideas? Please share them with me!
If you are looking for fall craft ideas, you might like to read:
You may also be interested in these fall resources. Just click the links below to explore further!
I would have really enjoyed thematic lessons when I was a child. I don’t know when they became more popular, but I’m all for them.
I totally agree, Deborah – fun and learning at the same time! 🙂
These thematic lessons are great for my fall themes. I love all of your ideas!
Thank you so much! I hope they will prove useful in the classroom!
Such great ideas! I love all of your resources too. They are so helpful, time-saving, clean and crisp! You are amazing. Thank you for sharing your time and talents with teachers!!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words!