Fall Activities (September – November)

Are you looking for some activities to do outside with your K-12 class this fall? Whether or not you have a growing space, there are plenty of BC Curriculum-based activities to do with your students. Keep in mind that activities will vary depending on where you are in the province; they might be possible earlier/later than suggested here.

	In the Garden Learning activities to enjoy in your own schoolyard this Fall. This is the season to bring your students back into the school garden after summer break with harvesting, seed saving, and even some fall crop planting for Southern BC schools.
Name Description Developed by Saving Garden Seeds Use this F2SBC lesson plan to engage students in a series of hands-on classroom activities focused on saving garden seeds. F2SBC Seed Saving Crop Cards Did you arrive back at school to find that your garden has gone to seed? Use these crop cards to learn how to harvest, clean, and store seeds from the garden. FarmFolk CityFolk and F2SBC Seed Saving and Seed Sovereignty Explore seed stewardship with 13 bite-sized lesson plans, including teaching slide decks and activities that introduce students to seed stewardship. FarmFolk CityFolk and F2SBC Plant Garlic Use this guide from Megan Zeni to learn how to plant garlic with your students. Megan Zeni All About Pumpkins Explore pumpkins through facts, a visual life cycle, hands-on activities, and links to additional learning resources. SPEC Seed the Garden In southern BC, fall is a great time to direct-sow crops such as lettuce, arugula, kale, radishes, spinach, and pak choi. Refer to the Crop Planning Guide for more ideas. F2SBC Put the Garden to Bed Prepare your garden for winter by clipping, composting, mulching, and cover cropping to build soil nutrients, support insect habitat, and reduce weeds. Kids Gardening All About Mulch Fall is a great time to mulch the garden. Use this how-to guide to learn more about the benefits of mulching and how to get started. Compost Education Center
	On the Land Learning activities to engage students beyond your schoolyard this Fall. Travel off school grounds with your class for new outdoor learning experiences. Observe the changing leaves and go on nature scavenger hunts through local forests.
Name Description Developed by How Leaves Work Explore the seasonality and changing colours of leaves, with links to engaging leaf activities and additional learning resources. SPEC Fall Scavenger Hunt Explore the sights, colours, textures, and patterns of fall with this visual scavenger hunt. SPEC Nature Mandala Use objects collected during a scavenger hunt, or other loose parts, to create beautiful nature-inspired art. Little Pine Learners Mushrooms! Go on a fungi foray, look for lichens, make mushroom spore prints, and explore 23 other fun mushroom activities. Child’s Play ABC Explore the Fall Forest Use the Northwest Plant Card Deck to explore and learn about native plants found in your neighbourhood. Strong Nations
	In the Classroom There’s fun to be had inside the classroom as well! When weather is not a factor, you can grow throughout the year and plan your harvests. Connect food and indoor growing to your science curriculum with classroom investigations and observations.
Name Description Developed by Regrow Table Scraps Grow a garden in your classroom and explore science through a hands-on investigation of how to regrow 10 different vegetables from scraps. SPUD Sprouting Beans Inquiry Explore cross-curricular K-4 learning through a simple, hands-on investigation into what seeds need to sprout and grow. Megan Zeni Pumpkin Decorating Get creative with no-carve pumpkin decorating using flowers and other materials from the fall garden. Little Pine Learners Leaf Detectives Play a guessing game to discover the diversity of leaf shapes, colours, and sizes while practicing observation and categorization skills. SPEC Wonderful World of Spiders Why do we see more spiders in the fall? Find the answer to this question and discover many more curious facts about spiders. SPEC
	In the Kitchen Inviting your class into the kitchen takes some extra time to prepare, but once routines are established, cooking can be the highlight of the week for students. Teach your students to cook and enjoy seasonal local foods with these Fall activities.