Autumn is a season of transitions. Days get shorter and, eventually, cooler. Summer-grown crops ripen and are harvested to eat or preserve. Birds begin their fall migrations. The leaves of deciduous trees begin to change color. School traditionally starts in most areas of North America.
As you embark on this season rich in color, interest and tradition, let it inspire your lessons, both inside and outside the classroom setting.
Miscellaneous general autumn/harvest lesson planning, resources and information
Get started with the lesson and resource ideas from AMC’s “Autumn Weekend and School Day Field Trips” article. http://www.amonco.org/creative01/montessori_fall1.pdf
Set the mood with Marjorie Kiel Persons of Classical Magic’s lesson plan for Antonio Vivaldi’s “Autumn” from The Four Seasons. Then start accumulating materials for Thanksgiving lessons through the Plymouth, Massachusetts resources shared by Sara L. Ambarian. Find both articles at http://www.amonco.org/creative7/montessori_fall7.pdf
For outdoor autumn fun with science built in, consider an outing to watch the fall bird migrations. This multi-page article from GORP gives many interesting suggestions about destinations all around the U.S. http://www.gorp.com/weekend-guide/travel-ta-birdwatching-sidwcmdev_052492.html
Help kids welcome autumn and revel in the beauty of the season with art and craft projects. Bold shapes and bright colors make a statement in Sara L. Ambarian’s “Autumn Colors Tissue Paper Art Project”. http://www.amonco.org/creative5/montessori_fall5.pdf
Find more autumn art and craft ideas here:
http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/autumnfallartscraftideaskids.html
http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/autumn.shtml
Autumn Events—
The Harvest Moon
Information about the harvest moon: http://www.moonconnection.com/harvest_moon.phtml
Here is a nice instrumental of the famous old standard, “Shine On Harvest Moon” as performed by Jerry Gray and his orchestra in 1950. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDYoYclxvrc
Columbus Day
For more information, visit: http://holidays.kaboose.com/columbus-day
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/columbus
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/columbus-day
Veterans Day
For more information, check out: http://www.va.gov/kids
http://www.theteacherscorner.net/seasonal/veterans-day/index.php
http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-veterans-day
Need a quick break from lesson plans and classroom organization?
Take a quiz about autumn. http://www.quizmoz.com/quizzes/Trivia-Quizzes/a/Autumn-Trivia-Quiz.asp
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Look for more lesson plan and resource ideas in Part Two which will be available in one week.
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