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The BEST Fall Activities for Preschoolers

You searched for the most amazing fall activities for preschoolers, and you found them at Stay At Home Educator! This is a collection of the very best fall activities for preschoolers, from letter recognition and counting to activities like process art projects and autumn sensory bins.

And of course, you’ll find some nature learning activities, too! There are enough in this ever-growing list to keep you busy all season long!

ten autumn learning activities and crafts in a pinnable collage with the text Amazing fall activities for preschoolers

The fall season creates a unique opportunity for some serious preschool learning. We can take our lessons outdoors and explore the colorful changes that comes with the shorter days and brisk nights.

We have a chance to sprinkle some fall magic into our classrooms. Preschoolers are fascinated by the changing seasons, and the anticipation of jumping into leaf piles is always a favorite tradition.

Actually, this page will be a hub for our beloved kids’ fall activities! You’ll discover a treasure trove of fall literacy, math, sensory, art, crafts, science, and other ideas right here. More than plenty to help you chart out a good chunk of your fall lesson plans!

All the goodies listed below have been put to the test with both preschoolers and a bunch of kindergarten kids. So, you can confidently call them kid-tested and teacher-approved fall activities. Here’s to hoping you and your students have a blast, just like we did!

Fall Activities for Preschoolers

There’s few things more powerful than having the best activities at your fingertips to just pop right into your preschool lesson plans. For your convenience, these activities have been grouped by skill, so you will easily be able to find just the right activity to fill out your fall preschool theme.

Fall Literacy Activities for Preschoolers

Engage preschoolers in fall-themed literacy activities. Read autumn-inspired books, have discussions about the changing season, and encourage them to draw or create stories related to fall. These activities promote language skills and a deeper appreciation for the unique charms of the fall season.

6 Low-Prep Fall Activities for Preschoolers

Fall Math Activities for Preschoolers

Immerse preschoolers in fall-themed math activities. Count and sort leaves, explore patterns using acorns, and engage in apple or pumpkin-themed math games. These activities make learning math concepts enjoyable while embracing the beauty of the fall season.

20+ Free Printables for Preschool Fall Theme

Fall Crafts for Preschoolers

Use leaves for nature-inspired collages, craft paper corn cobs, and make handprint trees adorned with fall colors. These hands-on projects encourage artistic expression while celebrating the beauty of the autumn season.

15 Fall Literacy and Math Centers for Preschoolers

Fall Science Activities for Preschoolers

Encourage scientific curiosity with fall-themed science activities for preschoolers. Investigate the changes in leaves’ colors, observe how pumpkins and gourds under a magnifying glass, and explore the seeds, petals, and stem of fall sunflowers. These hands-on activities engage young minds in observing and understanding the natural wonders of the fall season.

20+ Fine Motor Activities for Fall

Autumn Play Ideas

Foster imaginative play with autumn-themed activities for preschoolers. Create sensory bins filled with leaves and pinecones, set up a mirrored fall invitation to play, or create your own falling leaves from tissue paper.

These play ideas spark creativity and allow kids to explore the beauty of the autumn season in a fun and interactive way.

20+ Fall Sensory Bins for Preschoolers

Books About Fall for Preschoolers

Having the right books about fall can really amplify your preschool lesson plans. These are some of our favorite fall books for preschoolers!

How to Explain Fall to Preschoolers

Not every preschooler lives in a place that has four vivid and clear seasons. Here are a few ways to teach autumn to preschoolers.

How do you introduce autumn to preschoolers?

Fun, hands-on learning experiences and lots of play are always our favorite ways to teach toddlers and preschoolers! Take them outdoors to explore the wonders of the season. Allow them to collect acorns and fall leaves, feel the cool breeze on their skin, and watch the birds collect seeds.

Indoors, preschoolers can learn a lot about fall by reading books, playing with fall sensory bins, and exploring fall fruits and vegetables with their senses. One of our favorite activities to do is to cut into a pumpkin together, explore its insides and taste the pumpkin seeds!

How do you teach preschoolers all about fall?

Get as hands-on as possible! Taking a field trip to a pumpkin patch or an apple orchard is always a fun activity for kids. Learn about why leaves on a fall tree change color, and collect some that have fallen.

Consider a life cycle unit of an apple, pumpkin, or a tree, perfect for including exciting science experiments. Don’t forget to include lots of fall crafts and art activities, like pumpkin crafts!

What preschool themes do you teach preschoolers in the fall?

Fall is full of fun themes to explore! From apples to pumpkins, leaves to life cycles, this is the perfect time of year to focus on the wonder and beauty of nature and gardening.

Some unconventional themes that can be taught in the fall are ‘all about me’, space or the moon, fire safety, and hibernation. Also, don’t forget holiday-inspired themes such as Halloween, spiders, Thanksgiving, and gratitude.

Fall Themes for Preschoolers

With the arrival of brisk fall days, a bunch of exciting themes is here to amplify preschool learning. From the world of autumn leaves to the marvels of farm harvest and the anticipation of Halloween, there are many fall themed topics that will captivate preschoolers.

These engaging subjects are sure to spark curiosity and nurture a genuine love for exploring and learning. All our favorite fall preschool themes are collected in a single article.

Fun Fall Themes for Preschool

Autumn Activities for Toddlers

Many of the listed activities above are also great for toddlers! They certainly don’t want to miss out on all the fun fall learning. Here’s a list of fall activities perfect for toddlers:

  1. Leaf Pile Play: Let them jump, toss, and explore piles of colorful fallen leaves.
  2. Pumpkin Patch Visit: Take a trip to a pumpkin patch to pick out their own pumpkin.
  3. Apple Tasting: Introduce them to different apple varieties and let them taste and compare.
  4. Nature Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of fall-themed items for them to find on a nature walk.
  5. Pumpkin Painting: Provide paints and let them decorate their pumpkins with their unique designs.
  6. Apple Stamping: Dip apple halves in paint and stamp them on paper to create art.
  7. Leaf Rubbings: Place leaves under paper and rub crayons to reveal their patterns.
  8. Fall Playdough: Create fall-themed playdough with scents and colors of the season.
  9. Storytime: Read autumn-themed books and let them engage with the stories.
  10. Outdoor Picnic: Have a cozy picnic with fall treats like apple slices and warm cider.
  11. Pumpkin Sensory Play: Let them explore the insides of a pumpkin with their hands.
  12. Costume Play: Encourage dress-up with simple costumes related to fall (e.g., animals, leaves).
Fall Lesson Plans for Toddlers

Fall Lesson Plans for Preschoolers

Looking for even more ideas on what to add to your fall lesson plans for preschoolers? Or are you just ready for soem done-for-you preschool lesson plans? Try these:

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