I Sense Fall Writing and Drawing Activity

September is that magical time when you can start to sense that things are changing. The leaves begin to turn, the crisp smell of autumn is in the air and the geese begin their migration, filling the skies with their calls as they head south.

I printed out the worksheets below and brought the kids outside to talk about what changes were happening. We used our five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste) to discover signs that Fall was here!

What do you SEE? Are the leaves changing colors? Are they falling to the ground? Do you see pumpkins or apples growing? What animals or insects are active?

What do you HEAR? Do you hear leaves crunching underfoot? Are the birds chirping or geese honking as they migrate? Can you hear the wind rustling through the trees?

What do you SMELL? Can you smell the crisp autumn air? Do you catch a whiff of bonfires or the scent of fallen leaves? Is someone baking pies or roasting marshmallows?

What do you TASTE? Have you taken a bite of a freshly picked apple? Did you taste homemade cider? Have you tried any fall treats like pumpkin bread or roasted nuts?

What do you FEEL? Can you feel the cool breeze on your face? Are the mornings chilly and the afternoons warm? Can you touch the rough bark of a tree or the softness of a fallen leaf? Can you feel the crunch of leaves under your feet?

A Few Tips

Grab Sticks: Sticks are a fun way to explore and interact with your surroundings. They can help you poke through leaves or reach items that are out of reach.
Close Your Eyes: You’ll be amazed at how different everything feels and sounds with your eyes closed. Focus on the crisp air and the sounds of fall.
Bring a Change of Clothes: Fully enjoy the experience. Jump into leaf piles, explore muddy trails, and embrace the fall weather. Just make sure you have something clean and warm to change into.
Wear Boots: Keep your feet dry and warm, especially if you’re walking through damp leaves or mud.
Assign Jobs: If your kids are feeling bored, give them an important mission. Maybe you need to gather leaves for a craft, find the perfect stick for roasting marshmallows, or be the leader on the trail.
Bring a Basket or Bag: We always bring something to collect nature treasures in. Fall is the perfect time to gather items for a seasonal craft or decoration. Collect colorful leaves, acorns, and pinecones to use later.
Embrace the Journey: It’s easy to forget to stop and appreciate the beauty around you. If the kids stop, stop with them and truly take in what they are discovering. Or maybe you need to be the one that stops and points out something really cool!

I made 2 worksheets for this activity. One is a writing activity for those with writing experience. The other is for the littles to draw a picture of each sign they discovered. If pictures are still a bit tough, have them scribble the colors of what they are trying to draw.

You can bring the worksheets with you to fill in as you go along or print them when you get home to look back on your experience.