6 Fun fall homeschool activities

Take your homeschool outdoors this season. If you’re looking for some fun fall activities for your children, we have six hands-on activities that will get your kids outdoors to learn and enjoy the cooler weather.

Now that the weather is cooling down a bit, why not enjoy a fall geocaching adventure? Geocaching (pronounced GEE-o-cash-ing) offers children a fun and safe way to learn about the wonders of the outdoors. Geocaching is a modern day, worldwide, family-friendly treasure hunt. Participants go on a journey to find containers called geocaches. Seekers can visit a site like Geocaching.com to search for caches hidden in their area. Geocaching encourages children to explore their surroundings while using critical thinking skills to find the cache.

Another great project to start in the fall is same place, same time photography. Photograph the same tree, plant, park, street or yard once a week or more. Watch the seasons change before your eyes in pictures. This is a perfect activity to learn more about why and how leaves change colors in the fall. If your child enjoys photography, this would be a fun project to tackle through all four seasons.

Our feathered friends can offer hours of entertainment, along with providing us with a fun outdoor science classroom. Consider fun activities that engage children in observing birds and learning about science such as the Project FeederWatch science module for homeschoolers. Here, you will find resources for math, science, writing, geography, history and art! You can find an in-depth lesson plan on nature and birds here.

Corn husk dolls are one of the oldest crafts in North America. Your child can get creative with these dolls and make hair, clothes and accessories to dress them up. To make these corn husk dolls, you will need corn husks, scissors, yarn or raffia, paper towels and markers. You can watch a video tutorial to learn how to make them.

We normally think of an indoor classroom when it comes to science, but a nature walk in the woods is the perfect setting for science class in the fall. Your child can experience the smells, sights and sounds of the forest and record observations.

Gather the family and create a fall bucket list. Each member of the family can decide on three things they would like to do before the end of fall. Here are just a few ideas:

• Apple picking
• Hay ride
• Visit a pumpkin patch
• Tackle a corn maze
• Make caramel apples
• Bob for apples
• Enjoy a bonfire with s’mores
• Go to a fall festival
• Donate to a food bank
• Make fall treats for neighbors

If you have little ones, be sure to check out these free fall printables for preschool and kindergarten too!

Image credit: Tiany Davis

More homeschool tips

How to find a homeschool support group
Online homeschool options
Free and frugal homeschooling