100 Autumn-Themed Activities for EYFS Children
Autumn is a beautiful and fascinating season that can ignite wonder in early years children. As the colours change from green to amber, orange and red, young minds start to notice the changes of the seasons. This season offers endless opportunities for hands-on learning experiences. In this article, we have compiled 100 autumn-themed activity ideas spanning various areas of development for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children. Educators and parents alike will find ways to incorporate autumn’s seasonality into lessons, encouraging exploration, creativity and skill-building. From nature walks to art projects, cooking recipes to book reads – these activities will spark curiosity and foster appreciation for the seasonal transitions in our world.
Literacy: Autumn Ideas
1. Read autumn books and make story prediction charts
2. Have children write and illustrate autumn acrostic poems
3. Create autumn vocabulary word/ Anchor charts to sound out and read
4. Set up a fall leaves letter matching game
5. Facilitate an autumn journal/diary writing station
6. Label parts of autumn-themed pictures using stickers
7. Create illustrated autumn vocabulary word banks to practice reading
8. Write step-by-step instructions for autumn leaf rubbings activity
9. Sort books into autumn and non-autumn-themed categories
10. Play autumn leaves letter and sound matching games
11. Read fictional and nonfictional autumn books and compare elements of each
12. Create class autumn ABC books with each child illustrating assigned fall words
13. Label parts of trees, leaves, fruits and autumn pictures with sticky notes
14. Listen to autumn read-aloud and sequence story events using picture cards
15. Create Autumn Themed anchor Charts like this one for Pumpkins
Mathematics
16. Count and sort colourful fall leaves, acorns, and pinecones by number/size
17. Graph types of Harvest foods or the number of items collected
18. Print autumn leaf counting booklets to complete
19. Play leaf, acorn or pine cone toss games, keeping score
20. Mix orange and yellow paint to explore fall colours
21. Tally favourite autumn foods, colours, or types of produce
22. Measure lengths of twigs, weights of pinecones, and leaves then order and compare
23. Print autumn-themed rhyming patterns to identify and extend
24. Use scales to weigh and compare different gourds, fruits, veggies
25. Count and clap syllables in autumn-themed words
26. Taste test mini pumpkins vs. large pumpkins and graph classmates’ preferences
27. Estimate then count quantities of autumn objects and place value counters
28. Create maps of the classroom with fall-coloured blocks and autumn toys
29. Print autumn-themed I Spy books focused on positional words
30. Mix numbered autumn leaf colours to practice counting on or back
Understanding the World
31. Take nature walks to observe autumn weather changes firsthand
32. Examine vegetables harvested in autumn and discuss seasonality
33. Look at types of clothes worn in autumn vs. other seasons
34. Observe autumn leaves changing colours around the school grounds
35. Plant bulbs and seeds saved from summer to observe growing in spring
36. Explain the lifecycles of trees, leaves changing colours and falling based on observations
37. Use magnifying glasses to look closely at autumn seeds and fruits
38. Research local animals that hibernate or migrate in autumn
39. Mix, mash, and taste different autumn squash and gourds
40. Look at maps/globes to discuss autumn relative to the equator and poles
41. Look at pictures of the same trees in summer vs. autumn and discuss changes
42. Use nature item imprints and leaf rubbings to examine detailed features
43. Plant bulbs in autumn and predict what will happen by springtime
44. Categorize types of autumn fruits, vegetables, and leaves in sorting activities
45. Share family autumn holiday traditions like Rosh Hashanah or Diwali
Expressive Arts and Design
46. Finger paint with fall-coloured tempera paints
47. Create autumn trees with paper trunks and fallen leaf paintings
48. Make and play dried seeds rainbow shaker music instruments
49. Construct squirrel, owl or hedgehog sculptures from clay or play dough
50. Role-play the life cycle of trees through the seasons
51. Use a light projector to make glowing tree silhouettes
52. Paint paper plate pumpkins using a variety of printing techniques
53. Engineer leaf blowers using straws, paper, and string to experiment with moving air
54. Construct mini autumn wreaths from real or paper leaves and natural elements
55. Dramatize the story of “The Very Busy Spider” using spider web props
56. Play classical autumn music like Vivaldi while painting fall trees
57. Role-play squirrels gathering acorns for winter hibernation
58. Decorate paper bag scarecrow puppets and re-tell related stories
59. Engineer leaf blowers from straws and paper to move objects
60. Construct mini autumn wreaths from real or paper leaves
Physical Development
61. Go on autumn color scavenger hunts to find diverse fall objects
62. Act out trees in the wind, leaves falling by swaying and twirling
63. Hammer golf tees into pumpkins to strengthen hand muscles
64. Use natural autumn finds for open-ended sensory tubs
65. Play leaf or acorn target toss games for coordination
66. Dance to Vivaldi’s Autumn leaves crunching sounds
67. Go on nature walks and collect autumn treasures in baskets
68. Play animal movement games like waddling like ducks in autumn winds
69. Hammer golf tees into pumpkins for developing hand strength
70. Thread leaves through lacing cards fine motor activity
71. Dance like swirling autumn leaves and animals preparing for winter
72. Collect nature items on scavenger hunts to fill autumn sensory bins
73. Hammer golf tees into pumpkins to develop hand strength
74. Play corn kernel scooping games with spoons or tongs
75. Leaf thread designs onto a piece of card for coordination
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
76. Discuss what students enjoy and don’t like about autumn
77. Read stories dealing with autumn change themes to discuss
78. Act out being helpful autumn helpers collecting fallen leaves
79. Role-play properly dressing for weather and seasons
80. Make paper leaf headbands together to foster teamwork
81. Role play sharing autumn clothes that don’t fit any more with others
82. Read Chrysanthemum and discuss being unique like autumn leaves
83. Discuss being grateful for food harvested in the autumn months
84. Make paper leaf headbands together to foster teamwork
85. Do leaf rubbings and discuss favourite autumn memories
86. Discuss working together like a flock of geese migrating south
87. Read autumn books focused on change like Little Yellow Leaf
88. Re-enact animals preparing for hibernation and migration
89. Role play properly dressing for autumn weather seasons
90. Make paper leaf headbands together to foster teamwork
Communication and Language
91. Read fiction and nonfiction books about autumn noting key details
92. Recite autumn-themed poems, songs and fingerplays together
93. Describe observations on autumn nature walks using rich vocabulary
94. Show and tell autumn foods, clothing or decorations from home
95. Listen to wind and rain sound effect clips and discuss sounds
96. Describe pretend play scenarios using autumn vocab: farmers market, orchard
97. Sort real or artificial fruits, veggies, and leaves into Venn diagrams while labelling categories
98. Look at autumn photos or videos and recall key details to discuss
99. Listen to Windy Autumn Day sound effects and dictate imaginative stories
100. Practice articulating 2+ syllable autumn-themed words like scarecrow, chrysanthemum
