By: Catherine Burckett-St. Laurent M.Ed.

As the seasonal wheel changes and Autumn is now upon us, how can we invite and engage children to start a discussion during this time of year that is authentic and meaningful?

Go For a Nature Walk

Children are naturally curious and observant so a good way to start a conversation about seasonal changes is to go on a walk in nature. During this time, ask open-ended questions, think out loud about the things that you are observing, and listen to what children have to say.

Take Photos

Have children help to take photos of the things they see and then these can be printed off and used later during a group discussion to reflect on their experiences and converse about their ideas and thoughts about what they have seen. Have children dictate to you about their thoughts and ideas about the photos. This is good for their oral language and literacy skills.

Gather Found Objects of Nature

Children love to collect things and this time of year offers a treasure trove of natural items that are falling on the ground or gathered (like pumpkins). I guess that is why in America they call this time of year 'Fall'! These found materials can be sorted into recycled boxes and trays and used as loose parts to play with in many areas of the environment and children can use their imagination in an infinite number of ways (check to make sure they are non-poisonous and not a choking hazard). There are also many ways to use these materials to count, sort, and talk about attributes with children which is good for their mathematical knowledge.

Observational Drawing and Painting

Older preschool-aged children usually begin to be able to do representational drawing, so using observational drawing and painting is good for their creative expression and the development of scientific thinking. During nature walks, children can be given the opportunity to do observational drawings with clipboards, blank paper, and felt tip pens. Maybe pick out a special tree that your class will visit throughout the whole year to observe changes and compare their drawings during each season.

In the classroom, children can place the natural objects they found on a table with a seasonal coloured cloth table runner going down the middle of the table. Maybe some items like a tree branch with leaves can be placed in a vase.  Teachers can then enhance this Autumnal still life by placing a tray in front of each chair where a child can sit( I would advise 2-4 children at a time)and on each tray, there can be paper, two or three small cups of paint that go along with the Autumn colour palette, a paintbrush, a small cup of water and a paper towel to clean brushes and wipe up spills. Other items that can be used to invite children to this activity that can be displayed on the runner include a book on leaves, some of the real photos that were taken on the walk placed in photo holders, and a sign that says, 'Paint what you see!'

All children's attempts to express themselves should be accepted and the results of their creativity can be displayed beautifully on a wall with photos of their walk, the drawings they did in nature, and the words that they dictated to the teacher. This documentation can be discussed at group time and teachers can make a digital slideshow for parents and the conversation can continue at home by encouraging families to go out into nature with their children.