Daycare Lesson Plans on Fall
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These daycare lesson plans on fall are full of the magical season full of colorful leaves, crisp air, and exciting changes in nature. Autumn themes naturally lend themselves to a wide range of learning areas including science, art, language development, fine motor skills, sensory play, and more. These lesson plans will help you celebrate the season while nurturing young minds.
I love to start every lesson plan with a book. Here are some really great books about fall that can give you inspiration:
- “Leaf Man” by Lois Ehlert
- “We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt” by Steve Metzger
- “Ten Apples Up On Top” by Dr. Seuss
- “Apples, Apples, Apples” by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
- “Pumpkin Pumpkin” by Jeanne Titherington
- “The Roll-Away Pumpkin” by Junia Wonders
- “Bear Snores On” by Karma Wilson
- “Busy Little Squirrel” by Nancy Tafuri
- “Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf” by Lois Ehlert
- “Fletcher and the Falling Leaves” by Julia Rawlinson
For a printable 2 week lesson plan with Oklahoma ELGs for the qris requirements that has 8 days (M-Th) of lesson plans and a printable schedule to go with it, check out our Fall Daycare Lesson Plans on Etsy here.
Signs of Fall
What changes happen in fall?
- Nature Walk: Go outside and collect colorful leaves, sticks, and acorns. Talk about the changes they notice.
- Leaf Sorting: Sort leaves by color, size, or shape.
- Weather Charting: Use a simple weather chart to track sunny, windy, or rainy fall days.
- Leaf Rubbings: Place leaves under paper and use crayons to make textured rubbings.
Apples and Orchards
Exploring apples, how they grow, and what we can make with them
- Apple Taste Test: Try red, green, and yellow apples. Graph the results of which one each child liked best.
- Apple Stamping: Cut apples in half and dip in paint to make apple prints.
- Apple Life Cycle Craft: Use paper circles to show the stages: seed, sprout, tree, flower, apple.
- Homemade Applesauce: Make simple stovetop applesauce together (with adult supervision) and enjoy as a snack.
- Apple and Banana Counting and Sorting: Get multiple pieces of fruit and count and make patters with them.
Pumpkins and Harvest
Pumpkins, farming, and where food comes from
- Pumpkin Investigation: Weigh, measure, and open a real pumpkin. Let children explore the seeds and pulp.
- Pumpkin Life Cycle: Use visuals or flannel board pieces to talk about how a pumpkin grows.
- Pumpkin Craft: Do a handprint pumpkin craft or make a paper plate jack-o-lantern.
- Seed Counting: Use real pumpkin seeds for simple counting and math games.
- Set up a pretend farm stand with toy fruits and vegetables.
- Add baskets, aprons, and signs for a farmer’s market.
Leaves and Trees
Trees losing leaves, changing colors, and fall weather
- Leaf Collage: Create beautiful art with pressed leaves.
- Fall Nature Wand: Make a fun wand out of nature items you find.
- Color Sorting: Sort leaves or paper cutouts into red, orange, yellow, brown, and green.
- Tree Painting: Use a sponge or cotton ball to paint colorful leaves on a tree trunk outline.
- Blow Painting: Use straws to blow watered-down paint across the page like wind blowing leaves.
- Why Do Leaves Change Color? – Use a simple explanation and pictures to discuss how trees prepare for winter.
Fall Animals
What animals do in fall (migrating, storing food, preparing for hibernation)
- Squirrel Nut Hunt: Hide pretend acorns outside or around the room and let children “gather” them like squirrels.
- Animal Sorting: Sort animals into groups—hibernate, migrate, stay active.
- Bear Cave Craft: Create a simple cave out of paper bags and add a bear inside getting ready to hibernate.
- Bird Migration Game: Pretend to fly like birds heading south for the winter.
Fall Songs:
- “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
- “Five Little Pumpkins“
- “Apples and Bananas” (for phonics practice)
- “The Leaves on the Trees” (to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus”)
- “Hibernation Song” (to the tune of “Frère Jacques”)
Sensory Play for Fall
Incorporating sensory activities into fall lessons helps young children explore through touch, smell, sound, and sight. Here are a few ideas:
- Fall Sensory Bin: Fill a bin with dried corn, mini pumpkins, pinecones, leaves, scoops, and cups.
- Pumpkin Spice Playdough: Make homemade playdough with pumpkin spice for a fall scent.
- Fall Sensory Bottles: For hours of sensory fun and no mess. Make these easy sensory bottles with a fall theme.
Fall-Themed Fine Motor Activities
- Beading Fall Necklaces: Use orange, yellow, and red beads to make fall jewelry.
- Tearing Leaves: Tear fall-colored tissue paper and glue to make mosaic leaves.
- Lacing Cards: Use laminated leaf or apple shapes with punched holes and yarn for lacing practice.
- Sticker Trees: Provide tree outlines and fall-colored dot stickers to place as leaves.
Art Projects for Fall
- Marble Painted Leaves: Use paint and marbles in a box to roll over paper leaves.
- Fingerprint Fall Trees: Dip fingers in red, orange, and yellow paint to dot on tree branches.
- Sun Catchers: Use contact paper and tissue paper to make colorful leaf or pumpkin suncatchers.
- Handprint Turkey or Pumpkin: Capture those tiny hands in seasonal art for keepsakes.*****
Outdoor Learning and Gross Motor Ideas
- Leaf Pile Jumping: Rake leaves into a big pile and let the kids jump, toss, and roll around. (Is there anything much more fun in life?)
- Pumpkin Rolling Races: Use small pumpkins to roll in a relay race.
- Fall Scavenger Hunt: Look for acorns, colored leaves, spiderwebs, or migrating birds.
- Parachute Leaf Toss: Toss real or paper leaves into the air with a parachute for fall fun.
Fall Snack Ideas
- Apple slices
- Pumpkin muffins
- Trail mix with dried fruit, seeds, and cereal
- Carrot sticks with hummus (like a harvest snack)
- “Ants on a Log” (celery with sunbutter and raisins)
Parent Involvement
- Invite families to a “Pumpkin Patch Day” or mini fall party.
- Create a fall-themed photo wall with crafts and nature pictures.
Fun Daycare Lesson Plans
For more fun and stimulating daycare lesson plans, check these out:
- These Daycare Lesson Plans on Bees are full of nature lessons and insect study.
- Daycare Lesson Plans on “Goodnight Moon” are fun for kids and full of sweet ideas to do with your kids.
- Daycare Lesson Plans on Picasso are inspiring, creative, and full of great ideas.
- Daycare Lesson Plans on Winter, Snow, and Ice are full of fun winter themed ideas that kids will love.
- Or for a fun Christmas theme, check out Daycare Lesson Plans on Gingerbread for lots of sweet fun.
- Or for more fall ideas, check out Daycare Lesson Plans on Apples.
Crooksie and Churro Learn to Count
For a really sweet and fun story about two garden cats named Crooksie and Churro, check out our new book on Amazon, “Crooksie and Churro Learn to Count“. It’s a counting book that talks about emotions and helps kids learn that it’s okay to feel them all.
Beautiful illustrations engage kids as you explore different places in the garden. And there’s even an easter egg in the book, so they can practice their I Spy skills. See if you can figure out what it is! Grab your copy today and come on a garden adventure with us.
Fall offers a wealth of inspiration for daycare lesson planning. From colorful leaves to delicious harvest foods and exciting animal changes, there’s so much for preschoolers to discover. These lessons connect children to the natural world, spark curiosity, and create joyful seasonal memories.
By weaving together books, songs, art, science, and play, your fall lesson plans will support well-rounded development while embracing everything the season has to offer. Let fall be a time of wonder, creativity, and cozy learning for every child in your care.
