Fall is here and it is the perfect time for fun fall resources! Grab your pumpkin spice and check out these fall books, boom cards, and games that will add lots of fun to your elementary classroom.
Fabulous Fall Books to Fall in Love With
Adding fun read-alouds is a surefire way to add fun to any lesson. These fabulous fall books will build background knowledge, increase vocabulary, and add tons of fall fun. Each book includes an Amazon link (not an affiliate), so that you can read more. Just click the image of the book to read more details.
- Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie (Picture the Seasons) by Jill Esbaum: Take a journey through the seasons with this charming book that beautifully captures the life cycle of a pumpkin. From seed to scrumptious pie, it’s a delightful exploration for young readers.
- Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell: Ever wondered what happens to a pumpkin after Halloween? Pumpkin Jack is here to tell the tale of one pumpkin’s transformation as it experiences the changing seasons.
- We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger: Join in on the leaf-hunting adventure as a group of friends explores the vibrant colors of fall. This interactive book is perfect for little ones who love to be part of the action.
- There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves! by Lucille Colandro: This hilarious twist on a classic rhyme will have kids giggling as they follow along with the old lady’s leafy escapades.
- Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell: Celebrate the joys of fall traditions, from apple picking to pumpkin carving, in this heartwarming picture book that captures the essence of the season.
- The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll: It’s a tale of teamwork as two mice unknowingly tend to the same pumpkin, hoping to grow the biggest pumpkin ever. This story is a delightful lesson in collaboration and friendship.
- The Scarecrow: A Fall Book for Kids by Beth Ferry: Meet the lovable scarecrow in this enchanting story that celebrates the spirit of fall and the importance of embracing our unique qualities.
- The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming: This whimsical book follows the adventures of a mischievous squirrel who can’t resist the allure of colorful leaves. It’s a playful reminder that sometimes the most unexpected things bring us joy.
Boom Cards for Engaging Learning
Boom Cards are digital task cards that are interactive, self-checking, no-prep, and fun! This digital resource is a great way to add fun to your structured literacy classroom and to sneak in some enjoyable math review. Visit Leigh’s Library at the Boom Learning site for lots of fall Boom Cards. Check out some of my favorite decks here. Click the image to see a preview of the fall deck:
Fall Games for Fabulous Fall Review
Games are another great way to add fun to your elementary classroom. You can use learning games for small group instruction, whole group review, centers, partner activities, early finishers, and even Fun Friday!
These Fall Roll and Spin Math Games provide lots of hands-on review of addition, subtraction, and number recognition. There are 40 different gameboards included: 10 roll and cover, 10 spin and cover, 10 open-ended roll and cover, and 10 open-ended spin and cover. Each gameboard also comes in B&W.
These fall gameboards are no prep – simply print and go! Add dice to the roll and cover and use the included spinner with the spin and cover games. You also need to add game pieces, such as counters, cubes, etc.
You can add your own content to the open-ended games and have students review any skill you choose.
Click the image to learn more about these Fall Roll and Spin Math Games.
Fall bingo is another big hit this time of year. You can grab this free fall bingo game when you join the Members Only Free Resource Library. This fall bingo game is a colorful and fun choice for Fun Friday or a fall party. Click the image to get your password to join the Members Only Free Resource Library.
Starfall, the educational website, has a fun free game for your elementary students. Students review the sound for the letter “U”, visit a pumpkin patch, pick a pumpkin patch, and create a jack-o-lantern. Students can play this game after one of the fun fall books.
Other Fabulous Fall Fun Activities
Fall is a great time for adding in integrated hands-on Science, Math, Reading, and Writing.
Fall Leaves – After listening to the fabulous fall book, We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt, let students go outside and gather as many different kinds of fall leaves as they can find. Return to the classroom and let students work together to sort the leaves. Encourage students to use different sorting rules, such as color, size, or shape. This fun hands-on activity brings nature into the learning experience.
Pumpkin Fun – Who doesn’t love pumpkins? Get a few different-sized pumpkins. Let students guess how many seeds will be in each. Before you cut the pumpkin tops off and start scooping, use some non-standard math to learn about the pumpkins. Use yarn to measure the circumference. Use cubes to determine the height. A scale adds some standard measurement as students learn the weight of each pumpkin.
After measuring the pumpkins, get ready for messy fun! Have students scoop out the pumpkin seeds and separate the seeds from the pulp. After a good seed cleaning, students can work in groups to count the seeds. This activity is a real-life way for students to figure out the best way to count seeds (i.e. by groups of ten, etc.).
After math fun, it is time for some literacy fun. Use graphic organizers to record information about the pumpkins. For example, after reading Apples and Pumpkins, one of the fabulous fall books, you could use a Venn diagram to compare/contrast a pumpkin and an apple.
Conclusion
Fall is the perfect time to add fun fall resources, like fabulous fall books to your lessons. Sprinkle in some Boom Cards, hands-on games, and integrated learning, and you have the perfect recipe for fabulous fall fun!