Activities & Resources for Outdoor Education

Learn about fall

Curriculum | Grades 3 & up

Thanks for learning about the season of fall with us! In this autumnal curriculum, you’ll find four unique environmental lessons filled with seasonal activities, stories and teachings.

This resource is intended to support learners in understanding the wonders of fall from cultural and scientific perspectives. This work can also help foster a deeper connection with the lands, waters and all those we share our home with.

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What to expect

This resource contains 4 lessons about:

The physical science of the fall equinox
Hibernation
The salmon run
Land as our First Teacher

Explore related media resources

Lesson 1

Shadow tracing activity: Watch this video shared by Janine, a science educator from Pennsylvania, whose “Learn the Sky” resources encourage us to explore our shared sky together. After watching her video (or just 0:47 – 3:40) it’s your turn to act out the earth’s rotation using found materials in this shadow tracing activity to show your understanding of the Earth’s position during the fall equinox.
Leaf rubbing activity: Treehugger is an online library committed to sharing educational resources that promote sustainability. This article explains one of the seasonal displays you will see this season — leaves changing colours, also known as tinting! After reading this article, apply your learning through this fall leaf rubbing activity!
Crossword: Complete this crossword puzzle to help your students practice their fall-themed vocabulary.
Video: Climate change means rising global mean temperatures, driving longer and hotter summers. Watch this video to learn more. What happens to Earth’s delicate rhythms when the warm summer season is prolonged? How would animals, such as birds, be affected? How would plant cycles be affected?
First Peoples Principles of Learning: We invite you to check out this teaching kit shared by Musqueam. Consider how Musqueam divides their seasons not by weeks, months and years, but instead by harvest, drying periods, weather and spiritual practices. How can time be thought of differently than months or seasons? What are other markers of the passage of time?

Lesson 2

Draw: Read this article about species that hibernate and use a blank page to draw some of these animals!
Write: Write a journal entry from the perspective of an animal experiencing the changes of fall.

Lesson 3

Salmon lifecycle cutout game: Test your salmon lifecycle knowledge by using this salmon lifecycle cutout game.
Colouring page: Colour in this scene from the salmon run!

Lesson 4

Reflect: Think about the food you eat, the people around you, and the things that you have. How do you express gratitude for everything that the land and waters provide you? How can you share these gifts with the people around you?
Reflect: Much of the natural world rests and renews itself through hibernation. What are other ways that nature rests? What are the benefits of humans using this time to slow down, rest and reflect?
Read: The Neskonlith People air-dry salmon in the winter for food. Read this article to learn about other foods the Neskonlith People would harvest in the fall!
First Peoples Principles of Learning: The Stó:lō People use the word Temhílawx for Autumn, which means “the time when things are finished.” Why might that be the meaning of Autumn?
Reflect: Why do we carve pumpkins in the fall? What do they symbolize and represent during this time?

Acknowledgements

We wanted to express our sincere gratitude to all of the hands, minds, and hearts whose publicly shared knowledge, teachings and contributions were a part of this learning resource.
We always love to hear from you! Please send your creations to education@sierraclub.bc.ca
We invite you to start with one thing, just one action to help build a brighter future for the lands, waters and all who call them home.