Autumn is the best time to get outside because the heat of the sun has dissipated and the frost of winter has not yet arrived. God lays out these days perfectly to present nature as inspirations for learning.
Taking a nature walk is an ideal way to bring yourself and your children closer to the presence of God in our world. When the autumn air is cool, the leaves crunch underfoot, and various wildlife scurry around you, every sense of being is stimulated. It makes you want to capture it and experience it forever!
That’s what my toddler and I tried to do this autumn so we could continue to appreciate the beauty of all things He created through Sensory Bags.
These bags are so easy to make! And you and your toddler will enjoy making them together!
Take a walk through the woods with a bucket in tow collecting treasures from the landscape.
Talk about each item as it is placed in the bucket to encourage vocabulary skills.
Encourage your child to find multiples of an object, but also encourage find a diverse assortment of items.
Have your child go through and sort the items from the bucket by kind (all the leaves in a pile, all the rocks in a pile, etc).
Pull out an item from the bucket, expand upon your child’s vocabulary by discussing the object’s sensory characteristics, and then have your child place it in the proper grouping.
Once the items are sorted, place each grouping into ziptop bags and label them with a permanent marker.
There are a multitude of ways you can use these bags of goodies even after this activity, therefore your autumn experiences can be relished over and over!
Younger children can:
Create sensory bins from the items in the bags.
Do crayon rubbings. *
Count the objects in the bag and have your child label the bag with a post-it note.
Compare the number of objects in 2 bags to build your child’s understanding of number concepts and math vocabulary including more, less, and equal to.
Paint with the objects in a bag. After painting with different objects, build your child’s vocabulary by comparing the outcomes of the artwork.
Create patterns using different items.
Older children can:
Place the bags in alphabetical order.
Use the objects as manipulatives for math problems.
Compare weights using scales or lengths using rulers.
Choose one bag of objects to practice writing fact and opinion sentences.
Keep in mind your ultimate goal is to build a love for learning. Our children will learn many things from us as they go through their homeschooled years. It’s important not to get caught up in focusing too heavily on mastering standards or creating pretty projects. It doesn’t matter how we teach them to discover the joy that results from learning as they explore this world we’ve been furnished.
Jen Schneider, also known as Teacher Jen, is a former public school teacher now homeschooling mom to two little blessings. She is the wife of the famous Chicken Whisperer and they travel around the country as a family in their RV. When at home, Jen enjoys working in the garden, crocheting, and spending time with friends.
* This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. * In 1776 Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense on this day. This pamphlet presented his arguments in favor of American independence. He openly challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. Paine wrote this pamphlet in very plain language – especially to…
* This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. * This is the post that you have been waiting for! Are you ready to see this super long list of fun games to play outside? We have 70+ ideas for you to look into and enjoy doing with your children this summer or anytime…
* This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. * Are you looking for some fun and educational St. Patrick’s Day activities? This Irish holiday honors the official patron saint of Ireland. However, the fun traditions of St. Patrick’s Day aren’t limited to Ireland. In fact, St. Patrick’s Day traditions have caught on all…
* This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. * Are schools closed in your area? If not, it may happen soon. What are you supposed to do if you suddenly find yourself with your kiddos at home and you are now responsible for educating them?! First, don’t panic! There’s good news. There are,…
* This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. * Welcome to the Hip Homeschool Hop! Favs from last week: Did you see these posts? We loved them! Here’s a few of our favorites from last week: Team Member Heidi loved Great High School Homeschool Supplement Resources. She said, “Given that I am beginning my…
* This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. * Hello, Hip Homeschool People! You’ve found this week’s Hip Homeschool Hop….. We’re glad you could join us! Simplified Pantry promotes homestyle cooking with basic ingredients, believing it is possible to cook good, healthy food without a pantry full of specialized products. The eBook,…
2 Comments
Hi, thanks for your post. We have all been waiting for the fall in Texas. Today we finally had some fall weather. We’re glad because it has been way too hot here. I think my children will enjoy these sensory bags. 🙂
Hi, thanks for your post. We have all been waiting for the fall in Texas. Today we finally had some fall weather. We’re glad because it has been way too hot here. I think my children will enjoy these sensory bags. 🙂
Thank you Jenny! I hope you are able to enjoy fall and capture it for later!