Everyday Teaching Autism Resources

When planning fall activities ideas, it’s essential to consider my students’ unique interests, abilities, and sensory preferences. Here are some inclusive fall activity ideas for special education:

1. Nature Walks and Scavenger Hunts:
   • Take leisurely walks outdoors to enjoy the fall foliage and engage in sensory experiences.
   • Create a fall-themed scavenger hunt, where individuals can search for specific leaves, acorns, or other natural items.
2. Pumpkin Decorating:
   • Provide pumpkins and various decorating materials, such as paints, stickers, and markers.
   • Encourage individuals to express their creativity and personal style by decorating their pumpkins.
3. Leaf Crafts:
   • Collect colorful leaves and use them for various crafts, such as leaf rubbings, collages, or leaf animals.
   • Create leaf garlands or mobiles using strings or ribbons.
4. Sensory Bins:
   • Create fall-themed sensory bins using materials like dried leaves, pinecones, cinnamon sticks, or small pumpkins.
   • Include sensory items with different textures, scents, and colors for tactile exploration.
5. Apple Exploration:
   • Conduct apple-themed activities, such as apple tasting, apple stamping, or making homemade applesauce.
   • Explore different apple varieties, colors, and sizes to engage multiple senses.
6. Harvest-themed Cooking:
   • Prepare simple recipes using fall harvest produce, such as pumpkin muffins, roasted vegetables, or apple crisps.
   • Involve individuals in measuring, mixing, and following step-by-step instructions.
7. Fall-themed Art Projects:
   • Engage in art activities like leaf printing, fall-themed collages, or creating fall-inspired paintings.
   • Provide a variety of materials like paints, crayons, colored pencils, and paper to encourage creativity.
8. Sensory Fall Sensations:
   • Set up sensory stations with fall-themed materials, such as a warm cider station, cinnamon-scented playdough, or textured sensory bins with items like dried corn kernels or hay.

Remember to provide appropriate support and adaptations based on individual needs, such as visual schedules, communication supports, or sensory breaks. Flexibility and individualization are key in ensuring that fall activities are enjoyable, engaging, and meaningful for individuals with special education needs.

Pumpkin Fall Activity Ideas

Ok- It was a highlight of this week! All we need was, a couple of pumpkins, crayons(better with ready-to-be thrown away) and a hair dryer. What a cool art project- We began the process with small sized orange pumpkins- some had to be colored white or something else..for the vivid colors after dripping. More importantly, covering up the surface with a solid color is something any kids can do independently.

Our colors didn’t turn out as natural as I expected. Primary colors are vivid and loud enough to catch the attention, but not quite enough to deliver the real sense of Fall. 🙂