Fall brings with it all kinds of fun activities. Here are a few I’ve found around the internet that I’m looking forward to doing with the kids this year.

This week I am participating in The SITS Girls back to blogging challenge. So here is our family’s Fall Bucket List: Homeschool Edition

Science

Changing leaves, cooling weather, and harvest festivals bring many opportunities to learn about science. Here are a few fun ones:

• Colored Flame Pine Cones - create different colored flames with chemicals. Great for a fall bonfire.
• Pine Cone Weather Station- did you know you can predict the weather with pine cones?
• Erupting Pumpkins - Yes it looks messy. But it also looks like a lot of fun!
• Making Butter
• Candy Experiments - This site has 10 different science experiments to help you get through all of the leftover Halloween candy without the sugar crash.
• Testing Thanksgiving Food for Starch

Art

In the past we have had fun painting pine cones, making beeswax candles, creating hand-print spiders, potato stamping and making paper pumpkins. This year I feel it is time to branch out and try a few new things.

• Twig Weaving - I remember doing this one as a kid but with Popsicle sticks.
• Painting a Q Tip Fall Tree - Since the leaves in El Paso don’t really change color I thought we should decorate our house with a few.
• Clay Leaf Bowls
• Fabric Pumpkins

Cooking

I love baking this time of year. There is such an abundance of apples, pumpkins, potatoes and squash. We always spend a lot of time in the kitchen practicing our math, reading, and science skills. This is the first year I can really stand to the side and just be an observer. I will be sharing some of our favorite recipes in October so be sure to check back.

Book Assignments

We joined a book club this year where we are reading Farmer Boy (Little House)by Laura Ingalls Wilder. We will be following it with a trip to the Pumpkin Patch and then the State Fair.

My absolute favorite thing to do in the fall is to curl up with a book, a cup of pumpkin spiced coffee, and a blanket. Here are a few fun fall reads:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potters)

• Little House in the Big Woods

• The Wind in the Willows

• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

• To Kill a Mockingbird (Enhanced Edition) (Harperperennial Modern Classics)

• Wuthering Heights


Don’t forget it’s Banned Books Week. You might be surprised to learn which of the above books have made the banned books list.

Do you have some fun fall activities planned for the kids? What book are you currently reading? Did it make the banned books list? Share in the comments below.