As the earth moves around the sun, the amount of daylight or darkness we see changes, as do the seasons. Thursday, September 22nd, is the first official day of fall marked by the fall equinox here in the Northern Hemisphere. The fall and spring equinoxes are the two days of the year where the amount of daytime and nighttime are equal. As autumn begins, we can see the world transform around us with temperatures dropping, days getting shorter, leaves changing color before shedding off the trees, and animals starting to migrate and prepare for winter.
Celebrate this colorful change of season with crafts, activities for indoors and out, and educational resources below. Learn all about the fall equinox, explore what causes the seasons, and how everyone from humans to animals react to the cooler weather.
Then, keep the fun going with Learn Along Bingo packets full of printable activities and everyday learning ideas for children grades Pre-K to 2.
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Learn About the Season
About the Seasons | Everyday Learning
Grades PreK-K
Happy first day of fall! Studying the weather is a great outdoor learning activity that teaches kids about the changes that come with each season.
Travel Deep Inside a Leaf
Grades 5-12
As the autumn leaves change color, have you ever wondered what you would see if you could shrink down to fit inside a plant cell? In this video, take a look inside of a redwood tree! Learn about how leaf cells look and function.
Seasonal Science: Raptor Migration
Grades 6-12
Fall is the time for migration. But why do some birds, like raptors, move from one region to another at certain times of the year? It’s all about their interactions with their environment. This video explores the seasonal event while introducing students to the abiotic and biotic factors that affect the raptor’s migration, providing a platform to investigate the types of relationships found in their ecosystem.
Why Seasons Make No Sense | It’s Okay to Be Smart
Grades 9-12
Day by day, country by country, we tend to measure seasons differently. This video explains why we divide the years into seasons here in the Northern Hemisphere, how it lines up with the weather, and where the practice has its roots.
The Equinox Isn’t What You Think It Is | It’s Okay to Be Smart
Grades 9-12
Is the equinox really when day = night, or is that a myth? Learn about this scientific occurrence, and why the equinox (or latin for “equal night”) might actually be more complicated than you thought.
Crafts, Games & Activities
Baked Apples for a Seasonal Dessert | PBS Food
All Ages
This baked apples recipe with cinnamon from PBS Food makes a great side dish or dessert for a delicious Fall meal.
Weather Surprise | Sid the Science Kid
Grades PreK-2
In this matching game, your child can learn about outside environments and temperatures by helping put plants, animals, and people in the right outside location.
Explore Nature With These Fun Fall Activities
Grades PreK-3
Embrace fall, make family memories, and take a break from screens with these fun fall activities for the whole family.
SciGirls | Season Seeking
Grades 3-8
Observing plants and animals often involves noticing and recording seasonal changes over time. Every species moves through a series of life cycle stages that are related to environmental cues. The study of these life cycle stages is called phenology and the observable stages are called phenophases. This SciGirls activity guides a group through identifying, observing, and recording phenophases nearby.
Why Do We Have Seasons?
Grades 5-12
Explore what causes seasons on Earth in this interactive adapted from NASA materials that features four cities at different latitudes. Use this resource to view how Earth’s axial tilt causes seasons from different perspectives and to develop and use models of sunlight received at Earth’s surface.
Learn Along Bingo
With Learn Along Bingo, children can view, explore, and play as they learn alongside their PBS Kids friends on the PBS Kids 24/7 channel. We hope your family will use it to inspire learning each and every day.
This time, we’re celebrating fall! The changing of the seasons is a great time for children to compare and contrast objects and organisms. In this packet, learn how to investigate different plants by observing, asking questions, and taking steps to answer the questions!
Grades PreK-K
Play & Learn: In this packet, there are printable activities and everyday learning ideas for you and your child to choose from. As you complete each square, mark it off to celebrate the learning!
Grades 1-2
Play & Learn: In this packet, there are printable activities and everyday learning ideas for you and your child to choose from. As you complete each square, mark it off to celebrate the learning!
For even more games and educational resources for young learners, go to the Celebrating Fall Collection on PBS Kids for Parents.