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lenny

Ready for Fall Adventures?

ashley

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Falling Into Our Day

Students will explore fall season characteristics and learn class routines through matching, a classroom tour, a scavenger hunt, goal-setting, and reflection.

This lesson builds excitement for the new school year by connecting students to seasonal changes, reinforcing classroom routines, fostering collaboration, and promoting reflective thinking.

Audience

3rd Grade Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Hands-on fall activities, goal setting, and group reflection.

Materials

Leaf Shape Match-Up, Autumn Classroom Tour, Seasonal Scavenger Hunt, My Fall Goals, Harvest Reflection, Chart Paper, Markers, and Sticky Notes

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review all generated materials and instructions as needed.
  • Print enough copies of Leaf Shape Match-Up, My Fall Goals, and Harvest Reflection for each student.
  • Set up the Autumn Classroom Tour stations around the room with fall-themed displays.
  • Place seasonal items (leaves, pinecones, etc.) for the Seasonal Scavenger Hunt at designated stations.
  • Gather Chart Paper, Markers, and Sticky Notes for the reflective closing activity.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Leaf Matching

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Leaf Shape Match-Up worksheets and pencils.
  • Partner students and have them match leaf shapes to the correct tree names.
  • Circulate and reinforce classroom routines: sharing, quiet voices, and taking turns.
  • Review answers as a class, praising collaboration.

Step 2

Main Activity: Classroom Tour & Scavenger Hunt

20 minutes

  • Gather students and introduce the Autumn Classroom Tour slide deck.
  • Lead a guided tour: highlight fall decorations, books, and learning centers.
  • Hand out the Seasonal Scavenger Hunt checklists.
  • Students walk in small groups to find and check off seasonal items.
  • Monitor behavior, reminding students to walk and raise hands for questions.

Step 3

Journal Time: My Fall Goals

10 minutes

  • Distribute the My Fall Goals journal pages.
  • Instruct students to write one academic goal and one personal goal for the new season.
  • Encourage neat handwriting and thoughtful responses.
  • Circulate to support students and prompt deeper thinking.

Step 4

Cool-Down: Harvest Reflection

10 minutes

  • Bring students into a reflection circle with Chart Paper in the center.
  • Invite volunteers to share one new thing they learned or enjoyed.
  • Record key points on Chart Paper using Markers.
  • Use Sticky Notes for students to write a final reflection or question about fall.
  • Collect Sticky Notes and close with positive affirmations.
lenny

Slide Deck

Autumn Classroom Tour

Welcome explorers! Today we'll visit four exciting fall-themed stations around our classroom. Let’s discover what autumn has to show us.

Welcome students! Briefly explain that we'll explore four fall-themed stations around the room. Remind them to use walking feet, quiet voices, and raise hands for questions.

Station 1: Reading Corner

Our Reading Corner has fall-themed books and cozy seats. Notice the leaf garlands and mini pumpkins on the shelf. Which book catches your eye? Who would like to share a favorite fall story?

Point out the leaf garlands, book titles, and the cozy seating area. Ask students to name their favorite fall stories after observing.

Station 2: Seasonal Display

Here we have real pumpkins, gourds, and a variety of leaves. Observe the different shapes, sizes, and colors. Talk with your partner: What do you notice about these items? How do they show changes in fall?

Encourage students to use descriptive words about shapes, textures, and colors. Reinforce taking turns speaking and listening.

Station 3: Nature Observation Table

Use magnifying glasses to examine pinecones, acorns, and leaf samples. Look closely at textures and patterns. Write one interesting detail on your Seasonal Scavenger Hunt checklist.

Demonstrate gentle handling of nature items and proper use of magnifying glasses. Remind students to record observations on their checklists.

Station 4: Fall Art Center

Create a fall-inspired artwork using paints, leaf rubbings, and collage materials. Discuss with your group: which colors represent autumn and why?

Encourage creativity and teamwork. Monitor supplies and remind students to clean brushes and work areas when finished.

Let’s Begin the Scavenger Hunt!

Now that we’ve toured all stations, grab your Seasonal Scavenger Hunt checklist. In your small groups, explore and check off each item. Have fun discovering more about fall!

Hand out the scavenger hunt checklists and assign students to small groups. Remind them of routines: walking feet, quiet voices, and raising hands for questions.

lenny

Warm Up

Leaf Shape Match-Up

Directions: Match each leaf silhouette with its tree by writing the correct letter next to each number.

  1. [Silhouette 1] _____


  2. [Silhouette 2] _____


  3. [Silhouette 3] _____


  4. [Silhouette 4] _____


  5. [Silhouette 5] _____


Tree Options:
A. Oak
B. Maple
C. Birch
D. Elm
E. Pine

lenny
lenny

Activity

Seasonal Scavenger Hunt

Directions: With your group, find each fall item listed below at one of the stations. Check off the box when you find it, then draw or write one observation.

  • A red, orange, or yellow leaf
    Draw it:





  • A pinecone
    Draw it:





  • An acorn
    Draw it:





  • A piece of bark
    Draw it:





  • Something smooth (stone or seed)
    Draw it:





  • Something fuzzy (moss or lichen)
    Draw it:





  • Something round (gourd or seed)
    Draw it:





  • Something crunchy
    Draw it:





Which item was most interesting or surprising? Why?







lenny
lenny

Journal

My Fall Goals

Welcome to your Fall Goals journal! Use this space to set meaningful academic and personal targets for the season, and plan how you’ll achieve them.

1. Academic Goal

Describe one thing you want to learn or improve in school this fall. Be specific about the subject or skill.







2. Personal Goal

Choose a personal or character goal (for example: being more organized, showing kindness, practicing patience). Describe it here.







3. Action Steps

List two or three concrete steps you will take to reach each of your goals. (Hint: Think about daily habits or new strategies.)







4. Challenges & Solutions

What obstacles might you face as you work on these goals? For each challenge, write one idea for how you could overcome it.







5. Why It Matters

Explain why achieving these goals is important to you. How will reaching them help you feel or grow?







6. Celebration Plan

Think about how you will celebrate when you meet your goals. Will you share the news, reward yourself, or help someone else?







Great job setting your goals! Keep this page somewhere you can see it often and revisit it throughout the fall season to check your progress and celebrate successes.

lenny
lenny

Cool Down

Harvest Reflection

Thank you for exploring fall with us today! Use this quick reflection to share your thoughts and questions.

  1. My favorite activity today was…




  1. One new thing I learned about autumn is…




  1. I feel proud because…




  1. One classroom routine I will remember is…




  1. One question I still have about fall is…




  1. A word to describe how I feel right now is: ____________

Great job! Hand this in on your way out and enjoy the rest of your day.

lenny
lenny