The Autumnal Equinox is on September 22nd and affords a great opportunity to reinforce science education by observing the signs of fall as you drive to your destinations.
Depending on the time you are traveling, point out that daylight is fading – the sun rises later and sets earlier. There’s a chill in the air, a cooler temperature – and fog or frost forms on the car windows in the early morning.
Ask your CarScholars to look for these signs of Fall:
- Squirrels scurrying to collect acorns and other nuts for winter. Count the squirrels. How many can you find?
- Pumpkins, corn stalks, scarecrows, and bales of straw displayed as decorations.
- Ripened apples, pomegranates, persimmons, and chrysanthemums in gardens.
- Flocks of migrating birds heading south for the winter.
- If you are in a woodland area, look for evidence of “buck rubs” on the trees, signaling mating season for deer. (Get more information here.)
- Colorful leaves. How many different leaf colors can you find? (Red, Orange, Yellow, Brown, Green, Multi-Colored).
- Look for piles of crisp, fallen leaves in yards.
- Look for an evergreen tree with needle-like leaves.
- Have the kids keep a tally of all the trees they see that are deciduous or evergreen.
If it’s safe, pull over to collect some fallen leaves. Put them in a plastic bag. When you’re back in the car, let the kids use a magnifying glass to examine the leaves and talk about what they see – compare and contrast leaves. Use a field guide to identify leaves that you collect.
Don’t Forget To Eat Leaves! Many leaves are edible such as lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, beet greens, dandelion greens, and cabbage. Tuck an edible leaf into a sandwich to take along in the car – be sure to point it out to the kids. Can they think of other kinds of leaves that are edible?
Opportunities for learning are all around you. Enjoy your Fall carschooling travels!
Make the most of every mile!
Diane Flynn Keith, Author of Carschooling
© 2008 Diane Flynn Keith, All Rights Reserved.
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