Fall Nature Study Made Simple: A Charlotte Mason-Inspired Guide

There’s something about fall that always feels like a fresh start. The air is crisp, the light turns golden, and our homeschool days begin to settle into a steadier rhythm. Even though we spend time outdoors year-round, autumn sharpens our attention. It invites us to pause a little longer and notice a little more.

Charlotte Mason reminded us how valuable these quiet, firsthand experiences in nature really are. We don’t need a big plan—just time outside and the habit of paying attention.

In this post, I’m sharing some of our favorite fall nature study themes, gentle journaling ideas, and rich living book pairings from my Fall Living Books List. If you’re looking for a simple way to bring all of this together, you might also enjoy our Fall Nature Study Notebook—a Charlotte Mason-inspired guide filled with open-ended prompts to help your child notice more this season. Whether you’re easing back into lessons or simply savoring the season, I hope this gives you a little inspiration to step outside together.

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🍁 Changing Leaves & Leaf Rubbings

The turning leaves are one of the most visible and beautiful signs of fall. Whether you’re walking through the woods or just stepping out your front door, there’s plenty to notice—colors deepening, textures changing, and leaves drifting gently to the ground.

In my homeschool, this is usually the first fall nature activity my children gravitate toward on their own. We keep a basket by the door just for leaves—and my kids fill it up fast.

Simple Activities:

• Collect leaves in a variety of colors and sizes.
• Sort by shape, size, or tree type.
• Create leaf rubbings with crayons or colored pencils.
• Press a few favorites to add to your nature journal.

Nature Journal Prompts:

• Sketch or make rubbings of favorite leaves, with labels if known.
• Describe color, size, texture, or changes over time.
• Record your child’s questions: “Why do some leaves turn red?” or “Why do some trees stay green?”

Quick Extension:

Choose one tree to observe all season long. Visit it weekly and track changes—from the first hint of color to the last bare branch.

Living Book Pairings:

• Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson – A gentle story about a young fox learning to understand and accept the changing seasons.
• Autumn Story by Jill Barklem – A cozy tale with detailed woodland scenes that highlight fall plants, trees, and seasonal changes.

🌰 Autumn Seeds & Acorns

Fall brings all kinds of little discoveries—acorns on the ground, seed pods hidden in the grass, and pinecones under the trees. My kids usually notice them right away, and before I know it, their pockets are full and there are “collections” all over the place.

This is the perfect time to slow down and take a closer look. Encourage your children to collect whatever draws their attention: maple “helicopters,” seed pods, nuts, pinecones, or burrs. You don’t need to identify everything right away—just help them build the habit of looking closely. Charlotte Mason emphasized observation first, trusting that curiosity and understanding will follow naturally.

Simple Activities:

• Go on a “seed hunt” in your yard or along a trail.
• Compare shapes and structures—how do they travel?
• Try a simple experiment: drop a pinecone vs. toss a winged seed.
• Sort finds by size, texture, or how they move.

Nature Journal Prompts:

• Sketch and label collected seeds.
• Note where each was found and how it might travel.
• Describe colors, textures, or shapes that stand out.

Quick Extension:

Choose one type of seed—like an acorn or maple key—and learn how it grows into a tree. You might even try planting one in a small pot and observing what happens.

Living Book Pairings:

• A Seed Is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston – A beautifully illustrated, poetic introduction to seeds that invites quiet wonder.
• From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer – A gentle science connection explaining the full life cycle of a pumpkin in terms young children can understand.

🐿 Observing Animal Behavior in Autumn

Autumn is a busy time of preparation for animals. Squirrels are darting up into trees, birds are gathering in flocks overhead, and insects begin to vanish as the air grows cooler.

Even a few minutes of observation can lead to meaningful nature study.We’ve had some of our most meaningful nature study moments just by noticing what’s happening around us.

This is a wonderful time to encourage your children to start noticing patterns in animal behavior: what the animals are doing, when they’re most active, and how that changes as the season progresses.

Simple Activities:

• Watch squirrels and note what they’re carrying or where they’re headed.
• Look and listen for bird flocks, especially mornings and evenings.
• Visit the same spot weekly to track changes in animal activity.
• Notice which insects are still present—and which have disappeared.

Nature Journal Prompts:

• Sketch or describe an animal and what it was doing.
• Record the time of day, weather, and other details.
• Add questions: “Where do butterflies go?” or “Why do squirrels bury nuts?”

Quick Extension:

Set up a quiet observation spot—a bench, picnic blanket, or log. Sit still for 10–15 minutes and write down every animal you see or hear. Try returning to the same place next week and comparing notes.

Living Book Pairings:

• Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler – A beautifully illustrated story about a family living close to nature, with lovely glimpses of seasonal rhythms and animal life.

🍄 Mushrooms, Moss & the Forest Floor

As the weather cools and the air turns damp, the forest floor begins to change. Mushrooms start popping up, moss becomes softer and greener, and fallen leaves are now underfoot.

We try not to touch mushrooms, but observing them has led to some of our most focused nature journaling. Some days, we revisit the same one for several days in a row just to see if it’s changed.

Simple Activities:

• Look for mushrooms, moss, or lichen after a rainy day.
• Compare how moss feels in different spots—sunny, shady, dry, or damp.
• Sketch mushrooms without touching them, or take a photo to identify at home.
• Use a magnifying glass to observe textures on tree trunks or fallen logs.

What to Record in Nature Journals:

• Drawings or watercolor sketches of mushrooms or moss patches.
• Notes about color, texture, shape, or where each was found.
• Changes over time—Did the mushroom last more than a day? Did the moss dry out?

Quick Extension Idea:

Choose one small mushroom or moss patch to observe closely (without touching). Ask your child to describe it in detail—color, shape, pattern, where it’s growing, and how it changes over a few days.

Living Book Pairings:

• Mushroom in the Rain by Mirra Ginsburg – A gentle story introducing the idea of mushroom habitats and shelter.
• Fall Walk by Virginia Brimhall Snow – A helpful nature walk companion that includes moss, mushrooms, and other plants children might see this time of year.

🌤 Observing Autumn Weather

As fall sets in, the sky and weather begins to change. The sunlight shifts, shadows stretch longer, and the air starts to feel cooler and breezier. Even if you’ve been walking the same trail all summer, everything feels a little different now.

I’ve found that just stepping outside at the same time each day—right before lessons or after lunch—helps us notice seasonal changes more naturally. Charlotte Mason encouraged regular weather observation not through charts and checklists, but through the simple habit of noticing.

Children can begin to observe how the sky looks before a storm, how animals act when it’s windy, or how leaves drift differently on a breezy day. These little habits build attentiveness over time.

Simple Activities:

• Step outside at the same time each day and note what’s different.
• Sketch clouds and talk about how they’re shaped or how they move.
• Watch how animals behave on chilly mornings or before rain.
• Look for signs of wind—falling leaves, swaying branches, or drifting seeds.

What to Record in Nature Journals:

• Sketches of clouds, the sky at sunset, or trees moving in the wind.
• Observations about the temperature, wind direction, or how the light falls at different times of day.

Quick Extension Idea:

Create a simple weather log for the week. Each day, your child can draw simple illustrations to show what the sky looked like and/or write one short sentence about what they noticed.

Living Book Pairings:

• Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kennard Pak – A quiet walk through seasonal weather changes with gentle illustrations and observations.
• In November by Cynthia Rylant – Beautiful, poetic reflections on the stillness and quiet of late fall.

🍎 Apple Orchards & Pumpkin Patches

Apple and pumpkin picking are some of my family’s favorite fall outings. There’s something about walking through rows of trees or wandering a pumpkin patch with your children—hands reaching, baskets filling—that makes the season feel alive.

These outings are full of fun and memory-making, but they also offer rich opportunities for nature study. Charlotte Mason emphasized the value of real-life experiences—being close to the land, observing how things grow, and learning through the senses. Picking fruit or visiting a working farm naturally encourages those habits.

While you’re there, take your time. Look at the way the vines grow or how the trees branch. Ask questions about what happens after harvest. Let your children notice the details with all five senses.

Simple Activities:

• Observe apple trees or pumpkin vines up close—notice leaves, stems, shapes, and textures.
• Compare the size, color, or weight of the apples or pumpkins your children pick.
• Watch the harvesting or sorting process—if it’s a working farm, ask about the tools and methods used.
• Talk about what happens next: storage, cooking, composting, seed saving.

What to Record in Nature Journals:

• Sketches of apple trees or pumpkins on the vine.
• Descriptions of color, smell, weight, or texture—how the fruit feels or sounds when tapped.
• Observations about how the orchard or patch changes with the weather.

Quick Extension Idea:

After your outing, cut open an apple or pumpkin together. Let your child sketch the inside—seeds, core, or pulp. You can even save a few seeds, dry them, and label them for your nature journal or seed collection.

Living Book Pairings:

• Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell – Follows the life cycle of a pumpkin named ‘Jack’ as it decays and grows again, showing natural decomposition and seasonal change.
• Apples by Gail Gibbons – An informative introduction to apple varieties, growing seasons, and harvest.

🍂 Tracking the Progression of Fall

One of my favorite parts of fall nature study is simply watching the season unfold week by week. Early September feels completely different from late November—and helping our children notice those gradual shifts builds deeper attentiveness and appreciation.

You don’t need a formal plan. Just choose a familiar outdoor spot—a favorite tree, your backyard, or a trail you visit regularly—and return to it often. The more frequently you go, the more your children will notice: a tree that was green last week is turning red, a quiet trail is now blanketed in leaves, or fewer birds are singing than before.

Making a habit of visiting the same place once a week helps all of us to really notice differences. Often, the kids start pointing things out before I do—and their nature journal entries naturally grow more detailed without much prompting. Here are some changes to look for:

Early Fall (September):

• First hints of color on trees
• Acorns and seed pods appearing
• Warm days, cooler mornings
• Butterflies still active; birds still singing

Mid-Fall (October):

• Leaves at peak color, then falling
• Increased squirrel and bird activity
• Mushrooms appearing after rain
• More bird migration overhead

Late Fall (November):

• Bare branches and crunching leaves
• Fewer insects and birds; quieter trails
• Dormant gardens and gray skies
• Longer shadows and vivid sunsets

What to Record in Nature Journals:

• Weekly sketches of the same tree, plant, or outdoor view
• Notes on temperature, light, and animal activity
• Simple comparisons: “Last week, this tree had red leaves. Now they’re gone.”

Quick Extension Idea:

Create a seasonal timeline or “Signs of Fall” checklist in your journal. Add one new observation each week—something that changed, something that disappeared, or something that shows the season moving forward.

Living Book Tie-In:

• Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall – Follows a New England family through the rhythm of the year, with strong seasonal imagery and a sense of meaningful work and change.

Including All Ages in Your Fall Nature Study

One of the best things about nature study is how easily it includes everyone. Whether you’re homeschooling one child or a big family (like mine), fall offers something for every stage—from toddlers gathering leaves to teens sketching migrating birds.

You don’t have to plan separate activities for each child. A single nature walk can be experienced in many ways, with each child noticing something different. In our homeschool, this often looks like everyone walking together, but one is sketching mushrooms, another is collecting seeds, and one is simply running through the leaves. That’s the beauty of it.

Here’s a simple guide to making fall nature study work for different ages:

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For Preschoolers (Ages 3–5):

• Focus on sensory experiences—colors, smells, textures, sounds.
• Let them collect and carry leaves, acorns, or pinecones.
• Keep outings short (15–20 minutes) and follow their pace.
• Use open-ended questions: “What do you hear?” or “What color is this one?”

For Early Elementary (Ages 6–9):

• Encourage more detailed noticing—leaf veins, animal activity, cloud shapes.
• Let them try labeling simple sketches in their journals.
• Introduce gentle field guides and vocabulary (e.g., “That’s a maple leaf!”)
• Ask comparison questions: “How is this tree different from last week?”

For Upper Elementary & Middle Grades (Ages 10–13):

• Support more consistent journaling and detailed observation.
• Help them spot patterns in weather, plant cycles, or animal behavior.
• Encourage research based on something they’ve noticed.
• Offer tools like a magnifying glass, compass, or thermometer if they’re interested.

For High Schoolers (13+):

• Encourage independent study based on their interests—birdwatching, weather patterns, sketching, or nature photography.
• Suggest long-term observations they can document in more depth—like tracking the seasonal changes of one tree, habitat, or species.
• Invite them to connect nature study with other subjects—literature, science, art, or journaling.
• Offer thoughtful, open-ended questions: “What changes have you noticed since last month?” or “How would you describe this moment through poetry or a field sketch?”

🍁 Making the Most of Your Fall Nature Study

Fall nature study doesn’t need to be elaborate or perfectly planned. A few quiet walks, a habit of paying attention, and a willingness to wonder together go a long way. Some days your children might fill their journals with sketches and notes. Other days, they might simply run through the leaves. Both are meaningful.

If you’re looking for more living books to pair with your nature lessons, be sure to check out Our Favorite Charlotte Mason Fall Living Books—it’s filled with beautiful, seasonal stories that work perfectly with your fall nature studies.

And if this post was helpful and you want more Charlotte Mason homeschooling tips, I’d love for you to follow along on Instagram, Facebook, X, where you will find more simple nature prompts, book pairings, and Charlotte Mason homeschooling encouragement throughout the seasons.

Let’s keep noticing the beauty around us—together.