Three Ways to Explore Fall Foliage

As fall arrives, the children have been noticing the beautiful changes in nature—especially the leaves shifting from green to brilliant shades of red, yellow, orange, & brown. To nurture their natural curiosity, we’ve been reading books about autumn & exploring the science behind why leaves change colors.

During fall, shorter daylight hours & cooler temperatures signal trees to stop producing chlorophyll. As the green fades, the vibrant yellows, oranges, browns, reds emerge, giving the season its signature beauty.

Here are three hands-on ways we explored the wonder of fall:

1. Create a Fall Foliage Tree: The children captured the seasonal transformation through hands-on art. Using real foraged branches in our tuff tray , cotton pads as “leaves,” liquid watercolor leaves, they used pipettes with Colorations® Liquid Watercolors to drop & blend colors, designing unique autumn canopies.

This activity helped children:

• Strengthen fine motor skills + hand–eye coordination

• Explore color theory through mixing & blending

• Practice language skills by naming & describing colors

• Engage in creativity, problem-solving, & experimentation

Art experiences like this mirror the work of young scientists. By observing, testing, & discovering, children connect with the world around them, building curiosity & a lifelong love of learning.

2. STEAM Fall Foliage: This STEAM invitation combined science, art, & hands-on discovery. Using branches, baking soda shaped like a tree, fall leaves, & pipettes filled with vinegar mixed with Colorations® Liquid Watercolors, the children created fizzing, bubbling “fall trees.”

The activity allowed children to:

• Observe a real chemical reaction

• Strengthen fine motor skills using pipettes

• Explore color mixing & transformation

• Connect science to seasonal changes

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

With every squeeze, fizz, & burst of color, children discovered that science is hands-on, exciting, & as beautiful as the changing seasons, where every bubble sparks curiosity and learning.

3. Fall Leaves Fine Motor Gym: Using colorful Open Play Toys cones (rainbow, earth tones) & freshly foraged leaves, children created their own fall trees by carefully placing leaves into the holes of the cones. What seemed simple became a fine motor challenge, strengthening finger muscles, hand–eye coordination, dexterity, & the pincer grasp—skills essential for writing, cutting, + painting.

Children quickly discovered some leaves didn’t fit on the first try, encouraging them to slow down, adjust their strategy, & persist. These moments built resilience, patience, & confidence. By the end, each cone became a one-of-a-kind fall tree—showing not just the beauty of the season, but also the growth happening in each child’s hands and mind.