The ultimate homeschooler's fall bucket list

If you homeschool by the seasons, you know that fall is one of the best seasons of all to be a homeschooler. Nature study opportunities are everywhere, the weather is lovely, there are oodles of natural learning opportunities and the school kids are back in school so you have places like museums, galleries and the zoo nearly to yourselves.

There's no shortage of awesome things to do in your homeschool this time of year, but if you'd like a little inspiration, here are fifty of our family's favorite ways to take advantage of the season -- and a few that are new to our fall bucket list.

1. Take part in a citizen science project.
2. Go apple picking. Take it further by doing taste tests of different varieties, bake with the apples and make up some science and art activities to use your apples, too.
3. Set up an autumn nature basket of natural materials. Include items like seed pods, pine cones and dried flower heads, along with a magnifying glass or pocket microscope to investigate them.
4. Make monster flesh. (Here's an alternate way to make this science fun.)
5. Plant spring bulbs. You can either do them inside (to force for winter blooms) or outside.
6. Go to the zoo. If you like, make up a treasure hunt list ahead of time (find a reptile, an animal that starts with a P, an herbivore, etc.).
7. Collect some natural math manipulatives like acorns, seashells or seed pods.
8. Start a historic read-aloud book.
9. Do some pumpkin seed math, art and science.
10. Build a scarecrow.
11. Read spooky poems like Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven." Challenge older kids to memorize them.
12. Go on leaf ID hunts. Walk around your neighborhood without the kids and gather some fall leaves of all different types, then head out with the kids and see if they can find matches and ID them. Be sure to bring your tree ID book and have hot cocoa waiting for when you get back.
13. Go hiking.
14. Visit an art museum and do some extension activities.
15. Do some campfire science and make the flames change colors.
16. Research weatherizing your house and do some projects together. Look up your utility bill for last year and compare it to this year, then have a family challenge to lower it together.
17. Research both sides of Christopher Columbus's life story.
18. Research both sides of Thanksgiving.
19. Do some Thanksgiving science, history and language arts fun.
20. Visit a science museum.
21. Take part in National Fire Prevention Week October 6-13. Talk about fire safety, change the batteries on the smoke detectors and discuss safety measures like these, plus print out printables to teach kids fire safety.
22. Play some games to memorize the presidents in order.
23. Go foraging for fall foods like acorns, crab apples, walnuts, elderberries and wild grapes.
24. Bake bread together.
25. Make nature mandalas.
26. Plan and make some holiday gifts to give.
27. Track the weather. Find a place to record the temperature at a certain time each day, along with the time the sun sets and other notable facts.
28. Make fall nature journals.
29. Go stargazing.
30. Take part in NaNoWriMo for kids from November 1-30.
31. Do leaf chromatography experiments.
32. Also study why leaves change color to begin with.
33. Learn about hibernation.
34. Learn about Germany and celebrate Oktoberfest.
35. Go geocaching or find an EarthCache.
36. Learn about Day of the Dead and do Dia de los Muertos activities and crafts like these masks.
37. Make elderberry syrup. Also talk about the science behind how it prevents and treats colds and flus.
38. Study symmetry with leaf drawings.
39. Take treats to the fire station. See if they'll give you a tour.
40. Do a woodworking project. If you have a Home Depot near you, start taking part in their free workshops for kids.
41. Take part in an October photography challenge.
42. Put out treats for the birds and squirrels. Be sure to put them out where you can watch from inside. Keep track of their favorites.
43. Learn about the Great Chicago Fire of October 8, 1871 (and even read about the exoneration of Mrs. O'Leary, and read her own testimony).
44. Rake an elderly neighbor's lawn.
45. Do fun science and math activities with extra Halloween candy.
46. Take part in the 10 week poetry for kids course.
47. Use pumpkins for crafts, silly projects, math, decorating, cooking, photos, dioramas, catapults...
48. Make autumn goal lists with the kids. Write up a list of what you'd like to accomplish and focus on for each child and as a family this autumn (learn 30 sight words, read 10 chapter books, test for a yellow belt...), and post it where you'll see it often.
49. Take fall "school" pictures.
50. Spend as many days learning outside to celebrate not having to be cooped up inside!

Check out my fall fun board on Pinterest for more fun autumn activities.

Have a great fall!

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