With the cooler temperatures and the leaves just starting to turn into the brilliant backdrop of fall, it is the perfect time to take a few nature hikes.
This time around we brought a bag with us to collect some of the items we found along the way. Once we got home, the items were put with a few previously collected treasures and a couple large magnifying glasses to create a fall sensory bin.
Our bin contained some of the early fall leaves from a variety of trees, some maple tree seeds, walnuts, lots of acorns, pinecones, and one prickly ball from a sweet gum tree. There were also a few seed pods and a dried up sunflower thrown in there for good measure.
They couldn’t wait to examine all of it more closely!
Having all the items together in our nature sensory bin allowed us to compare them easily. We sorted out all the different seeds and nuts and then used the book (affiliate link) Autumn Leaves
Once they had checked everything out carefully, they asked me what was inside an acorn. So we took our acorns outside, along with a hammer, to find out. They loved cracking open acorns!
Using a hammer is such a great activity for young kids, as it helps them work on fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Your kids will love hammering nails in pumpkins, too!
Not sure about having them use a real hammer? Try a wood or plastic kids’ hammer, or purchase one with a short handle that is perfect for smaller hands. (We like this 6 inch hammer.)
There is just something about the fiery red and golden yellow leaves combined with the crisp fall air that makes it the perfect time to take a walk with the kids.
Letting them collect treasures as they go to create their own fall sensory bin to explore is an easy fall activity they will love.
More fun fall activities:
- Q-Tip Painted Fall Trees
- Hammering Pumpkins
- 15 Fun No-Carve Ways to Decorate That Pumpkin
- Halloween Party Games
Kelly - Two Kids Cooking & More says
September 24, 2013 at 10:32 amI love the acorn hammering! We have a huge bucketful that my daughter has collected. She wants to cook with them, which apparently is possible, but requires more work than I’m committed to. I think I’ll get out the hammer instead ;D
OneMommy says
September 30, 2013 at 10:10 pmThey love to hammer things! 🙂
Janell says
September 25, 2013 at 11:00 amWe love sensory bins..and I like the idea you have to change it up for Fall! Thanks for sharing. Saw your page on Life with Moore Babies.
OneMommy says
September 26, 2013 at 9:27 pmIt was nice to be able to relax at home and take as much time as they wanted exploring everything they found. 🙂
Suzie says
September 25, 2013 at 5:06 pmWhat a great idea! My son and I have been going on a lot of daily walks since the weather has started turning cooler, so this is something that would be very fun to do. Thanks for the idea!
OneMommy says
September 30, 2013 at 10:09 pmI hope you both have lots of fun walks these next few weeks! 🙂
Ashley says
October 1, 2013 at 9:09 pmThanks for sharing at Mom’s Library; I shared your fun bin this week!
Leah says
October 2, 2013 at 8:01 pmWe recently went for a fall scavenger hunt and my son loved picking up and looking at all of the items when we got home. Great idea to put them together and use a magnifying glass.
thanks for linking up to the Friday Follow Along, make sure you stop in this week because we are featuring this!
OneMommy says
October 2, 2013 at 10:00 pmThanks so much for featuring it! Enjoy many more walks with your little one!
Heather May says
October 3, 2013 at 1:09 pmI absolutely LOVE this! I am home schooling my kids this year and these types of activities make it much easier to get the point across! Thank you so much for sharing at the Friday Follow Along! You were featured this week
OneMommy says
October 7, 2013 at 8:51 amThank you so much for featuring it!
Monica @HappyandBlessedHome.com says
August 23, 2015 at 11:16 amLove this! Featuring on my KBN roundup of Favorite Fall Activities and Crafts for kids. Thanks for sharing!
Michelle says
August 30, 2015 at 11:30 amI love putting together sensory boxes for my TK class. They enjoy exploring all the signs of a season. Cracking acorns, that is for sure something my grandson would enjoy doing. From Happiness is Homemade Link Party. Enjoy your Sunday.
OneMommy says
August 31, 2015 at 10:05 amMine love cracking open the acorns and other nuts they find in the fall. Learning every day!