Fall is finally here! The air is crisp, the leaves are changing, and I’ve already lit my favorite Leaves candle. There’s something about this time of year that just makes everything feel cozy and festive, especially in the classroom. If you’re anything like me, you’re ready to sprinkle some fall magic into your lesson plans. Whether you’re looking for fun activities or simply want to bring some autumn vibes into your space, I’ve got you covered!
Fall is a great time to engage your middle schoolers with seasonal-themed lessons that they’ll actually enjoy. And guess what? These fall activities are all low-prep, so you can keep things simple without sacrificing the fun.
Ready for some fall-themed inspiration? Let’s dive into 6 great ways you can use fall activities to celebrate the fall season with your students this year!
Let’s start with something easy but super effective. One of the best parts about this time of year is the color palette. So, why not make use of it? Print your handouts, task cards, and graphic organizers on orange paper. It’s a great addition to your classroom aesthetic and requires zero extra effort on your part. You can even mix it up by throwing in some yellow, red, or light brown paper for variety.
Your students will instantly feel like they’re walking into a cozy autumn retreat every time they pick up a worksheet. Plus, using different colored paper is a great way to help students visually organize their materials.
Bulletin boards are such a fun way to add seasonal décor to your classroom. This fall, try creating a bulletin board full of paper pumpkins, colorful leaves, and even pumpkin spice lattes.
You can take it one step further by having students contribute. Whether it’s through short stories, creative writing pieces, or even solved math problems, let your students show off their work on the board. For older students, you could add some great ideas like a class gratitude tree or a display of fall-themed poems and graphic organizers. This is a great way to keep your bulletin board both festive and educational.
Fall is the perfect time to take advantage of football fever. Whether your students are sports fans or not, they’ll get a kick out of a football-themed review day. Divide the class into teams and have them answer questions to move their “football” onto the field. You can do this with any subject—math problems, science facts, or vocabulary words.
It’s a great time to build some teamwork and friendly competition into your classroom routine. If you teach multiple periods, you could even make a championship event at the end of the day where the team with the highest scores amongst all classes gets to take home a small prize, like a pumpkin or a mini apple pie. 🍂 Grab the template here!
Your daily agenda is a staple in your classroom, but it doesn’t have to be boring! Adding pumpkins or other fall-themed clip art to your agenda slides is a great addition to your routine. Not only does it make your slides more festive, but it also sets the tone for a fun, seasonal vibe.
You can even switch up the pumpkins for different fall-themed icons throughout the season. One day it’s pumpkins, the next day it’s apples or even little turkeys as we get closer to Thanksgiving. It’s a great way to get students in the spirit without taking away any instructional time. Don’t want to make your own? Grab mine here!
This one is a personal favorite of mine! Sometimes the best part of the fall season is just soaking up the cozy atmosphere. You can easily bring that into your classroom by playing a “fall vibes” video on YouTube. Look for videos that show cozy autumn scenes with crackling fireplaces, falling leaves, or pumpkin patches, paired with soft music.
This is a great idea for those quiet times when students are working independently or during transitions between activities. The warm visuals and relaxing music can help calm the room and make it feel extra cozy.
Here’s where we bring the fall themes into your lesson plans! Whether you teach math, science, or language arts, this idea can work at any grade level. Cut out paper pumpkins and leaves, then write problems, questions, or prompts on them. Scatter them around the room for a little seasonal scavenger hunt!
This could also double as a fun fall activity. Have students find the pumpkins or leaves, solve the problems, and bring them back to you. If you want to take it up a notch, offer some fall-themed rewards like stickers, extra credit, or even apple slices. 🍎 Your middle schoolers will love it, and it’s a great way to keep them moving and engaged during class. Here’s a free template!
Want to keep the fall fun going? Here are a few more fun fall activities that are a great addition to your lesson plans:
Creative Writing Prompts – Use fall themes like apple picking, pumpkin patches, or even Halloween for writing prompts. Your middle schoolers can write spooky short stories, poems about the autumn season, or even create their own fall-inspired adventure tales.
Crossword Puzzles – Fall-themed crossword puzzles are so much fun! Create your own or find printable ones online that use vocabulary from your current unit. It’s a great way to sneak in some content review while sticking with the fall season.
Pumpkin Patch Math – For math classes, consider setting up a pumpkin patch-themed station where students can solve problems or measure pumpkins. This could even lead into a real-world lesson on measurement and data collection!
As you can see, there are so many great fall activities to help bring the fall season into your classroom without adding too much extra work. Whether you’re printing on orange paper or hosting a football-themed review day, these simple adjustments can make your classroom feel festive and fun. Older students and younger ones alike will enjoy the seasonal change of pace.
And remember, fall is all about creating a cozy, welcoming environment—so have so much fun with it!
Which one of these ideas will you try first?
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I started The Sassy Math Teacher in 2020 to help teachers like you increase classroom engagement and teach with confidence!
I also love to share about my life as a teacher including my favorite outfits, home items, gadgets and trips!
