Falling into Autumn
Autumn fun!
by Lydia Parkinson
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To consider the positives about autumn.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Falling into Autumn) and the means to display them.
Assembly
- Ask the children to name the seasons of the year.
Ask them what their favourite season is and why.
Listen to a range of responses. - Show Slide 1.
Point out that the colours in the picture suggest that autumn is a wonderful, cosy time of year. However, people sometimes think of it as a season when the days get shorter and the nights get longer, when the days get colder and we start to feel a bit dreary. - However, there are many special things to do in autumn. Tell the children that you are going to show them a few, and suggest that they might like to encourage their families or friends to try them over the next few months.
- Show Slide 2.
Go on a woodland walk with friends or family. Listen to the sounds, look at the colours and notice the smells.
If possible, suggest some local places where the children and their families might enjoy doing this. - Show Slide 3.
Discover local places where you can go fruit-picking or dig up your own vegetables. See if fruit and veg tastes different when it’s picked straight from the tree or the ground. - Show Slide 4.
It doesn’t have to be Halloween to carve pumpkins! Maybe you could ask a parent or carer to help you carve or decorate one. - Show Slide 5.
Plant some bulbs that will flower in winter or spring. It’s great fun to plant them, but also great to watch for the shoots appearing in springtime. - Show Slide 6.
Make an autumn picture using leaves, twigs and berries, or make an autumn wreath. Get creative! - Show Slide 7.
Ask a parent or carer to teach you how to make soup! Experiment with flavours. - Show Slide 8.
Make autumn seed pictures. These are bright and great for gifts – you could make early Christmas presents for relatives. - Show Slide 9.
Lie in some autumn leaves and look up at the sky or the trees. Relax and enjoy some beauty. - Show Slide 10.
Go for a walk and kick some leaves. Enjoy being outside and having fun.
Time for reflection
Let’s pause to reflect on some of these ideas. Let’s decide to be positive, and enjoy all that this season has in store for us.
Pause to allow time for thought.
Let’s decide to do things that we haven’t tried before so that, when winter comes, we know that we’ve made the most of every opportunity and had loads of fun along the way.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for all the seasons of the year.
Thank you for the joy that we find in each one.
Please help us to enjoy the wonderful colours that autumn brings.
Please help us to make the most of the opportunities that this autumn brings.
Amen.
Song/music
‘Autumn days’ (Come and Praise, 4), available at: https://youtu.be/ByLoE8c6yAk (2.20 minutes long)
‘Cauliflowers fluffy’ by Red Cat Reading, available at: https://youtu.be/PukdaXUzgOU (2.06 minutes long)