To help you make the most of the season, I put together a fall bucket list for homeschool checklist filled with fun ideas for the whole family. Too, I’m sharing an easy pumpkin butter recipe made with canned pumpkin. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.
Fall is such a wonderful time to slow down, enjoy the little things, and make memories together as a family.
Even if your homeschool days are full of lessons, reading, and activities, there is something special about making room for a little seasonal fun.
From visiting a pumpkin patch to baking something warm in the kitchen, autumn offers so many opportunities to learn, explore, and enjoy time together.
It’s a delicious way to bring a little fall flavor into your kitchen and teach some basic cooking skills.
Next, look at some books to pull out and read during the fall season.
LIVING BOOKS ABOUT THE FALL SEASON FOR KIDS
And we prefer living books when we can find them.
15 Fall Books For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To
With a chill in the air and leaves falling, grab one or two of these fun books for your home library.
A compilation of Native American speeches affirming the desire to live in spiritual and ecological harmony includes the words of Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Cochise, covering such topics as fishing rights, peace treaties, and the devastation of their land.
"Mr. Tresselt writes quiet, factual prose about katydids, reapers and threshing, falling leaves, apple-gathering, and the first frost."--New York Herald Tribune.
A concise text and crisp, close-up, color photographs of thirteen different leaves from North American trees teach very young children how to look at and compare the leaves of autumn, and are accompanied by an explanation of why they turn color.
These are the apples, juicy and red,that went in the pie,warm and sweet,that Papa baked...for guess who!
Kids will love this playful story of a unique fall friendship between a girl . . . and her squash! On a trip to the farmers' market with her parents, Sophie chooses a squash, but instead of letting her mom cook it, she names it Bernice. From then on, Sophie brings Bernice everywhere, despite her parents' gentle warnings that Bernice will begin to rot. As winter nears, Sophie does start to notice changes.... What's a girl to do when the squash she loves is in trouble?
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the miniature world of the mice of Brambly Hedge!
Bad weather is on the way and the autumn stores are still not gathered in!
Quickly, all the mice of Brambly Hedge set to work to finish the harvesting before the rain begins. Primrose, Lord Woodmouse's daughter, meant to help, but somehow she daydreamed her way over the cornfield and into the Chestnut Woods, and before she knew it, she was lost. The sun went down, the wind rose and it began to rain. Primrose was all alone in the dark and she was frightened.
Poor Primrose, would she find her way home again?
Mr. Hermit Miser doesn’t like his neighbors, and they don’t like him. But when a pumpkin vine sprouts in Mr. Hermit Miser’s yard and makes its way into the neighbors’ yards, but he wants all those pumpkins for pies … well, what is he to do?
With adventures in pumpkin-snatching, failed attempts at baking pies, and pumpkin goo everywhere, this tale about being neighborly in a not-so-perfect way will be an endearing autumn story for all the readers in your circle.
This reprint of a 1949 classic adds some recipes, a poem, and a bit of pie-history as well.
As her grandmother's health declines, a young girl begins to lovingly take the lead in their cozy shared autumn traditions. Poetic prose paired with evocative illustrations by Mexican illustrator Claudia Navarro make for a beautiful celebration of life and a gentle introduction to the death of a loved one.
"[Spier's] finely detailed, action-packed New England autumn vistas are almost startlingly beautiful."—The New York Times Over fifty years after he won a Caldecott Honor for The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, legendary illustrator Peter Spier went back to this time-honored favorite in 2014 to paint the half of the book that was originally printed in black and white. In this glowing, restored vision of Spier’s beloved classic, follow the wily fox as he roams a sleepy New England town in search of a meal, with tones and textures so vivid you can almost hear the crackle of crisp fall leaves and the ripples of the river in the moonlight.
An Amish family, traveling by buggy, spends a day doing errands in the village, visiting, and returning home in time for supper
Autumn is in the air: days grow shorter and nights are long. Birds leave, flowers, too. Apples and temperatures fall—then snow!Part poem, part silent stage, this luminous picture book puts autumn on display and captures the spirit of change that stays with us long after fall leaves. Unlock the secrets of this busy and beautiful time of year as the natural world makes way for winter.
Mama has a surprise for her three little squirrels: three bright red sweaters to keep them warm throughout the fall. Imagine the siblings’ surprise when they find that everything in the autumn woods—the leaves, the berries, even the setting sun—is red too, just like their sweaters.This celebration of a perfect fall day will have young and old alike looking for signs of autumn in their own neighborhoods. Kazuo Iwamura’s books celebrating the seasons (Hooray for Spring!, Hooray for Summer!, Hooray for Fall!, and Hooray for Snow!) are perennial favorites—introducing children to the beauty and joy of each season. Iwamura masterfully captures the small wonders of nature in his illustrations and his stories with their gentle humor warm the heart.
The perfect Fall book for kids! A poignant picture book about a scarecrow who befriends the young girl who reads to him day after day until one day he's left wondering where she is.A scarecrow stood in the garden. Tall, proud, and smiling. Every day a girl brought her favorite books to the garden and she read to him. He heard tales of courage and of hope. And when she said, "The End," the scarecrow always felt a little bit taller and braver. Year after year, she came and she read to him.Until one spring, two different hands picked him up from the garden shed and placed him in the garden. He waited, but she didn't come to read to him.With poignant words from award-winning author Michelle Houts and lush illustrations by Pura Belpré Honor winner Sara Palacios, Hopefully the Scarecrow is a tender distillation of the enduring power of friendship and a heartwarming look at the ways stories connect us.
Funny, relatable sibling dynamics make this story a wonderful way to address navigating big changes. Lori Nichols’s expressive artwork beautifully portrays Maple and Willow’s strong bond, and children will love the creative, kid-powered solution. Maple and Willow have always been inseparable. So what happens when Maple starts big-girl school and Willow stays behind? Well, of course, both girls have marvelous adventures of their own, but the truth is, they miss each other. And when they see that the missing is mutual, they find a unique way to feel connected even when they have to be apart.
School bells and apples and big ripe pumpkins-all the pleasures of fall come alive in this newly reissued classic by award winner Lois Lenski. First published in 1948, Now It's Fall is a timeless celebration of autumn that will enchant a whole new generation of young readers with its gently recolored illustrations.
One of my favorite things about a seasonal bucket list is that it gives us something fun to look forward to.
MAKE THE MOST OF FALL WITH A FAMILY BUCKET LIST
Activities don’t have to be complicated or expensive, and you don’t have to check off every single activity.
The goal is to just be intentional about enjoying the season and making memories along the way.
Many of these activities naturally lend themselves to learning without feeling like traditional schoolwork.
A trip to the pumpkin patch can turn into a science lesson.
Baking together offers opportunities to practice measuring and following directions, and a nature walk can become an outdoor exploration of seasonal changes.
Here are a few ideas to inspire your family’s fall adventures and check out my free fall bucket list for homeschool at the bottom.
MORE FALL ACTIVITIES TO ADD TO YOUR FALL BUCKET LIST
- Visit a pumpkin patch
- Decorate pumpkins.
- Check out a local farmers’ market for fall fruits and veggies.
- How To Make Confetti Fall Leaves Crafts For Preschoolers
- Go on a nature walk and collect colorful leaves, then turn them into leaf rubbings.
- Bake an apple pie or your favorite fall treat.
- How To Make An Adorable Scarecrow & Crafts To Keep Hands Busy
- Read fall-themed books together or turn an old book into a pumpkin.
- Make homemade applesauce.
- Have a cozy family movie night.
- Visit a corn maze or enjoy a hayride.
- How To Craft An Adorable Leaf Paper Plate Mask
- Make a fall craft using leaves, acorns, or pinecones.
- Enjoy a picnic outdoors on a cool afternoon.
- Roast pumpkin seeds.
- Make homemade playdough in autumn colors.
- Visit a local fall festival.
- Have a family game night with warm cider or hot chocolate.
- Watch the sunset and talk about your favorite parts of the season.
Choose activities that fit your family’s interests, budget, and schedule. Some might become special outings, while others can be enjoyed right at home.
TURN YOUR FALL BUCKET LIST INTO A HOMESCHOOL ACTIVITY
A fall bucket list is also a simple way to add seasonal learning to your homeschool days. You can incorporate reading, writing, science, math, art, and practical life skills into activities your children already enjoy.
For example, after a nature walk, have your children draw the leaves they found and write a few sentences about their observations.
If you visit a pumpkin patch, estimate the weight of different pumpkins, compare their sizes, or learn about how pumpkins grow.
In the kitchen, let your children help measure ingredients, read the recipe, and observe how the texture and smell of the ingredients change as they cook.
Younger children might enjoy coloring a fall picture or checking off each completed activity on the bucket list, while older children can keep a seasonal journal documenting their favorite experiences.
EASY HOMEMADE PUMPKIN BUTTER WITH CANNED PUMPKIN
No fall bucket list is complete without something delicious to make in the kitchen, and pumpkin butter is one of those simple recipes that fills your home with cozy autumn flavors.
Spread it on toast, biscuits, pancakes, or waffles, or swirl a spoonful into your oatmeal for a seasonal breakfast.
This recipe uses canned pumpkin, so there’s no need to roast and puree a fresh pumpkin. It’s quick to prepare, easy to customize, and a fun recipe to make with your children.
You will need:
- 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/2 cup apple juice or apple cider
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
Add the pumpkin puree, apple juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt in a medium saucepan. Stir everything together until well combined.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently.
Reduce the heat. Turn the heat to low and continue cooking for about 20–30 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking.
The mixture will gradually thicken and develop a deeper, richer flavor.
Pumpkin mixtures can splatter as they cook, so use a splatter screen if you have one and keep little helpers at a safe distance.
Add the vanilla. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Cool and store. Allow the pumpkin butter to cool before transferring it to a clean container.
Refrigerate promptly and keep it refrigerated for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze it in a freezer-safe container.
Food safety note: This recipe is intended for refrigeration or freezing and is not shelf-stable canning.
Be sure to grab your fall bucket list checklist and keep it somewhere the whole family can see it.
Work through the list whenever you have time, whether that’s during a free afternoon, on the weekend, or as a fun break from your usual homeschool routine.
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HOW TO GET THE FREE FALL BUCKET LIST FOR HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES
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