| Now the nights are drawing
in, the leaves are falling from the trees, and summer is just a distant
memory, our thoughts can turn to autumn. In the UK the first day of autumn
falls in September and runs through to December. |
 |
This is a particularly
colourful time of year, as the leaves turn from green to yellow and red,
and then to brown. It is also a good time for collecting some free natural
resources for the nature table - different types of leaves, big ones, small
ones - yellow, brown and green. Conkers and conker shells (Horse Chestnuts).
Fir cones (these also make great christmas decorations when you have finished
with them), and bits of twig. Gather some evergreen leaves to contrast
with those which have been shed and explain why these stay green and why
some trees don't shed their leaves at all. |
| Why not take the children
on a nature walk to experience autumn for themselves. They can help collect
the leaves and cones. There is nothing quite like kicking your way through
a pile of fallen leaves. |
