Nature Steps : Using our natural world and the world of words!

Autumn is a magical season, and at First Steps Cornwall, we believe it’s the perfect time to explore the connection between nature and literacy. The rich colours, crisp air, and changing landscapes provide endless opportunities for young children to engage with the natural world while developing their literacy skills.

Exploring Autumn Through the Senses

Autumn offers a sensory feast that can inspire a child’s imagination and language development. The rustling of leaves, the scent of rain, and the sight of trees shedding their golden leaves create a backdrop for learning. Encouraging children to describe what they see, hear, and feel in nature can build their vocabulary. Words like “crunchy,” “brittle,” “amber,” and “frosty” can all come to life when children are outside exploring. This descriptive language helps foster an early love for words and storytelling.

Storytelling in Nature

One of the most powerful ways to link nature and literacy is through storytelling. Autumn’s natural elements provide children with exciting material to create their own stories. Whether they imagine the journey of a squirrel gathering acorns or the adventures of a leaf caught in the wind, nature becomes a stage for creative thinking. Teachers and parents can encourage children to narrate these stories verbally or draw them, forming an early foundation for literacy.

At First Steps Cornwall, we recommend taking a nature walk and collecting autumn treasures like pinecones, conkers, or fallen leaves. These items can become characters or settings in a child’s narrative. Afterwards, adults can help children write down their stories, developing both language and fine motor skills as they form letters and words.

Autumn Creations

Another fun activity that links nature with literacy is creating art out of autumn leaves. Children can gather leaves of different shapes, colors, and sizes, then use them to create their own artwork. These creations could take the form of leaf animals, collages, or even letters from the alphabet. After making their autumn creations, children can describe what they’ve made, either through storytelling or by labeling their art with simple words. This blend of creativity and language promotes self-expression and early literacy skills.

Autumn-themed Books

Autumn is also an ideal time to introduce seasonal books. Stories set in autumn, such as The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson or Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert, capture the essence of the season while introducing new vocabulary. These books can be paired with outdoor activities, such as making leaf collages or creating a nature journal, which reinforce the themes of the stories while enhancing literacy through hands-on experience.

Nature Journals

Another way to link nature and literacy is through keeping a nature journal. Children can document their outdoor explorations by drawing pictures and writing short sentences or labels. This simple activity merges observation skills with early writing, laying the groundwork for literacy development.

“Look I’ve made a monkey, there is the eyes… and ears and now I have a tail!” – Child E

Through collecting and creating art with leaves, children engage in Expressive Arts and Design, fostering creativity and self-expression. These activities also enhance Communication and Language skills as children describe their creations and explore new vocabulary. Additionally, sorting and categorizing leaves by size, shape, or color helps develop early Mathematics skills. Overall, our leaf activities provide a holistic learning experience, encouraging exploration and connection with nature while meeting essential EYFS objectives.

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

Five Fun Autumn Activities for Parents and Children

1. Go on an Autumn Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of autumn items for your child to find, such as different colored leaves, acorns, and pinecones. This encourages observation skills and vocabulary development.
2. Make Leaf Art: Collect fallen leaves and create leaf animals, trees, or even letter shapes. Afterwards, talk about your creations, and help your child write simple labels or stories about them.
3. Read Autumn-themed Books: Curl up with books that explore the season, like The Gruffalo or Fletcher and the Falling Leaves. Ask your child to describe their favorite parts and discuss any new words they encounter.
4. Write and Illustrate an Autumn Story: Encourage your child to create a short story inspired by the season. They can draw pictures to illustrate it and dictate the words for you to write down, fostering creativity and language skills.
5. Create a Nature Journal: Go on regular nature walks and help your child document their experiences in a nature journal. They can press leaves, draw what they’ve seen, and write about their adventures.

By connecting nature with literacy, autumn at First Steps Cornwall becomes not just a season to enjoy but a vital learning experience. Through exploration, storytelling, creativity, and their own autumn leaf creations, children engage with both the natural world and the world of words.