Enjoying Autumn: Learning From Nature (Part 4)

Be Creative with Nature

Music: Hymns

Learn and sing hymns about nature, such as:
How Great Thou Art
Fairest Lord Jesus, includes study guide
This Is My Father's World
I Sing the Mighty Power of God
All Things Bright and Beautiful

Music: Classical

Listen to and study Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

• Listen to the musical description of each of the four seasons on YouTube: Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer.

• Free online, 34-page teachers guide "Vivaldi and the Four Seasons."


Fall Crafts with Leaves

What is more abundant and beautiful in the fall than leaves?

• Collect a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Be sure the leaves are not dry and crumbly.

• Press your leaves between two pieces of waxed paper in a phone book or under a stack of books overnight.

Now you are ready to use your leaves in a variety of ways.

• Gifts. Write out verses and decorate with leaves or sketches to make wall hangings, gifts, bookmarks, and cards.

• Wreath. Cut a circle out of a sturdy paper plate and glue overlapping leaves around the circle. Add a raffia or other type of bow.

• Rubbings. Arrange leaves face down (the veins are more pronounced on the under side) and place a piece of paper on top. Use a crayon without paper and rub it sideways across the paper to reveal the leaves underneath. You can also use aluminum foil and rub over it with with the side of a pencil.

• Bookmarks. Paste one or more smaller, pressed leaves on a bookmark-size (2" x 8") poster board. Write anything you want on the bookmark, e.g., someone's name, and then cover with clear contact paper. Punch a hole in the top and add a ribbon.

• Leaf Prints. Decorate cards, gift bags or wrap, or T-shirts. Brush acrylic paint on the underside of a leaf and place where desired. Cover with a paper towel and gently roll a rolling pin over the top and remove leaf.

• Shirt. See instructions for a fall leaves shirt.

• Waxing. Place an arrangement of leaves between sheets of waxed paper sandwiched between a couple of dishcloths and quickly run a hot iron over the top. The wax will be transferred onto the leaves giving them a shiny appearance.