Fall is a wonderful time to combine the beauty of the season with a bit of hands-on learning. Instead of just enjoying the colorful leaves or pumpkin patches, why not turn some of those seasonal wonders into simple science experiments that engage your kids’ curiosity and creativity? These activities are designed to be easy, safe, and enjoyable for the whole family.
Exploring Leaf Chromatography
One of the most colorful signs of fall is the changing leaves. You can turn this natural phenomenon into a fun science lesson by exploring how leaves get their colors. Leaf chromatography is a simple experiment that reveals the different pigments in leaves.
To do this, collect a variety of colorful leaves from your yard or a park. Crush some leaves and place them on a strip of coffee filter paper or paper towel. Then, dip the bottom of the paper into a small cup of rubbing alcohol—very carefully for kids, and with adult supervision. As the alcohol travels up the paper, it will separate the pigments from the leaf into bands of different colors. This visual picture helps explain why leaves change color in the fall.
Creating a Mini Pumpkin Volcano
Pumpkins are iconic fall symbols and perfect for a little chemistry fun. Try a simple baking soda and vinegar reaction inside a small pumpkin to mimic a volcanic eruption. First, carve out a small pumpkin, leaving it mostly intact. Mix baking soda with a little water and food coloring to make it more vivid, then pour the mixture into the pumpkin. Add vinegar and watch the bubbly reaction overflow from the pumpkin like lava.
This experiment introduces kids to acid-base reactions and is a delightful way to incorporate seasonal decor and science in one activity.
Investigating How Acorns Sink or Float
Acorns are everywhere in fall, and they’re perfect for learning about buoyancy. Collect some acorns and fill a large bowl or bucket with water. Ask your kids to predict if the acorns will sink or float, then drop them in. You can explain how the density of each acorn affects whether it floats or sinks. To deepen the activity, test acorns from different types of oak trees, or try soaking some in water for a few days to see if that changes their buoyancy.
Nature’s Own Thermometer: Making a Leaf Ruler
Fall temperatures drop gradually, and measuring changes can teach kids about weather and temperature. Create a leaf ruler by collecting leaves of different sizes and taping them onto a sturdy piece of cardboard with a simple scale marked alongside. You can measure how leaves grow or shrink over time in response to temperature changes, or simply compare sizes of different species. To add a twist, place some leaves in the sun and others in the shade and see how their color or texture changes after a day outdoors.
Why Do Leaves Change Color? A Simple Explanation
While doing these experiments, it’s natural for kids to wonder why leaves change colors in the first place. Explaining that leaves contain pigments like chlorophyll (green), carotenoids (yellow and orange), and anthocyanins (reds and purples), and that as daylight decreases in fall, chlorophyll breaks down causing other colors to show, helps connect the dots between the experiments and the natural world.
These simple science explorations make the season even more magical and provide meaningful learning moments. Plus, they encourage kids to observe closely and ask questions about the world around them—a wonderful habit that extends well beyond fall.
Enjoy the crisp air, colorful scenery, and the shared joy of discovery with your children this season by trying out these hands-on fall science experiments.