How to Create Your Very Own Fall Unit Study for Free
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always thought there’s something about autumn that makes learning feel extra magical. The crisp air, the crunch of leaves underfoot, the scent of pumpkin spice wafting from the kitchen—it’s the perfect backdrop for cozy, hands-on learning at home. If you’ve been wanting to bring more seasonal fun into your homeschool or preschool routine, fall-themed unit studies are a wonderful way to do it.
While there are some amazing pre-made unit studies for purchase online, sometimes you want to curate your own. Below, I’ll walk you through some of the best ready-to-use resources and creative ideas for fall learning, plus a sample weekly plan to help you pull it all together.
And the best bonus is that most of these resources are completely free (they just need to be printed), and you can use a similar method for any season or holiday!
Why Autumn Makes a Perfect Learning Theme
Young children thrive when learning connects to their everyday experiences. That’s exactly what makes fall such a powerful season for unit studies. Pumpkins at the farmer’s market, apple orchards in full swing, and leaves changing color right outside your window—all of these provide real-life teaching moments.
Fall-themed unit studies also engage multiple senses. Kids can:
Touch leaves, pumpkins, and acorns.
Taste warm applesauce or pumpkin bread.
See the vibrant colors of the season.
Smell spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Hear leaves crunching on nature walks.
This multisensory learning sticks—and it makes homeschooling feel less like a chore and more like an adventure.
The Best Fall Unit Study Resources
I have so much fun incorporating fall themes into unit studies, and the best part about these is that they are free! Here are some high-quality resources you can use to guide your fall learning at home:
1. DIY Multi-Subject Fall Activities (Hip Homeschool Moms)
For a flexible, build-your-own unit study, this site has a treasure chest of ideas:
Science: Try leaf chromatography, pumpkin life cycle studies, or a kitchen chemistry lesson by baking pumpkin pie.
Language Arts: Use fall-themed alphabet cards, practice phonics with seasonal words, or read aloud classics like Little House in the Big Woods.
Math: Count apples, use leaf ten-frames, or measure mini pumpkins.
Art: Create leaf magnets, paint with pumpkin seeds, or make lantern crafts.
2. Free Fall Printables (123 Homeschool 4 Me)
If your kids love worksheets and hands-on printables, this site is packed with them:
Alphabet tracing sheets and sight-word practice.
Color-by-letter fall pictures.
Writing prompts about apple picking, Halloween, or Thanksgiving.
Apple, pumpkin, and leaf crafts that double as literacy or math practice.
Check out 123, Homeschool 4 Me
3. Creative Ideas Galore (Life Over C’s)
This one-stop shop has over 100 fall activity ideas, especially for preschool through 1st grade:
Literacy: Word families, rhyming games, and emergent readers.
STEM: Pumpkin volcanoes, decomposition jars, and leaf color-change experiments.
Sensory Play: Pumpkin-scented moon sand, fall sensory bins, and pinecone crafts.
Math: Addition clip cards, fraction practice with pumpkins, and leaf ten-frame games.
4. Nature-Inspired Learning (Treehouse Nature Study: Autumn)
If you prefer a gentle, Charlotte Mason-inspired approach, this is a beautiful option:
Weekly plans include nature walks, poetry, art, music study, and handicrafts.
A mini-unit on pumpkins weaves together notebooking, poetry, baking, and hands-on nature study.
Perfect for preschool through 3rd grade.
Check out Treehouse Nature Study
5. Grab-and-Go Printables (Teachers Pay Teachers)
For quick, pre-made fall mini-units, Teachers Pay Teachers has a wide selection (and many are free!):
Apple-themed preschool packs.
Pumpkin life cycle science lessons.
Fall-themed graphing and math games.
Thanksgiving vocabulary and writing prompts.
Check out Teachers Pay Teachers
6. Free Canva Worksheets and Printables
If you have a Canva account (even the free version), you can search through the templates for fall-themed worksheets and printables. Some of my favorite keywords to search are:
playdough mats
preschool worksheets (or elementary for older kids!)
preschool/elementary activities
7. Local Library
Our local library is my favorite resource. Check your local library for theme-related books and learning activities! Some even have craft kits, activity ideas, or seasonal events—I was amazed once I discovered all the free resources and activities our local library has for kiddos! (Check out this post for some of our favorite fall reads 📚🍂)
How to Put It All Together
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with so many great resources, I know I did at first too. Here are some tips for blending them into a smooth, enjoyable rhythm:
Pick one main theme each week (apples, pumpkins, leaves, Thanksgiving).
Layer subjects naturally: bake an apple crisp for math (measuring), read an apple story for literacy, and explore apple seeds under a magnifying glass for science.
Mix seatwork with movement: balance a handwriting page with a leaf-collecting walk.
Keep it cozy: add fall candles, poetry tea time, or music to set the tone.
Also, I think it is important to remember that less is more. Pick meaningful activities for your family so that it is enjoyable for everyone. Kids will remember the meaningful things far more than just “being busy”.
A Sample Fall-Themed Weekly Plan
Here’s a simple way you could structure a week:
Monday: Read fall storybooks + nature walk (collect leaves).
Tuesday: Science experiment (pumpkin volcano) + journal observations.
Wednesday: Alphabet or sight word games + leaf art project.
Thursday: Math with pumpkin ten-frames + sensory bin play.
Friday: Poetry reading + baking together + tea time recap.
This rhythm balances structure with flexibility—and makes sure your kids get a mix of core learning and seasonal fun.
Final Thoughts
Fall-themed unit studies are one of the easiest ways (and one of my favorite ways) to make learning feel joyful and connected to everyday life. Whether you lean toward Charlotte Mason-style nature studies, hands-on STEM, or printable worksheets, there’s something here for every homeschool style.
So light a candle, warm up some cider, and let the season guide your lessons. Your kids will remember these cozy autumn days of learning long after the leaves have fallen. And I think that’s the most beautiful part—making memories with your littles that will last a lifetime. 🍂
