I really do love fall. I always have. The beautiful colors, the crisp air, pumpkin spiced everything… and perhaps most importantly, the end of MOSQUITOES! 

Mind you, this year wasn’t too bad for the guys, but I remember a few years back the mosquitoes in our area were truly out of this world. Our neighbours who have lived here for over 30 years claimed they have never seen anything like it. And the farmers down the road say it has not been this bad in 70 years. Thankfully it seems to have been a one year fluke and not the new normal!

Anywho, for one reason or another, fall ALSO means science experiment time in our house. Apparently, this is not a widely held tradition, but it is ours nonetheless.

Before we get into all of the wonderful fall science experiment ideas I have for you, I thought you might like to grab this science freebie: How to Turn Milk into Plastic! Well, not plastic exactly, but the transformation is really neat for little ones to see! Grab your step-by-step instructions right here:

Okay, back to it! Here are some of our favourite fall science experiments, and a few new ones we hope to try:

Why Do Leaves Change Colour – A hands-on science experiment that lets kids learn about chlorophyll and leaves as they change colour.

The Smelly Pumpkin Experiment by Fun-A-Day – Let the kids explore decomposition with old pumpkins! Go even further to see if pumpkin plants can be grown in the backyard.

Apple Science Experiment by Pre-K Pages – Children predict and investigate how to prevent apples from browning.

Pumpkin Guts Exploration by Stir the Wonder – Before breaking into the pumpkin, have the kids hypothesize what they’ll find inside. Then let them inspect, explore, and record their findings.

Fall Sink or Float by B-Inspired Mama – Grab some pine cones, acorns, and other fall-themed items with the kids. They can then predict and determine which items sink and which float.

Sorting Leaves and Seeds by Inspiration Laboratories – Go for a nature walk with the kids and grab items that have dropped from fall leaves. Children can then sort and classify the items they found.

Exploring How Water Travels through Leaves by Buggy and Buddy – Help children experiment with how leaves get water. A great way to explore living things during the fall.

Saving Seeds Science by Rainy Day Mum – Grab different fall items, like pumpkins and gourds. Then let the children dig their hands in to collect, compare, and contrast the seeds they find.

Animal Tracking Station by Creekside Learning – Help little scientists create an animal tracking station in the backyard! Once some tracks have been discovered, research to determine which animals are in your neighborhood.

Why Do Pine Cones Open by Lemon Lime Adventures – Collect pine cones from around the neighborhood, then delve into an experiment to see why they open and close.

Parts of an Apple by Natural Beach Learning – Kids can dissect an apple and explore the different parts of it. Add some literacy by labeling each part, too.

Hopping Corn Science Activity by One Time Through – Get corn kernels dancing in a jar with this simple, but fun, fall science experiment.

Erupting Apple Science by Kids Play Box – The kids will have a blast making their own “apples” and then making them fizz.

Crunchy Leaf Science by Teach Preschool – How long does it take a leaf to dry out and get crunchy? Let the kids collect some leaves and find out.

Growing Pumpkins in Pumpkins by Life with Moore Babies – Can you grow pumpkin plants inside a pumpkin? Let the kids try and find out.

Corncob Popcorn Experiment by TinkerLab – See if you can make popcorn straight from a dried corncob. Extend the experiment by trying out other types of corncobs, as well.

Nighttime Scavenger Hunt by Edventures with Kids – Grab the flashlights and go on a nighttime scavenger hunt with the kids. Can they see or hear any nocturnal animals while outside in the fall night?

Autumn Ice by Cakes and Scribbles – Add fall nature items to water and freeze. Then let the kids explore melting the ice!

Sprouting Indian Corn by Gift of Curiosity – An easy fall science experiment to try with the kids. All you need is Indian corn, water, and curious kids.

Pumpkin Spice Scented Volcano by Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails – Add some fall spice to the traditional baking soda and vinegar experiment.

There you have it! Oodles of fall science experiments to get those little ones curious about the changes of the season. Perhaps fall science experiments will be a new tradition in your home too?

I hope you are having a lovely week. Thank you so much for reading.

xo
Sarah

P.S. Don’t forget to grab your step-by-step science experiment instructions for how to turn milk into plastic!