As leaves change and seeds spread, fall becomes a living classroom full of learning opportunities.
Whether you’re in a kindergarten class or a high school lab, nature-based learning can ground your students in real world observation, curiosity, and creativity. It’s the perfect time to observe transformation in action and to explore how trees, leaves and seeds shape the ecosystems around us.
Check out the teaching resources and student action projects listed below to help spark some ideas for fall learning!
Teaching Resources
- Leaf Rubbings – This hands-on art activity is a fun and creative way for young ones to play with nature and colour.
- Boost the Boreal Forest – Through this lesson plan, students can investigate the importance of the Boreal Forest region to wildlife, and birds in particular.
- Hinterland Who’s Who – With this resource, you can explore forest habitats – like the Boreal Forest, Mixed Wood Forest, and Coastal Forest – and learn about the wildlife that call them home.
Looking for ready-made lesson plans and activities focused on trees, leaves and seed? Check out our Project WILD activity guide which features 164 hands-on, interdisciplinary lessons and games, including:
- Seed Need (pg. 154) – Investigate seeds around your school grounds and sort them based on dispersal method, then play an active game to demonstrate the role wildlife plays in seed dispersal.
- Forest in a Jar (pg. 220) – Conduct a simple investigation using soil, water, seeds, a plant, and a jar to explore the process of succession.
- Phenology at Play (pg. 282) – Analyze hypothetical citizen science data to understand how different species react to seasonal changes.
To access the full guide and materials, sign up for a professional development session near you!
Student Action Projects
Engaging, age-appropriate action projects bring fall’s lessons to life—giving students hands-on ways to connect with nature and have a real impact on the environment. Check out the list below for a tree, leaf and seed themed ideas!
- Tree Stewardship – “Adopt” a tree to observe and care for throughout the season—tracking changes like leaf color, seed growth, and wildlife interactions.
- Leave the Leaves – Raise awareness about why fallen leaves are important for wildlife and soil health.
- Leaf Litter BioBlitz – Host a leaf litter BioBlitz using inaturalist.ca to help students identify and document the tiny organisms living in fallen leaves—contributing to real biodiversity data while exploring seasonal ecology.
- Seed Collection – Plan a seed propagation project by researching native plants species, collecting seeds, and learning how to propagate them through techniques like scarification (scratching a seed’s hard coat to help it sprout) and cold stratification (chilling seeds to mimic winter). Check out our webinar – Adventures in Seed Saving – for some tips and tricks!
- Celebrate National Forest Week – September 21–27, 2025 is National Forest Week, a time to celebrate the importance of forests in our lives and communities.
For more educational resources, projects, and lesson plans, check out our Online Learning Library and sign up for our monthly education newsletter.
Kailey Setter
Kailey is the Experiential Education Manager at the Canadian Wildlife Federation. With over 10 years of experience in conservation and environmental education, she still geeks-out when people ask, “how can I get involved and learn more?”
