Keep an Autumn Journal

Activity in the natural world may be winding down in fall, but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty going on. My girls like chronicling the whirlwind of changes on a nature calendar. Tuck yours away at season's end, and your kids will be able to compare autumn from year to year.

In a diary (or on a blank calendar), have your child jot down a few notes each day. In addition to the weather, he can note special events: When did the first tree on your street turn color? How many squirrels did he see today? When did the chestnut vendor appear? Your child can decorate his calendar with sketches or photographs, or even add samples, such as a favorite leaf or a rubbing of one.