Autumn Unschooling - 6 Tips for Learning!
Embracing the Seasons: How Autumn Can Enrich Your Unschooling Journey
Hey everyone, welcome to the podcast! Today, we’re diving into something that may seem simple but is actually a powerful tool for unschooling families: using seasons as a framework for your child’s education. Specifically, right now, we’re talking about autumn—this time of year is bursting with opportunities for learning, and the best part?
You don’t need a classroom or curriculum to make it happen. I want to talk to you about all the learning that happens when you and the kids are out enjoying 6 different - and typical - Autumn activities . I want you to see how unschooling is working - you just have to notice it
If you’re new to the podcast, I’m Sue Patterson, your host, and the human behind all things Unschooling mom2Mom.
My goal is to help you see that you don’t have to have endless power struggles with the kids over schol work.
You don’t have to approach learning in the typical school way at all.
And they WILL learn what they need and you and the kids can actually enjoy the process.
Unschooling can work for your family and I want to explain how.
Now, I know when you’re new to unschooling, it’s easy to feel pressure to duplicate school at home or feel like you need structured lessons. That pressure can come from all sorts of places - and it’s strong. But you can be stronger! Remember, education happens all the time, and seasons like autumn give us a natural rhythm to tap into. Kids are naturally curious, and autumn offers so many ways to follow their interests while learning through life’s daily activities.
Many of you listening are confident about unschooling - you’re here for a little pep-talk, right? Bring it all to the front of your mind, right?
But some of you who love the idea of unschooling, still have little doubts creeping in.
Little worries pop up about subjects or not learning something.
It’s not that unusual - you’ve had YEARS of conditioning that learning has to look a certain way.
And then you start down this unschooling path and that’s all turned upside down.
So what do you DO when you have these fears?
My best advice is to face them head on.
Don’t tell yourself, “Forget that. Good unschoolers don’t worry about that.”
Noo... first of all, what’s a “good” unschooler? A confident one?
Maybe confident ones don’t worry about subjects - but let’s be real.
You’re not confident yet! You don’t have to bluff or pretend you are.
You just need to learn more about how unschooling works, what deschooling is about, and maybe even SHOW yourself how all those familiar subjects are naturally occurring in every day life.
That’s why I created these new
Seasonal Unschooling Guides.
In them, I take you subject by subject, using Autumn as the lens.
I’m going to show you how the kids ARE learning what they need. I’ll have a link in the shownotes - but it’s 30 pages of showing you how your Fears can check those familiar subject boxes - simply by participating in Fall activities. There are a few pages of all the Autumn Holidays - and how various subjects weave through those. And then page after page of real life examples where kids learn language arts, math, science, social studies, fine arts - everything you’re worried about. It’s an awesome Guide. I’ve already heard back from parents who are saying how helpful it is - even those saying it’s the best unschooling guide I’ve created yet! I loved making it - I think you’ll love it too!
OK...so for today though,
Let’s walk through some examples of how autumn activities—right in your home and community—can lead to rich, meaningful learning.
1. Nature Walks and Science Exploration
One of the first things that comes to mind in autumn is the changing environment around us. Those bright, colorful leaves, cooler air, and even the way animals prepare for winter—it all sparks curiosity! A simple nature walk is one of the best non-school activities you can do.
Think about what happens during a walk with your child: they might start asking questions like,
“Why do leaves change color?”
“Where do the birds go when it gets cold?”
“Why are those geese flying in a V?”
This is a perfect opportunity for learning about biology, weather patterns, migration, or even ecosystems. You don’t need a textbook or to turn it into a big lesson—just explore together, look things up when you get home, and enjoy the process of discovering nature side by side.
Autumn is full of hands-on science lessons, and you didn’t even need to plan for it!
2. Harvest Time and Food-Related Learning
Next, let’s talk about harvest time, which is another amazing aspect of autumn. Depending on where you live, your community might have local farmers’ markets, apple orchards, or pumpkin patches. These places offer fantastic learning opportunities that are completely tied to everyday life.
Take a trip to a local farm, and let your child explore where their food comes from. Ask farmers questions about how crops grow or how they prepare for the winter season. When you get home, cooking together can brings in matn—measuring ingredients, counting apples, or even dividing food portions. Without even realizing it, your child is practicing sorting and sequencing, fractions, multiplication, and problem-solving in a way that makes sense to them.
These activities connect learning to real-world experiences, making education feel less like something that happens in a classroom and more like an ongoing part of life.
3. Celebrating Autumn Traditions and Cultural Learning
Autumn is also packed with traditions and cultural celebrations. the Harvest Moon Festival, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Dia de los Muertos, Diwali—there’s so much history and culture woven into these events. Engaging with these traditions provides a great way to learn about history, geography, social studies, without ever cracking open a textbook.
For instance, if you’re preparing for Thanksgiving, talk about its historical origins—but don’t stop there! Explore how other cultures celebrate harvests, or dive into the history of indigenous people, learn a little about colonization here and around the world.
It’s all about creating an environment where your child can ask questions and engage in meaningful discussions based on the world around them.
4. Art and Creativity from Nature’s Palette
One of my favorite things about autumn is the inspiration it provides for art and creativity. The colors of the season—those rich reds, oranges, and yellows—can spark so much creative energy in children. Without even needing to plan a lesson, your child might want to create leaf rubbings, paint an autumn landscape, or use natural materials like pinecones and acorns to make crafts.
I have a Pinterest board full of fun autumn art and craft ideas.
These activities don’t just foster creativity, they also connect children to the natural world and help them express their feelings about the changing season. If they like to draw, encourage them to capture the colors they see outside. Or, if they love building things, collect some fallen branches and create nature-inspired sculptures together. Art in autumn happens naturally—no need for structured projects or rules.
5. Engaging in Community Events and Social Learning
And we can’t forget the social side of learning that autumn brings. Communities host fall festivals, hayrides, pumpkin carving contests, parades. These events are wonderful chances for kids to engage with their community, learn about local traditions, and expand their world a little.
Whether it’s buying tickets for the corn maze or participating in a costume contest, children learn about social interaction, decision-making, and community engagement. These activities aren’t about memorizing facts—they’re about real-world participation and connection. Plus, it’s just fun! And fun is one of the most important aspects of unschooling - learning happening naturally.
6. Building Practical Life Skills
Let’s not forget the practical side of autumn, too. Preparing for the colder months ahead can teach children valuable life skills. Maybe they help rake leaves, stack firewood, or gather garden tools for winter storage. These simple activities teach responsibility and problem-solving, while also connecting them to the rhythms of life and the changing seasons. Do their mittens still fit, how about their coat? Have they grown?
Preparing for colder weather shows children how we live in harmony with nature, and how small tasks around the house or yard are part of that process.
The Magic of Learning Through the Seasons
So, as you can see, autumn offers ao many learning opportunities that are rooted in real life. You don’t need to recreate a classroom or follow a strict curriculum. Instead, you can embrace the season, follow your child’s interests, and allow education to happen naturally through activities in your home and community.
By using autumn as a framework for unschooling, you’re showing your children that learning is everywhere. Whether it’s through nature walks, cooking, creative projects, or community events, the Fall season provides endless possibilities for curiosity, exploration, and growth.
There’s really no need to feel overwhelmed with planning or structuring every moment of your child’s education—autumn provides so many opportunities for learning through life’s natural rhythm.
That said, if you’re looking for a little extra support or want some more specific ideas on how to use the season to its fullest, I’ve created something just for you:
My Seasonal Unschooling Guide: Autumn is packed with over 30 pages of subject-based ideas, creative ways to incorporate autumn holidays into your learning, journaling pages to document your child’s discoveries, and even a fun bucket list to get the whole family excited about the season.
It’s designed to give you inspiration and practical tools, so you can keep that natural, relaxed approach while still feeling like you’ve got plenty of resources at your fingertips. Looking at it may simply pull these ideas to the front of your mind, so when they pop up, you’re ready.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been unschooling for a while, this guide is a great way to dive even deeper into all that autumn has to offer.
You can find it linked on my website, and as always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I love hearing how these ideas work in your family!
Until next time, enjoy the season, Keep learning through life and Happy Unschooling!
