🍂 Fun Fall-Themed Literacy Activities for October

October is one of my favorite times in the classroom—the excitement of a new school year hasn’t worn off yet, the weather is starting to cool (at least a little), and fall just begs to be celebrated. Why not sprinkle in some seasonal fun while also building strong reading and writing skills?

Here are some fall-themed literacy activities that are easy to set up and guaranteed to get kids engaged:

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🍎 Apple Adventures: Juicy Story Prompts

Kick off the month with an “apple picking” writing activity. Cut out apple shapes and write different story starters on them—like “I found a talking apple in the orchard…” or “The apple pie had a secret ingredient…”. Students “pick” an apple and use it to launch a creative story.

Book tie-in: The Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs. After reading, discuss how stories can carry deeper lessons, then challenge students to create their own apple-inspired tale with a meaningful message, using The Pumpkin Patch Parable as a model.

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📚 Cozy Fall Reading Challenge

Transform part of your room into a cozy fall reading nook—add a plaid blanket, a basket of autumn books, and maybe even a string of paper leaves. Then, invite students to take on an October Reading Challenge.

Challenge ideas:

• “Read a book with a red or orange cover.”
• “Read under a blanket.”
• “Read a story that takes place outside.”

Book tie-in: The Maple Festival (from Sophie Mouse Adventures). Its cozy fall vibes make it perfect for independent or partner reading.

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🍁 Leaf It to Literature (Character & Setting)

Use paper leaves for quick reading response activities:

• Write character names from your current read-aloud on some leaves and settings on others. Students draw one of each and write a mini-story connecting them. (“What if Charlotte from Charlotte’s Web lived in a haunted pumpkin patch?”)
• Use leaves for vocabulary words—students pick a leaf and write a sentence that shows meaning.

Book tie-in: The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry. After reading, students can jot descriptive words about the character on leaves and use them in their own short scarecrow-inspired story.

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🎨 Pumpkin Poetry + Craft

Nothing says fall like pumpkins! Pair art and poetry for a cross-curricular win:

• Have students create a pumpkin craft (paper bag pumpkins, construction paper pumpkins, or even a simple orange circle).
• Inside or on the back, write a fall acrostic poem or 5-sense descriptive poem about autumn.

Poem help: Fall Poetry includes teacher explanations, brainstorming graphics, plenty of worksheets with examples for the students and fall stationary for the final writing. There is even a poetry reading tea party suggestion and an art activity. You and your students will enjoy these activities!

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🔍 Fall Book Detectives

Give students short seasonal passages (fiction or nonfiction) and let them become “detectives.” Their mission: highlight evidence to answer questions, such as:

• “What word tells you it’s autumn?”
• “Which sentence shows how the character feels about fall?”
• “Find a clue that tells us what the weather is like.”

Book tie-in: The Scarecrow’s Dance by Jane Yolen. Students can act as detectives to uncover how the scarecrow feels about leaving his post versus returning to it.

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✏️ Nature Walk Writing

Take students outside for a short fall walk. Have them jot down observations in a “Signs of Fall” journal—what they see, hear, and smell. Back inside, use those notes as writing seeds for:

• A descriptive paragraph
• A sensory poem
• A short story starting with “On the first day of fall, I found…”

Book tie-in: Connect with The Leaf Thief— just like Squirrel noticed missing leaves around him, students can use their senses to capture fall in writing.

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🎲 Seasonal Literacy Brain Breaks

Keep transitions fresh and literacy-friendly:

• Pumpkin Word Toss: Toss a plush pumpkin; student must say a synonym for the word you give.
• Falling Leaves Letters: Drop paper leaves on the floor. Students race to grab one and name a word that starts with that letter.
• Apple Rhyme Time: Call out a word—students “pass the apple” around the circle, each adding a rhyming word until no one can think of more.

Book tie-in: Use words and themes from The Scarecrow or The Leaf Thief as the starting point for these quick word games.

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Wrapping It Up 🍂

October is the perfect time to celebrate the season while keeping literacy at the heart of your classroom. Whether students are writing apple adventures, curling up in a cozy reading nook, or turning their observations into fall poems, these small touches make reading and writing feel fresh, fun, and meaningful. And with fall favorites like The Maple Festival, The Leaf Thief, The Scarecrow, The Pumpkin Patch Parable, and The Scarecrow’s Dance, your classroom will be overflowing with autumn magic.

🍁 Teachers, I know how busy October can get! If you want ready-to-use literacy activities for The Maple Festival, The Leaf Thief, The Scarecrow, The Pumpkin Patch Parable, and The Scarecrow’s Dance, my Got to Be LIT fall book companions are a lifesaver. Grab them and make fall reading fun and stress-free!

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