Week-Long Autumn Unit Study for High School (FREE PRINTABLE)

Exploring Autumn: Science, Culture, and Creativity

This unit is appropriate for grades 9-12, but can be tailored to fit a family-style learning format.  It is designed to be used in a single week OR in a Fun Friday format, completing one day of the unit each week of the month.  Visit the Subscribers Page for a printable PDF version.

For extra enrichment, try the Charlotte Mason Autumn bundle.  To tailor for additional middle or elementary school family members, grab your Autumn Booklist for the library.

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Day 1 – The Science of Autumn

Activities:

1. Mini-Lesson / Reading:

   • Watch a short video on why leaves change color.

   • Discuss the relationship between sunlight, temperature, and chlorophyll.  Make a flow chart that shows their relationships, and put this in your notebook.

2. Outdoor Observation:

   • Collect 3–5 fallen leaves from different species.

   • Identify them using a field guide or plant ID app.

   • Sketch or photograph each leaf and note its color variations.

3. Science Notebook Entry:

   • Write a paragraph explaining how light and temperature affect leaf pigments.

Optional Extension:
Experiment—place green leaves in rubbing alcohol and watch pigment separation (chromatography).

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Day 2 – Autumn in Literature

Activities:

1. Literary Reading:

   • Choose 2–3 poems or excerpts (e.g. Keats’ “To Autumn,” Frost’s “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” or Dickinson’s “The name—of it—is ‘Autumn’”).

   • Discuss what autumn represents—change, decay, harvest, reflection, or renewal.

2. Creative Writing Prompt:

   • Write a descriptive paragraph or poem titled “My Autumn.”

   • Use all five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) in your poem.

3. Discussion / Reflection:

   • Compare how different writers use autumn as a metaphor.

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Day 3 – Ecology and Wildlife

Activities:

1. Research Assignment:

   • Choose one local animal (e.g., squirrel, deer, monarch butterfly, goose).

   • Research how it prepares for winter—migration, storing food, changing coats, etc.

   • Create a one-page illustrated profile of your animal.

2. Outdoor Observation:

   • Spend 30 minutes outdoors noting animal activity—tracks, sounds, nests, migration signs.

3. Discussion Question:

   • How does human activity affect wildlife in autumn?

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Day 4 – The Art of Autumn

Activities:

1. Art Study:

   • Examine famous autumn works (e.g., Monet’s landscapes, Bierstadt’s fall scenes, or contemporary photographers).

   • Discuss composition, tone, and emotion.

2. Creative Project:

   • Create an autumn piece—painting, photograph, collage, or digital art.

   • Include a short artist’s statement (that's you!) about inspiration and mood.

3. Optional:

   • Combine pressed leaves or natural materials into mixed media art.

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Day 5 – Reflection and Harvest

Activities:

1. Journal Prompt:

   • “What lessons does autumn teach us about change, letting go, and renewal?”

2. Final Project:
   Choose one of the following:

   • Presentation: Show your leaf collection, artwork, or poem with a short oral explanation.

   • Essay: “The Science and Spirit of Autumn” — blend scientific and personal perspectives, based on what you have learned this week.

   • Portfolio: Compile journal entries, sketches, and research into a nature notebook.

3. Discussion:

• Share highlights from the week and something new you noticed about the season.

Pick up the ENTIRE SERIES right now - plus several bonus units - in our Cottage Shop.

These units are appropriate for grades 9-12, but can be tailored to fit a family-style learning format.  They are designed to be used in a single week OR in a Fun Friday format, completing one day of the unit each week of the month.  Each day takes 1-2 hours. This bundle includes the basic twelve, tailored to each month of the year, plus EIGHT bonus units!