When the crisp wind begins to blow the leaves off the trees, it is time to think about collecting natural materials for fall classroom decoration. A short field trip to the park or even just outside in the school yard can yield most of the needed materials in the form of leaves, acorns, pine cones and other natural materials.

Fall Wreath Project

Cut a wreath ring from brown construction paper or use an actual wreath frame to create a natural fall wreath. This project lends itself to found natural materials like acorns, nuts, pods, pebbles and pine cones, but you could also supplement your supplies with beans or other dried natural materials. If you are using a paper wreath as the base, it is easy for younger children to participate together in decorating it with found items. You can talk to your students about arrangement and balance, but mostly it is just a fun way for them to make classroom decorations as a group.

A wreath frame is probably more suitable for older students because it is more permanent. Encourage your students to come up with different arrangements and patterns using the natural materials they found outside. The class can then vote on their favorite design and it can be executed using a hot glue gun or wire.

Seasonal Display

Taking a nod from the Waldorf nature table, a seasonal display of natural materials is also a fun classroom decorating idea. If your students sit at tables, the displays can be made to sit on plates or in baskets on the table. It is best to keep the arrangements contained in this way or they will make a mess on the table as curious hands shift objects around. The display can also be created on a side table, where students are encouraged to add pretty leaves and other natural materials that they find throughout the season.

Wax Paper Leaves

A variety of leaves gathered from a local park or arboretum can be brought back to the classroom for identification and classroom decoration. Invite your students to work together to identify the different types of leaves that they collected.

Once the leaves are identified, have a parent volunteer help the students iron the leaves between two pieces of wax paper. This preserves the leaves and keeps them from crumbling as they dry out. Use an old towel or cloth in between the iron and the wax paper and move the iron on top just long enough to melt the wax together.

When the wax paper cools, have the students cut around the edges of the leaves, leaving an edge of sealed wax paper around them. Then hang them at different lengths from the top of the window or tape them to the window.

Bringing items in from nature to use as classroom decorations is not only inexpensive, but also surrounds your students with symbols of the season while they are indoors. It can also provide you with an opportunity to talk about nature, the environment and all the changes that occur when summer changes to fall.

Melanie Johnson has been a daycare teacher, administrator, and owner over the past 8 years. She has worked directly with children of all ages in the classroom and she knows what resources and teaching materials teachers need to help educate children. As an owner and administrator she also understands what it takes to run a successful daycare. Melanie loves to share tips and resources to help teachers and administrators with things like lesson plans, classroom decoration ideas, and classroom management. Check out her classroom decoration selection and teaching supplies http://www.mpmschoolsupplies.com/c-34-teacher-supplies.aspx.