By Morgan Carrion, Assistant to the President
With the fall season upon us, we here at IEA would like offer a guide to festive fall activities for you and your family. But let us set the tone with inspiration from the poet John Keats.
“To Autumn” by John Keats
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.
Now that we’re inspired to indulge in the beauty and magic of Autumn, what better way to celebrate the season than with science, snacks and crafts!
Calling all fall-leaf-lovers:
- “Find the Hidden Colors of Autumn Leaves” with Scientific American
This project explores chromatography using fall leaves. Discover which pigments make up the beauty of fall!
- Create “Crayon Leaf Rubbings with a Beet Paint Wash” with Mr. Otter Art Studio [maybe even embed this video?]
This video demonstrates how to make lovely leaf rubbing with a watercolor wash. Learn how to make watercolor paint with beets here!
- Fall leaves are truly one of my favorite things. Here are a few different ways to preserve them:
- Try ”Glycerin Leaves” with Tinker Labs
- Make a “Wax Dipped Leaf Garland” with Leah McDermott
- Create “Fall Leaf Placemats” with Creative Homemaking
How about some spooky science:
- Explore “Dry Ice Bubbles” with Amada Morgan
You will not be disappointed by these endlessly interesting opaque bubbles bursting with fog!
One of the best things about fall is the food! Here are some tasty treats to fuel your explorations:
- Learn “How to Pop Popcorn from a Cob” with Tinker Labs
Have you ever seen those dried cobs of corn in the market and wondered if they were food or just a decoration? Next time, pick one up, throw it in the microwave and wait for the magic!
- Make “Mock-Apple Pie” with Yesterdish
This simple recipe is an exploration of perception, food science and American history all in one.
There are so many fun projects out there. Hopefully these activities will lead you on to many more festive explorations! What is your favorite fall-themed activity?
Like this post? Sign up for our email newsletter to receive more stories, information, and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.