Take learning outdoors with this free Montessori fall activities printable. This 3-page Autumn Nature Hunt invites children to explore nature, compare and sort their finds, and choose one object for close observation and drawing.
 
Designed for preschool and early elementary children, this activity encourages observation, classification, sensory exploration, language, and connection with the natural world.
 
Invite children to slow down, look closely, and explore the changing season with this free 3-page Autumn Nature Hunt printable.
 
Rather than simply checking objects off a scavenger-hunt list, this activity follows a simple progression from real experience to classification and close observation.
 
Children begin outdoors by looking for common natural objects. They can then bring safe finds back to the work area, compare their characteristics, sort them using contrasting labels, and finally choose one object to study more closely.
 
This printable includes:
Page 1 – Autumn Nature Hunt
Children look outdoors for:
yellow leaf · brown leaf · small leaf · big leaf · twig · seed · flower · grass · stone · feather · fallen bark · something they choose
 
Page 2 – Sort Your Nature Finds
A reusable two-column sorting mat with three pairs of cut-apart labels:
smooth / rough
light / heavy
soft / hard
Choose one pair at a time and invite the child to compare and classify the objects they found.
 
Page 3 – Look Closely
Children choose one nature find to observe in greater detail. They can:
place the real object on the page
draw what they see
describe its color, shape, texture, and size
record another observation in their own words
 
For younger children, an adult can write down the child's observations.
 
Montessori-inspired learning
This activity encourages children to move through a natural learning sequence:
find → compare → classify → observe → describe
 
It supports:
observation and concentration
sensory discrimination
classification
descriptive vocabulary
fine-motor and drawing skills
connection with the natural environment
 
The activity uses real objects whenever possible rather than relying only on pictures, making it especially suitable for Montessori-inspired home and classroom environments.
 
Suggested use
Print the three pages and begin with a walk outdoors.
After completing the nature hunt, place the collected safe objects in a basket or tray. Use Page 2 to sort the objects according to one pair of characteristics at a time. Then invite the child to choose a favorite object for the close-observation work on Page 3.
 
Safety note: Children should ask an adult before touching unfamiliar plants or berries.
 
File information
Digital PDF download
3 printable pages
No physical product will be shipped.