Autumn Activities

Welcome to Brigid's Autumn Language Activities.

12 Quotes & Activies
Activities to nurture a love of language
Activities to help kids identify literary techniques & devices
Activities designed to help kids use literary techniques & devices
A variety of snack size quotes from Albert Camus to Sylvia Plath
Free Quote Cards printables
Something for all ages and abilities
LEARN CREATE SHARE
CONTACT US TODAY _ for FREE printables-CLASSES-Any questions

Autumn is such an exciting time.The forest,the garden and the park are full of new smells, sights and sounds.

There are all kinds of autumn

Jump in the leaves autumn
Soggy autumn
Crisp & crunchy autumn
Misty autumn
Bright & colourful autumn
Tasty autumn
Windy autumn

Can you think of some more?

Which is your favourite?

Our Top Twelve Autumn Quotes

12. Albert Camus

French author and philosopher

"every leaf is a flower"

A beautiful example of a metaphor

Activity

Camus has turned the world upside down; autumn has become spring and the leaves have become flowers.

A holiday poster for a Topsy Turvy World

For example:

Rain is dry

Sunbeams are wet

Snow is edible

birds ride bicycles

Eat pudding first

Go to school at night

Think of a Topsy Turvy World
Make an annotated drawing of your Topsy Turvey World
Share with your classmates
Design a holiday poster for your Topsy Turvey World

11. Charlotte Bronte

19th century English novelist & poet

"Every leaf speaks..."

An engaging example of personification

Activity

A Speaking Leaf Mobile

What do the leaves say?
Make a mind map
Draw leaves with speech balloons
Display as a class mobile (which will move)

10. L.M. Montgomery

20th Century Children's author, best know for Anne of Green Gables.

Activity

A Class October Watch Book

Make a Class Autumn Watch Book
Record your October observations
Discuss the pros & cons of October
Do you think October is the best month?
Compare and contrast with October in a different country

9. Percy Bysshe Shelley

19th century English poet. Shelley was one of the Romantic poets. He loved to write about nature and his feelings.

"Each like a corpse

Within its grave."

A wonderful simile for older kids to unpack.

Activity

Compare & Contrast

Compare & contrast with quote number 8 (John Borroughs)
List the similarities
List the differences

8. John Borroughs

19th/20th century American literary naturalist

Activity

Compare & Contrast

Compare & contrast with quote number 9 (Shelley)
Which quote do you like best & why?

7. Kobayashi Issa

18th/19th century Japanese poet. Issa is his pen name and means 'a cup of tea'.- how beautiful. The kimono is a tradditional Japanese garment which worn by men, women & children on special occassions . The colours and motifs are determine by the season. Traditionally the light summer kimono is exchanged for a warmer lined kimono on the 20th of September.

Activity

Write - "My Sky Wears" Poem

Research the kimono.
Design an autumn kimono
What clothes do you wear in September?
Use Issa's poem as a blueprint for your own poem. What does your September sky wear?
e.g a necklace of birds

6. John Keats

One of the most popular English Romantic poets of the 19th century. Keats uses natural imagery to express deep and powerful feelings.

"winnowing wind"

A beautiful example of alliteration and assonance. Feel the movement.

Activity:

An Annoted Map Of "A Windy Journey "

What does the autumn wind move?
Hair umbrellas leaves water birds kites paper bags tin cans pets clouds rain
How do these objects move?
Blow bend weave tumble skittle scatter dance fly flutter toss throw rattle spin spiral
Choose 1 or 2 objects
Draw an annotated map of it's windy journey
Use some alliteration and assonance Eg Undulating umbrellas or spinning speckled leaves

5. Emily Dickinson

A 19th Century american poet.

"The rose is out of town."

A funny an insightful example of personification.

This simple little line explodes into a million questions.

Where is rose? How did she travel? What is she doing? Does she miss us? Is she travelling alone?

Activity

Write a postcard or email from the 'out of town" rose

Where has the rose gone?
Write a postcard or email from the rose to her friends in the autumn garden/park/forest.
Include examples of personification

4. Sylvia Plath

A 20th century American poet and novelist

"web-winged and furious."

A startling & powerful example of pathetic fallacy.

Why are the leaves furious?

Activity:

Write a series of tweets or texts between 2 "furious" leaves

Why are the leaves furious?
Write a single or series of texts/tweets between 2 furious leaves
Include examples of pathetic fallacy

Elizabeth Bishop

A 20th century American poet

"small hard tears dance..."

A tight and powerful example of pathetic fallacy and personification.

Activities

Role play: The child

What has just happened?
what is going to happen next?
Work in pairs or small groups
Role play:the child with parent/teacher/grandmother/fairy tale character/best friend

2. Ray Bradbury

A 20th century American writer

"dry rain"

A clear example of an oxymoron.