Fall Reading & Writing, Science & STEM, and Social Studies for Grades 2-3

Bring the excitement of fall into your classroom with this activity bundle designed for grades 2–3. Students will explore fall traditions across the U.S., tackle pumpkin-themed STEM challenges, and enjoy fun extras that blend problem-solving with seasonal flair.

What’s Included:

Reading Activities

• Pumpkin Patch Mystery: A fictional short story about a missing pumpkin at the pumpkin patch! Students work in groups, using clue cards tied to reading standards, to solve the mystery.
• Pumpkin Fun Facts: A lively PowerPoint full of fascinating pumpkin facts from around the world — followed by a “Fact or Fib” game to test what students learned.
• Stumpkin Writing: After listening to the read-aloud Stumpkin (available on YouTube), students reflect on what makes them unique and special.
• After hearing the read-aloud The Roll Away Pumpkin (available on YouTube), students collaborate to retell the story, one sentence at a time, to practice sequencing.

Social Studies Exploration:

• A teaching PowerPoint introduces students to the different regions of the U.S.
• Engaging articles show how communities across the country celebrate fall through harvest festivals, fairs, and traditions.
• A creative brochure activity lets students showcase their learning by persuading others to visit a region during fall.

Pumpkin STEM Challenges (with PowerPoint student directions included!)

• Pumpkin Tower Challenge – Build the tallest free-standing tower using candy pumpkins and toothpicks.
• Pumpkin Bridge Builder – Engineer a bridge strong enough to hold the most candy pumpkins.
• Pumpkin Catapult – Design a launcher to send pumpkins the farthest distance or hit a target.
  Each STEM activity includes teacher prep, student directions, differentiation ideas, and reflection sheets.

Extra Fall-Themed Activities

• Festival Foods Math Puzzle – Use logic and math clues to figure out who bought which fall treats.
• Fall Word Scramble – Unscramble seasonal words to solve a joke.
• Writing Extension – Write a postcard about visiting a fall festival or pumpkin patch.

Why Teachers Love It:

• Cross-curricular connections (reading, writing, math, STEM, and social studies)
• Differentiation included for multiple grade levels
• Fun, fall-friendly themes
• Print-and-go worksheets + ready-to-use PowerPoint directions