I live in Minnesota because there are four distinct seasons. Spring is a little short and is the confused cousin that can’t figure themselves out, but I promise there are four seasons. Leaves in Minnesota in the fall are a prime example of the state reveling in her seasonal changes.

I am not much for sitting still, and one way to take in the leaves is to go for a drive. That is great, and there are many gorgeous drives along the north shore of Lake Superior and even within forty-five minutes of the Twin Cities. I prefer, rather than drive, to go and hike amid the leaves at the one of the those locations near the cities. For a driving destination and great hiking you can’t beat Taylors Falls, Minnesota. Within an hour of the cities you can drive across the border or take a Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tour on the St. Croix River to take in the colors. At the same place you can board the Scenic Boat Tour is a parking lot for Interstate State Park. This is where I enjoy hiking and climbing around the pot holes as well. It’s an ideal place to take kids for a hike as it isn’t too long or strenuous and just up the road you can stop for a Root Beer Float at The Drive-In a classic 1950’s style diner.

A hike doesn’t have to be strenuous, although that is the connotation of the word. In fact, you can do a “hike” in your own local park with younger children or even your own back yard. The natural resources class at the school I teach at has students learn the different types of leaves from trees. I think it was a badge my dad earned in Boy Scouts, but I never learned the differences between leaves (save oak and maple), and I am always impressed by the knowledge the kids have after studying.

A way you could incorporate that lesson into your “hike” would be to use this Leaf Scavenger Hunt from www.thehousewifemodern.com with upper elementary students.  They could learn the names and identities as they walk through the yard or a park.

Another option comes from www.deceptivelyeducational.blogspot.com which is really simply shape based search, and mom and dad can tell them what they found. 

If you visit www.deceptivelyeducational.blogspot.com there are also ideas for collecting and sorting leaves to look for patterns.  They also laminated their finds to keep for the season. Another way they could hang on to their finds would be to use leaf rubbing. www.deceptivelyeducational.blogspot.com also includes a book you can print here to do leaf rubbing collection for the year.

For younger kids you could use this Leaf Peeping Scavenger Hunt from www.mamaofthedrama.com for them to use. They don’t learn the trees, but they can look for the colors and shapes.