In November, I alter our school schedule to cover just the basics- Bible, math and reading- so that we can add fun seasonal things to our day. We make soup, bake cookies, sip hot apple cider, practice for our upcoming December piano recital, take walks where we observe the change of the season, read books about the Pilgrims and other American heroes, and study Autumn quotes and poetry.
Another fun thing we do is put up our "Thankful Tree." We have a tree from a bulletin board kit and laminated leaves. I bought Vis-a-vis markers and let the kids write on the leaves the things and people they are thankful for. Each of us has 10 leaves to add to the tree.
Several of you have asked me to share the Autumn quotes and poetry I have collected over the past few years. So, here they are the poems and quotes we are studying this Autumn. I think you can cut and paste these into a Word document, or you can just e-mail me and ask me to send them to you via e-mail. Enjoy!
Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.
~ Elizabeth Lawrence
COME, LITTLE LEAVES
-George Cooper
"Come, little leaves," said the wind one day,
"Come o'er the meadow with me and play;
Put on your dresses of red and gold,
For summer is gone and the days grow cold."
Soon as the leaves heard the wind's loud call,
Down they came fluttering, one and all;
Over the brown fields they danced and flew,
Singing the glad little songs they knew.
"Cricket, good-by, we've been friends so long,
Little brook, sing us your farewell song;
Say you are sorry to see us go;
Ah, you will miss us, right well we know."
Dear little lambs in your fleecy fold,
Mother will keep you from harm and cold;
Fondly we watched you in vale and glade,
Say will you dream of our loving shade?"
Dancing and whirling, the little leaves went,
Winter had called them and they were content;
Soon, fast asleep in their earthy beds,
The snow lay a coverlid over their heads.
Delicious Autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird,
I would fly about the earth seeking the successive Autumns.
~George Eliot
AUTUMN
- Emily Dickinson
The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.
The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on.
November's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter.
~Nova Blair
HOW THE LEAVES CAME DOWN
-Susan Coolidge
I'll tell you how the leaves came down.
The great Tree to his children said:
"You're getting sleepy, Yellow and Brown,
Yes, very sleepy, little Red.
It is quite time to go to bed."
"Ah!' begged each little silly, pouting leaf,
"Let us a little longer stay;
Dear Father Tree, behold our grief!
'Tis such a very pleasant day,
We do not want to go away."
So, just for one more merry day
To the great Tree the leaflets clung,
Frolicked and danced, and had their way,
Upon the autumn breezes swung,
Whispering all their sports among -
"Perhaps the great Tree will forget,
And let us stay until the spring,
If we all beg, and coax, and fret."
But the great Tree did no such thing;
He smiled to hear their whispering.
"Come, children, all to bed," he cried;
And ere the leaves could urge their prayer,
He shook his head, and far and wide,
Fluttering and rustling everywhere,
Down sped the leaflets through the air.
I saw them; on the ground they lay,
Golden and red, a huddled swarm,
Waiting till one from far away,
White bedclothes heaped upon her arm,
Should come to wrap them safe and warm.
The great bare Tree looked down and smiled.
"Good night, dear little leaves," he said.
And from below each sleepy child
Replied, "Good night," and murmured,
"It is so nice to go to bed!"
