Download the Calendar​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Activity List​

• Sept 1 — World Letter Writing Day

  • Write a paper and pencil letter! Children can write to a grandparent, friend, family member, or even their future selves. Younger children can draw a picture and dictate their message.

  • Try it: World Letter Writing Day Activity

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• Sept 2 — Nature Bingo

  • Turn a walk outside into a nature scavenger hunt with a bingo card. Look for things like a pinecone, yellow leaf, smooth rock, bird, feather, flower, or something that feels rough.

  • Make it STEM: Encourage children to observe carefully rather than simply checking items off. Ask, What do you notice? What is similar? What is different? Why might you find some things in one area but not another?

  • Download September Nature Bingo Cards​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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• Sept 3 — National Skyscraper Day (STEM)

  • Explore how engineers design buildings that are tall, strong, and stable.

    • You’ll need: Building blocks, craft sticks, paper cups, index cards, or whatever building materials you have.

    • Try it:

      • Challenge your child to build the tallest structure they can.

      • Test it with a gentle “wind” from a fan or by waving a piece of cardboard.

      • If it falls, change the design and try again.

      • Compare which shapes and structures were strongest.

    • Science connection: Tall buildings need to manage forces such as gravity and wind. Wide bases, strong connections, and thoughtful structural designs help keep buildings stable.

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• Sept 4 — National Wildlife Day

  • Spend some time observing the wildlife around you. You don't need to visit a zoo or wildlife refuge. Your backyard, neighborhood, or local park can become a wildlife observation area.

    • Look for birds, insects, squirrels, lizards, or other animals. Record what you see, where you saw it, what it was doing, and what it might have been looking for.

    • Try wondering: What does this animal need to survive? How does its body help it live where it does?

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• Sept 5 — National Play Outside Day

  • Today is simply about getting outside and playing. Build an obstacle course, ride bikes, climb, play tag, collect sticks, dig in the dirt, or make up your own outdoor game.

  • Add a STEM twist: Have children design an obstacle course and then test it. Can they make it harder? Safer? Faster? What happens when they change one part?

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• Sept 6 — National Read a Book Day

  • Find a comfortable spot and read together. The book can be fiction, nonfiction, a field guide, a comic, or anything your child enjoys.

  • After reading, ask one simple question: “What did this book make you wonder about?” 

    • That question can turn reading into the beginning of a whole new investigation.

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• Sept 7 — Float or Sink Challenge (STEM) ​

  • What makes something float or sink? Make a prediction before testing.

  • Try it: Float or Sink Challenge

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• Sept 8 — National Ants on a Log Day

  • Make the classic celery, peanut butter, and raisin snack. As you make it, practice measuring and observe how the ingredients behave.

  • STEM connection: Celery is made of plant cells and structures that help transport water through the plant. Cut a stalk open and look closely at its shape and tiny tubes.

  • Try wondering: Why is celery crunchy? Why does peanut butter stick? What happens when the celery dries out?

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• Sept 9 — DIY Windmill (STEM) ​

  • Build a simple paper windmill and explore how moving air can create motion.

  • Try it: DIY Windmill​

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• Sept 10 — Backyard Picnic

  • Take your meal outside today. It doesn't need to be fancy. A blanket on the grass and a simple snack is enough.

    • Before eating, spend a few minutes noticing your surroundings. What sounds do you hear? What insects are nearby? Where is the sun? Is the ground warm or cool? Sometimes the best learning activity is simply slowing down enough to notice.

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• Sept 11 — International Cloud Appreciation Day

  • Look up and explore the clouds! See if you can spot cirrus (wispy), cumulus (puffy), or stratus (layered) clouds.

  • Try it: Draw the clouds you see, then make your own cloud types using cotton balls and paper. Check the sky again later. Did the clouds change, move, grow, or disappear?

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• Sept 12 — Mindfulness Day

  • Take a few quiet minutes outside and practice noticing. Listen for 5 sounds, notice 3 things you see, 2 things you can feel, and 1 thing you can smell.

  • Try Mountain Breathing: Draw 5 mountain peaks. Trace each peak with your finger, breathe in as you go up and breathe out as you go down. A simple way to slow down, breathe, and connect with the moment.

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• Sept 13 — Sidewalk Chalk Art

  • Take your creativity outside with sidewalk chalk. Draw giant pictures, create a hopscotch course, make a chalk maze, or draw a nature scene.

  • Add STEM: Have children create a chalk obstacle course using lines, angles, shapes, numbers, or patterns.

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• Sept 14 — National Coloring Day

  • Get out the crayons, colored pencils, or markers and spend some time coloring.

  • Try a nature connection: Find a leaf, rock, flower, or pinecone and use it as inspiration. Encourage your child to notice the colors and patterns rather than trying to make a perfectly realistic picture.

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• Sept 15 — Wind Motion Test (STEM)

  • Explore how wind affects different materials.

  • Try it: Wind Motion Test

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• Sept 16 — National Guacamole Day

  • Make guacamole together and turn snack preparation into a little food science investigation.

    • Mash an avocado and observe its texture before and after mixing. Add lime juice and watch what happens over time.

    • Kitchen science: Avocados contain enzymes that contribute to browning when the cut fruit is exposed to oxygen. Lime juice can help slow that process.

      • Try it: Put some avocado in two small containers. Add lime juice to one and leave the other plain. Check both later and compare.

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• Sept 17 — Nature Scavenger Hunt

  • Head outside with a simple list of things to find. Look for something smooth, rough, tiny, tall, yellow, green, round, prickly, soft, and something that makes a sound.

  • Download our free Scavenger Hunt Sheet​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​