A Fall nature table represents the beauty of nature and the season of autumn. Use this list of nature table ideas to add a touch of rustic DIY fall home decor to your home or classroom this autumn.
A fall nature table is an area, shelf, or other suitable space decorated with natural items that reflect the season of autumn, represent nature, or are found in the natural world. Since nature tables showcase treasures from the outdoors, creating one is an excellent way to spark curiosity and wonder, encourage children to develop their observational skills, and engage in nature study and play-based learning at home or in the classroom.
Nature tables are found in many Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, Montessori classrooms, and homeschools. Use these fantastic fall nature table ideas to set up a table or shelf filled with autumn decor to enrich natural learning in your home or classroom during fall. First published in September 2015, this fall nature table tutorial is regularly updated to improve content and stay current. You might also enjoy these fun fall activities with a printable bucket list filled with autumn arts, crafts, and activities for kids and adults of all ages!
What is a Nature Table?
Nature tables are learning centers commonly found in Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia education, though they can vary slightly depending on the setting or focus. They are decorated with natural fall decorations that represent the beauty of nature or the changing seasons. Despite their name, a nature table doesn’t have to be on a table; it can also be made on a shelf or in another suitable space at home or in the classroom. You can even create one on a tray that can be easily moved or in a storage bin that can be easily stored away.
Nature tables are usually created to reflect the seasonal changes in the natural world. Children from toddlers to teens can use them to learn about their environment as they observe and play with the natural treasures displayed. This makes them a great educational tool for fostering curiosity and wonder, helping children notice the subtle changes as one season transitions to the next. They can also help kids develop a deeper connection with and understanding of the world around them. Discover more tips about seasonal nature tables in Nature Tables Explained.
How Do You Use a Nature Table?
An autumn nature table is a great learning center because it is an excellent aid for kids’ sensory play, play-based learning, science, and nature study. The idea is to allow preschoolers, kindergarteners, and young elementary school-aged children to observe and connect with the natural objects and scenes on the nature table. This connection can foster curiosity and wonder, as well as establish an inner relationship with the items and rhythms in the natural world. You might also enjoy these outdoor nature activities for kids.
Uses and Benefits of an Autumn-themed Nature Table:
An autumn nature table can provide numerous valuable learning experiences for growing children. Here are some educational benefits of nature tables:
Nature tables enable parents and teachers to create a sensory experience for children at home or in the classroom using treasures found in the natural world during the fall. Playing with these autumn treasures and natural objects provides excellent input for healthy sensory development. Therefore, they serve as a valuable sensory tool or aid.
Observing these items can ignite curiosity and wonder while also developing observational skills. This makes nature tables a fantastic educational resource for helping children grasp early science concepts. Since they reflect the seasons and are made with natural items that visually demonstrate the changing seasons, they also foster seasonal awareness. Each of these benefits makes nature tables excellent tools for teaching science and promoting interest in, as well as understanding of, the natural world.
Additionally, nature tables are great for dramatic play. Various natural materials make wonderful toys for imaginative play. Children enjoy playing creatively with the treasures on an autumn nature table. Placing natural items in trays, bowls, and bins on the table encourages open-ended pretend play. Over the years, my daughter spent hours playing with the things on our nature tables. For more details, please refer to “Natural Materials for Open-Ended Play.”
As you can see, there are many educational advantages to using nature tables. Setting one up at home or in a classroom is a great way to help children develop observational skills, spark wonder and curiosity, develop the sensory system, promote play-based learning, and more!
Autumn Nature Table Ideas:
There are many beautiful ways to design a fall nature table in your home or classroom. The space you have to put your table, your interests and values, the resources available in your biome, and the ages of your children will each influence the autumn nature table you create. Invite children from toddlers to teens on a nature walk to hunt for natural treasures you can include on your nature table or shelf.
An autumn table can be as simple or complex as you want. It doesn’t need to be elaborate, but it can be. The purpose is to allow children to connect with the natural treasures or nature scenes on the table. Complement your nature table with a nature journal to help kindle a relationship with the natural world within the hearts of your children or students.
Connecting with nature in this way can foster an inner relationship with the items and rhythms found in nature. Continue to alter and change your autumn nature table along with the natural world from season to season, year after year. You might also enjoy these fall art projects and painting ideas for kids.
Related: The Best Fall Nature Crafts for Kids
Fall Nature Table Ideas:
Creating a fall nature table for the home is a beautiful way to invite children to observe natural items and engage in play-based learning. There are lots of fun ways to decorate a fall table. Choose beautiful autumn colors and seasonal natural treasures that make your heart sing!
That said, please refrain from including toxic, dangerous, or small items that are unsafe for your child to handle or play with, especially if the table is intended for toddlers under three years old. Please keep small or breakable objects off the table until you think your child is mature enough to handle them. You might also enjoy learning more about the Fall Equinox.
Seasonal Fall Items and Natural Treasures that an Autumn-Themed Nature Table can Include:
- Any items found in nature that are safe for children to touch and play with, such as rocks, leaves, sticks, twigs, acorns, feathers, pinecones, etc.
- Please read about cleaning natural items to ensure they are safe for children to touch in DIY Nature Sensory Bin Ideas.
- Live house plants
- Fresh autumn flowers
- Seasonal artwork and fall crafts
- Play silks in seasonal colors
- Autumn story books; Fall books for kids
- Bare branches, tree blocks
- Seasonal toys and dolls
- Stones, rocks, pebbles
- Crystals and natural gemstones
- Fall candles
- Gratitude tree
Seasonal fall harvest foods such as dried corn, pumpkins, and gourds- Autumn Leaf Lanterns
- Wooden mushrooms
- Small vases
- Baskets
- Leaf bowls
- Storage bins
- Display trays
- Handmade figurines made with wood, wool, or beeswax
- Microscope or magnifying glass
- Other little nature treasures and anything else that reflects nature, the season, a seasonal holiday or festival, culture, or family values that little hands can explore or play with.
Seasonal fall harvest foods such as dried corn, pumpkins, and gourds
Microscope or magnifying glassNote: Please avoid including small, toxic, sharp, or otherwise hazardous items that are too small for children to handle, especially when toddlers and preschoolers are present.
Our Fall Nature Table: Example of an Autumn Nature Table:
Creating an autumn nature table is a great way to encourage children to explore nature and learn in ways they might not otherwise. My daughter loves to share and discuss what she finds to put on her table, and these experiences sink in deeply, opening up a space of understanding that no other type of learning seems to reach.
A nature shelf or table can continue to evolve and grow throughout the entire autumn season. With your nature finds, create crafts for your nature table that reflect the natural world, the season, and the holidays. Creating sweet little fall nature crafts and autumn decor for our nature table has become a magical experience for me and my daughter.
Spend time outdoors searching for natural treasures and other unique items to make arts and crafts. One of my daughters’ favorite fall activities is using the things we find to create something new, such as the acorn marble necklaces and ornaments we invented.
The transition from a summer to a fall nature table begins in late September or Early October. Continue to add treasures you find in nature throughout the autumn season, from October to November. Then, transition from an autumn to a winter nature table sometime after Thanksgiving, in December.
The photograph below shows the autumn nature table we made several years ago. On it, we created several little nature scenes with natural items and seasonal elements.
Related: How to Make a Thankful Tree with Real Leaves
Autumn Nature Table Ideas: Things We Found to Add
- Natural materials we found in the region, or biome, in which we live
- A basket full of tiny pine cones
- Blooming herbs (lavender and rosemary) to smell in a handmade vase.
- A small sugar pumpkin from our garden.
- Sticks, stones, and rocks.
- Feathers in a glass vase.
- A small glass bowl of acorns from the Valley Oak tree in our backyard.
- Autumn leaves from the natural world.
- A basket of walnuts that my daughter and I collected on our walks through the orchards near our home.
- Nature Sensory bins or baskets can be kept on or near the nature table. If you have a large bin you don’t want to see on the table, consider sliding it underneath so your children can easily access it without it being an eyesore.
you don’t want to see on the table, consider sliding it underneath so your children can easily access it without it being an eyesore.
Related: Nature Crafts and Art Ideas Made With Natural Materials
Autumn Nature Table Ideas: Things we Made (often with things we found)
- Acorn Peg Dolls – A simple acorn craft for both kids and adults. I think they look adorable on our nature table, don’t you?
- Fall Peg Doll Fairies – These autumn fairy peg dolls are much easier to make than they look!
- DIY Stone and Shell Owls – This stone and shell owl craft is fun and easy. Aren’t they cute sitting on the oak branches?
- Branch pieces with bark from the oak tree in our backyard to make stands for the acorn peg dolls and owls. My husband used a saw to cut these pieces from a fallen branch, and my daughter has several more that she uses as natural wood blocks. You can also purchase Tree Branch Blocks if you don’t want to make your own.
- A ceramic vase made by my brother-in-law, holding lavender and rosemary from our backyard.
Related: Fall Leaf Lacing Beginning Sewing Project for Kids
Fall Nature Table Ideas: Things we Purchased for our Autumn Nature Table
- Autumn book by Gerda Müller. Muller has a simple book, without text, for all four seasons. We always place the seasonal book that matches the current season on our nature table each season.
- Yellow and orange play silks are shown draped across the back of the table. (Many other colors of play silks are available and go in and out of stock frequently.)
- Basswood Round. In the photograph below, we put some acorns and acorn peg dolls on top of a medium-sized basswood round. (We made the smaller wooden pieces – see notes in the section above)
- Himalayan Salt Lamp–a beautiful natural air purifier for the home. I love the soft glow it emits over our autumn nature table day and night.
- Small glass ramekin holding acorns.
- A small glass bud vase filled with sand from the beach and feathers.
- Leaf-shaped bowl holding some preserved autumn leaves.
- Baskets — This set of baskets would look lovely on any nature table.
and 
are shown draped across the back of the table. (Many other colors of play silks
are available and go in and out of stock frequently.)
holding acorns.
filled with sand from the beach and feathers.
More Fall-themed Nature Table Ideas:
Since the original publication of this post, my daughter and I have created several autumn-themed nature tables, so I thought I would share a few more simple tips below to help you gather ideas and decide how to make a fall nature table in your home, daycare center, or classroom. If you have a photo that you would like to share, please let me know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you and see your lovely nature table ideas.
Autumn Nature Table with Thankful Tree:
Here’s a photograph of a fall-themed nature table display my daughter and I made on the top of a shelf in our living room. It has a thankful tree with clay gratitude leaves, a large white hand-crocheted doily from my mother-in-law, fall fairy peg doll toys I made, small wooden slices for stepping stones, a turkey leaf lantern, woodland animal nesting dolls, a tabletop pentatonic chime, an Autumn board book for kids, and a few other autumn-themed odds and ends. A fall nature table, like this one, encourages interactive play and fosters gratitude.
Alternatively, you can create a fall tree, similar to the one in this photograph, for an autumn-themed nature table by using preserved autumn leaves with this DIY Thankful tree tutorial. A set of turkey leaf lanterns that my daughter and I made is sitting on the table next to the thankful tree. Alternatively, you can make fall leaf luminaries without a turkey on them.
Autumn Nature Table for Natural Learning:
An autumn table is a designated area in the home that showcases natural items reflecting the season, representing nature, or found in the natural world. Because nature tables contain treasures from the natural world, they are fantastic for sensory play, loose-parts play, and play-based learning. They are also excellent learning centers for early science learning. You may also like this incredible collection of fall nature crafts, outdoor learning ideas, and nature activities for kids!
Commonly used in Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, and Montessori education, nature tables are learning centers that supplement education at home or in the classroom. They are excellent tools for studying nature and the passing seasons, making a lovely addition to any school or homeschool classroom. For more information, please visit Nature Tables Explained.
Use the fall nature table ideas above to create rustic DIY fall decor for your home or classroom this autumn. For even more fall fun, check out these fun fall activities for kids!
Learn more about Nell Regan Kartychok, author and photographer of these nature table ideas for autumn HERE, and Rhythms of Play HERE!
More Nature Table Ideas:
- Winter Nature Table Ideas
- Spring Nature Table Ideas
- Summer Nature Table Ideas
- Nature Tables Explained: Ideas, Uses, and How to Get Started
Your Fall nature table is just lovely. The acorn peg people are quite adorable. I love the way that this invites children to observe nature and enjoy some creative play. Does the salt lamp get hot?
Thank you, Sharon! My daughter and I made the acorn dolls long ago and they are still a regularly used item on our fall nature table. No, the salt lamp does not get hot, is cool enough to touch and should be left on 24 hours a day in order to reap the benefits of the ions that it emanates.