The following is a guest blog post by Jed Dearybury!

Fall brings lots of opportunities for learning. Hayrides, bonfires, apple picking, and hundreds of other seasonally fun options that make it easy to bring educational experiences into every area of life.

Let me add one more entertaining item to your ever growing list of autumn festivities… ACORNS!

Yep, you read that right acorns can be so much fun and the ideas for them are as plentiful as the squirrels who hunt them. Let’s dig into my brian and see some of the antics that acorns can provide to you as an individual, to your family, or to your classroom.

1. Read About Acorns!

First of all, whether you teach littles, bigs, or just love a good story, you must read the picture book “Acorn Was a Little Wild,” written by Jen Arena and illustrated by Jessica Gibson.

It is a fantastic little story about the adventures of an adventurous little acorn as he makes his way from the tree to the ground. At first, he’s a little bored down in the dirt, but magical things begin to happen as he starts to change.

You will feel such a connection to the little guy thanks to the beautiful illustrations that bring him to life.

2. Paint ACORNS!

About a month ago I ran across an Instagram account that I fell in love with…Artist Ruby Silvious (@ruby_silvious) has a page full of incredible creations, many made with nature.

Recently, she shared a pic of acorns that she had painted. They were simply adorable and I had to give it a try. Below you will see my final masterpieces, but first a few tips.

Only use paint pens. Brushes and paint will lead to disaster. I use the Posca brand. Pricey, but they are the best. Trust me there.
Gently pop the caps off your acorns and number them and the nut they came from. Why? Because the same cap needs to return to it’s original nut in order to fit correctly. Numbering them helps you locate them. Put the number inside the cap and the top of acorn. You won’t paint that part because the cap will cover it.
When you are finished painting, spray them with a glaze. I use Krylon Clear Glaze. Cannot wait to see your creations. Be sure to tag me, @mrdearybury and @ruby_silvious, when you finish.

3. Marble paint WITH ACORNS

This is a simple twist on a classic art experience that has been around a while.

Lemme explain what to do.

First, you need a shallow cardboard box. Just a few inches deep and big enough to hold at least a piece of standard size construction paper. Put the paper in the bottom of the box, then dip an acorn in some paint and drop it onto the paper.

Next, tilt the box from side to side so that the acorn rolls the paint across the paper. Repeat as desired with the same color or various colors.

The result will be a very unique piece of art that only you and an acorn could create.

Pro tip… If you use more than one color, it might be good to let the first color dry before adding the additional color.

PHOTO CREDIT: https://www.pbsutah.org/blogs/pbs-kids-utah/missys-marble-painting/

If the paint mixes too much it can get a little messy. If you need a visual to help you understand the directions, look here.

4. GIVE YOUR ACORNS Faces!

Grab a sharpie. Give your acorn a face.

It can be as simple or elaborate as you want. Once the face is complete the possibilities are endless.

Have the acorns talk. Tell jokes with them.
Create a body for them with other found materials.
Roll them and role play their excitement (or terror) as they spin.

PHOTO CREDIT: https://weefolkstudio.com/2020/06/21/hand-painted-wee-folk-faces/

Check out these amazing ones I found to inspire you!

5. Dissect SOME ACORNS!

When I was little, I loved to take things apart. I once got in big trouble for disassembling my mom’s hair dryer. Don’t worry, I put it back together. Just not sure I did it correctly. Maybe my play personality back then was more explorer than I remember. I digress.

Taking acorns apart can be fun without the possibility of destroying a household appliance.

How do you do it? Well, that’s up to you. Hammers, feet, a nutcracker, or this tiny jewelry drill from Amazon. What do you find inside? My friend Julie says that yellow stuff is definitely not cheese. Investigate it and let us know what you find.

Be careful though, the last time I did this I found tiny larva inside. Imagine my surprise when it wiggled away right in front of my eyes!

6. ACORN Mancala

I used to live in Senegal and Mancala was a favorite game of everyone in the village where I stayed.

We could create a game really easily by digging some tiny holes in the ground and using what every pebbles we found nearby to start the competition.

Acorns make great pieces here, and a rousing game of Mancala can happen just about anywhere. If you have never played, look here.

7. Tiny Tetherball

Ok, y’all might think this one is a stretch, but what if… you built a tiny tetherball game.

Sometimes ideas come into my head and they might not make sense to everyone, but let me explain. First, look at the pic of a real life tetherball game below.

Now picture it… instead of the ball, use an acorn.

Instead of the pole, a stick. Instead of string… hmmm… be creative there. Maybe a string it the best option.

Add a bit of hot glue to the acorn and add to the string. The tie the string to the top of the stick. Bury the bottom of the stick in the ground a bit, or mount it to some type of solid fixture like a rock.

Viola, you have a tiny tetherball game. If you make this, PLEASE share it with me on social media, @mrdearybury

8. Build a Nutcracker

I honestly have no idea how to do this as of the writing of this blog post.

But the STEAM mindset in me sure wants to figure it out. I am certain that it connects to almost every area of science curriculum from kindergarten through physics.

Grab some rubber bands to create tension, something heavy that can crush the acorn, and maybe a flat item to be the base? I know you can do it. If you can’t, your students certainly can. Give it a try.

Maybe Carly and Adam will create a great resource for this so it will make it easier for us. What do you say C&A?

Be sure to check out the STEM Teachers Club for lots of other great STEM experiences you can try!

9. Rube Goldberg

Oh no, the acorn fell from the tree and went on a great adventure.

He bounced, he rolled, he got picked up by a flying beast, he swooped, he swirled, he landed in a nest that tipped over and flung him into a pond. He skipped across the pond just like a rock before he rolled a bit more to his final spot…

Did a squirrel get him? Did he burrow into the ground and begin to sprout? Create a Rube Goldberg chain reaction that tells and shows all about the acorn's adventures.

Speaking of Rube Goldbergs… Have you seen the logo for the Carly and Adam STEAM Teacher’s Summit?

I designed this as a Rube inspired piece or art that shows the little orange dot traveling to its home at the top of the ‘i”. It bounces, flips, lands in a cup that spills, rolls down a ramp, gets carried away by a pumbercella (yep, that’s a nod to “The Grinch”), tips down the top of the T, drops to another ramp, swoops up and down, goes through a straw to finally make its way home. And of course,

I made the dot orange as a nod to our dear friend Peter H. Reynolds, author of “The Dot.”

We hope you will join us on January 6, 2024 for the big day! It’s free for all those who subscribe to the STEM Teachers Club.

9 Ideas For Using Acorns in Your Classroom!