Mabon: Balance & Gratitude
At the autumn equinox, day and night are perfectly balanced. We celebrate the second harvest, practice gratitude, and prepare for the darker days ahead.
UU Principle Focus
7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence
We explore how everything in nature is connected—seeds become plants, plants feed animals, fallen leaves nourish the soil.
Learning Goals
Language Arts
- • Recognize letters E, F, G, H, I
- • Build autumn vocabulary
- • Practice gratitude expression
Math
- • Count objects 11-20
- • Sort and classify by attributes
- • Understand equal/balance
Science & Nature
- • Observe autumn changes
- • Understand equinox
- • Learn about seeds and cycles
Social-Emotional
- • Practice daily gratitude
- • Understand balance in life
- • Prepare for transitions
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: Autumn Arrives
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Light candle, sing 'The Earth is Our Mother'. What changes do we see outside?
📖 Language Arts
Letter E - Earth, Equinox, Equal. Practice E with leaf tracing
🔢 Math
Counting 11-12 - Count leaves, acorns. Compare more/less
🌿 Science & Nature
Signs of autumn - temperature, leaves changing, animal behavior
🎨 Art & Handwork
Leaf rubbings, autumn color mixing with watercolors
🏃 Movement
Be a tree - stand tall, sway in wind, drop your leaves
📚 Story Time
We're Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter E
- StoryBots: Fall Song
Shows:
- Nature Cat: Fall Episodes
- Wild Kratts: Autumn Animals
Audiobooks:
- Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
Week 2: Apple Harvest
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Pass an apple around. What do we notice? Smell, feel, color?
📖 Language Arts
Letter F - Fall, Fruit, Farm. F words in apple books
🔢 Math
Counting 13-14 - Count apple seeds, sort by color (red/green/yellow)
🌿 Science & Nature
Apple life cycle - seed to tree to fruit. Cut apple to find star
🎨 Art & Handwork
Apple prints, apple seed collage, apple dolls
🏃 Movement
Apple picking movements - reach high, fill baskets, carry carefully
📚 Story Time
The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter F
- Blippi: Apple Factory
Shows:
- Mr. Rogers: Apple Farm Visit
Audiobooks:
- Johnny Appleseed stories
Week 3: Falling Leaves
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Gratitude circle - each person names one thing they're thankful for
📖 Language Arts
Letter G - Gratitude, Gold, Gather. Create a gratitude journal
🔢 Math
Counting 15-16 - Sort leaves by shape, size, color. Make patterns
🌿 Science & Nature
Why do leaves change color? Chlorophyll experiment
🎨 Art & Handwork
Leaf collage, leaf crown, pressed leaf bookmarks
🏃 Movement
Be a falling leaf - float, spin, land softly. Leaf pile jumping!
📚 Story Time
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter G
- SciShow Kids: Why Leaves Change
Shows:
- Curious George: Fall Episodes
Audiobooks:
- Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
Week 4: Seeds & Storage
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Examine different seeds. How do plants prepare for winter?
📖 Language Arts
Letter H - Harvest, Hide, Hibernate. H words about preparation
🔢 Math
Counting 17-18 - Count and sort seeds. Estimate: how many in a pumpkin?
🌿 Science & Nature
How seeds travel - wind, water, animals. Seed dispersal walk
🎨 Art & Handwork
Seed mosaic, seed sorting trays, plant a seed to watch
🏃 Movement
Squirrel game - gather 'acorns' and hide them, then find them
📚 Story Time
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter H
- SciShow Kids: How Seeds Travel
Shows:
- Nature: Squirrels preparing for winter
Audiobooks:
- The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Week 5: Balance & Equinox
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Balance meditation - day and night are equal. What brings balance to our family?
📖 Language Arts
Letter I - Inside, Inward, Intention. Review E-I with autumn words
🔢 Math
Counting 19-20 - We can count to 20! Balance activities - equal groups
🌿 Science & Nature
Autumn equinox - day and night are the same length. Track daylight
🎨 Art & Handwork
Balance mobiles, yin-yang nature art, equinox sun catchers
🏃 Movement
Balance activities - stand on one foot, walk a line, yoga poses
📚 Story Time
The Autumn Equinox by Ellen Jackson
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter I
- Cosmic Kids Yoga: Balance
Shows:
- National Geographic Kids: Equinox
Audiobooks:
- Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
Week 6: Mabon Celebration
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Mabon ritual - share bread, give thanks, honor the balance of light and dark
📖 Language Arts
Review E-I. Create an autumn word wall. Retell favorite fall stories
🔢 Math
Review 11-20. Make a counting book of autumn things
🌿 Science & Nature
Preparing for winter - how do animals and plants get ready?
🎨 Art & Handwork
Create a gratitude tree with paper leaves, each leaf has a gratitude
🏃 Movement
Harvest festival games, apple bobbing, leaf pile play
📚 Story Time
The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Signing Time: Fall Signs
- Cosmic Kids: Autumn Adventure
Shows:
- Wild Kratts: Creature Power of Fall
Audiobooks:
- Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
🍂 Mabon Celebration Ideas
- • Create a family gratitude feast with harvest foods
- • Make a nature altar with collected leaves, acorns, and apples
- • Balance eggs on the equinox (they really do balance easier!)
- • Visit an apple orchard or pumpkin patch
- • Donate food to a local food bank as an act of sharing abundance
- • Make apple cider or apple butter together
- • Create a gratitude tree with paper leaves