How many fall words can your kids think of before someone else gets to Z? A is easy when you’ve got apples and acorns to choose from. P might start a family debate over pumpkins, pie, or pumpkin pie. But what on earth are you going to put for X?
Our free printable Fall A-Z Race Game is a one-page autumn word game for kids. All you need is a pencil, a copy of the game sheet, and someone to say “Go!” It’s an easy activity to set out at the Thanksgiving kids’ table, tuck into a homeschool morning, or pull out when a rainy afternoon calls for a little friendly competition.
How to Play the Fall A-Z Race Game
Print one game sheet for each player or team. When everyone is ready, race to write down something related to fall for every letter of the alphabet. Words and short phrases both count, so “leaf” and “leaf pile” are equally good answers for L.
Players can fill in the letters in any order. If you’re stuck on Q but already know what you want for S, skip ahead! The first player to fill all 26 spaces with answers that fit the season wins. Then go around the table and let everyone share their favorite answer. Half the fun is hearing how one person got “web” for W because they spotted one on the porch, while someone else was thinking about the witch who might live there.
For younger kids who are still learning their letters, try playing as a team. A grown-up can ask, “What did we pick at the orchard?” and write down “apples” while the child finds the A on the page. Older kids might enjoy an extra challenge. Can they finish the whole sheet without using the word “pumpkin” even once?
Fall Words From A to Z
Need a little help with a tricky letter? Here are some fall vocabulary ideas for every space on the printable. Keep them handy for hints, or have a peek after the race to see how many different answers your family found.
| Letter | Fall words and phrases to try |
|---|---|
| A | Acorn, apple picking, autumn |
| B | Bonfire, bat, butternut squash |
| C | Cider, chestnut, corn maze |
| D | Dry leaves, drizzle, doughnuts dusted with cinnamon |
| E | Ears of corn, evergreen, extra layer |
| F | Frost, flannel, fallen leaves |
| G | Gourd, ghost, geese flying south |
| H | Hayride, harvest, hot chocolate |
| I | Indian corn, indoor games, icy mornings |
| J | Jack-o’-lantern, jacket, jumping in leaves |
| K | Knitted scarf, kettle corn, knobbly gourd |
| L | Leaf pile, lantern, long sleeves |
| M | Maple leaf, migrating birds, muddy boots |
| N | November, nuts, nutmeg |
| O | October, orchard, orange leaves |
| P | Pumpkin patch, pine cone, pecan pie |
| Q | Quilt, quince, quartered apples |
| R | Rake, rain boots, roasted pumpkin seeds |
| S | Scarecrow, squash, squirrel |
| T | Thanksgiving, turkey, toffee apple |
| U | Umbrella, uneven pumpkin, unpicked apples |
| V | Vine, vegetable soup, village bonfire |
| W | Wind, woolly socks, witch |
| X | X-ray skeleton costume, X marks the spot on a corn maze map |
| Y | Yellow leaves, yams, yarn scarf |
| Z | Zombie, zesty pumpkin soup, zip-up hoodie |
If X brings the whole race to a halt, try giving a clue before you share an answer. “What kind of picture lets you see the bones inside your body? Now imagine wearing that picture on a Halloween costume!” That gives kids the fun of figuring out “X-ray” for themselves.
Download the Free Printable Fall A-Z Race Game PDF
Download your free Fall A-Z Race Game PDF below. Print one copy per player, or slip a copy into a dry-erase sleeve so you can wipe it clean and play another round. This printable is for personal and classroom use only.
More Autumn Printables for Kids
If the kids are still giggling over their word choices, try our Autumn Mad Libs next. Hang on to your A-Z sheets and see if you can sneak “knobbly,” “scarecrow,” or “squash” into your story. For a game that gets everyone up from the table, our printable fall scavenger hunt cards will have the kids searching around the house for their next clue.
- Fall Harvest Bingo Printable Game
- Free Printable Fall Photo Scavenger Hunt
- Fall Leaf Hedgehog With Printable Template
- Autumn Fingerprint Art Printable Pack: 5 Pictures to Make
- Free Printable Autumn Fall Writing Prompts for Kids
More Fall Crafts and Autumn Activities for Kids
Pick a favorite word from the game and turn it into something you can make together. If your child wrote “owl” for O, try our crumpled tissue paper owl craft and give it a wonderfully scruffy set of feathers. If “pumpkin patch” made their list, make our pumpkin patch sensory bottle and see who can spot the little white pumpkin hiding inside.
- Autumn Nature Puzzle
- Fall Leaf Suncatcher Craft with Free Printable Template
- Build a Fall Leaf Person Printable Craft for Kids
- Upcycled Glitter Autumn Leaf Craft (Fall Decor)
- Torn Paper Autumn Leaf Craft
If your family enjoyed this Fall A-Z Race Game, please share this blog post with a friend or pin it to your fall activities board on Pinterest so you can find it again next autumn. And if your kids came up with another answer for X, please leave it in the comments. We’d love to hear that one!