Here are some ideas for using leaves the children can collect around
the neighborhood:
Leaf People
Glue a leaf to a sheet of paper and draw features to make them into leaf people, such as arms and legs, necks and heads, tails, etc. Then draw a scene around your leaf person!
Leafy Trees
With paints or markers using Fall colors, draw a tree trunk with branches. Then glue leaves in clusters on the branches.
Leaf Prints
Trace several leaves on fine-grained sandpaper to form a design. Color over your design with heavy pressure using crayons in autumn colors. Place a sheet of thin white paper over the design, then press with a medium-heat iron.
Leafy Crown
Be a Fall Princess! Make a 2 inch-wide headband large enough to fit the child’s head and staple. Glue leaves all around the crown.
Leaf Shapes
Draw basic leaf shapes on separate cards and place into a basket. Collect numerous leaves and then play this game. The child draws a card from the basket and then finds a leaf that matches the shape on the card. Have the child explain why they chose that leaf as a match by describing the 2 leaves.
Leaf Rubbing
Most people have done basic leaf rubbings where you place paper over the leaves, and rub over the paper with the side of a crayon. Try outlining the edge and veins of the leaves with a thin line of glue which is allowed to dry. Then do the rubbing and see the distinct patterns!
Leaf Mosaic
Draw a picture on construction paper, leaving spaces to fill in (do not make it to detailed!). Collect many different types of leaves from the neighborhood and tear them into small pieces. Use the leaf pieces to glue into your design as a mosaic, using the different shades of green, yellows, and reds for variety.
Preserving Leaves
Collect samples of colorful leaves and place the leaves between sheets of wax paper. Set the iron to a hot setting. Cover the layers of wax paper with a couple sheets of newspaper and iron them. Attach yarn to the corners and you have a nice window hanging.
Changing Colors
Observe the effects of light on the color of leaves. When leaves on a tree are still green, cover part of a leaf with aluminum foil. (Choose a tree that you know will turn bright colors.) Use masking tape to tape the foil to the leaf. Sign your name on the masking tape. Wait until the leaves on the tree change color. Then remove the foil and see the colors that were in the leaf all summer!
Graphing Leaves
Take a census of the trees in your school yard, an area of a nearby park, or another defined area. Draw the types of leaves found and how many of those trees are found. Use the survey data to create bar graphs that show the numbers of trees of different species.
Identifying Leaves
Collect a variety of leaves and use a tree guide from the library to identify the kind of tree from which each leaf comes. To protect the leaves, you might laminate them.
Leaf Exchange
Ask parents or teachers in other regions (email friends are great for this!) to join in a leaf exchange. Compare and contrast the leaves found in other areas.
Independent Story Time Felts Consultant
