Fall Leaves

Encourage children to observe nature using their senses. Take a nature walk, observe and collect leaves. To create a classroom collage.

Art Projects

Paint with Pine Needles

Pines and many other evergreen conifers have needle-like leaves. If pines or similar trees grow in your area, you may highlight the unique shape of their leaves by making paint brushes from their needles. Gather needles from the ground beneath a tree and use a strong rubber band to create bundles of "bristles." Attach a stick handle, if desired. Let's paint!
Leaf Prints

Provide paper, stamp pads and/or paints and brushes, and a variety of leaves at an at station. Encourage children to make prints by pressing leave onto stamp pads or painting them, then pressing onto paper. What shapes and patterns can they make?

Leafy Critters

Use different leaves to create animal shapes.

Leaf Rubbing

Give each child a piece of white paper, a leaf, and a pencil. Have children place leaves vein side up on a flat surface, put paper over the leaf, and rub the side of the pencil on the paper over the leaf. Encourage them to describe what happens. Who can explain why the pencil created the pattern it did? Let them trade leaves and do another rubbing. Have children compare the results of the two rubbings.

The Five Senses

(To the tune of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes")

Point to eyes, wiggle fingers, point to mouth, point to nose, and point to ears as you sing the sings.

See, touch, taste, smell and hear, smell and hear
See, touch, taste, smell and hear, smell and hear
                 Senses observe things far and near.
                 See, touch, taste, smell and hear.

Leaf Poem

See the leaves:
Green
Golden
And Brown
Feel the leaves:
Fuzzy
Smooth
Bumpy
Smell the leaves:
Spicy
Fresh
And Crisp
Hear the leaves:
Rustle
Crackle
Crunch
Pile the leaves:
Run, Jump
Laugh
And Roll

Incredible Edible Leaves: Ask the children can you eat leaves? Have a leaf tasting day.

Suggestion: Different types of lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Swish Chard and Cabbage.

Leafy Wraps: Use a lettuce leaf to wrap rice noodles or whole-grain spaghetti and a variety of other ingredients. Which combinations taste best? Encourage children to describe and compare and contrast the flavors of leaves.

Literacy Suggestions:
It's Fall! -  Author Linda Glaser
Autumn's First Leaf - Author Steve Metzger
The Leaves on the Trees - Author Thom Wiley
We're going on a Leaf Hunt - Author Steve Metzger