Autumn Leaves - Let's create!
Autumn is a great time to get outside with your kids and explore the natural environment.
In Leaf Hunt Maths, we used the leaves to introduce and develop maths concepts but freshly-fallen leaves are also great for creating colourful autumn crafts.
So grab a paper bag, or recyclable container, and go on a leaf hunt in a local park, or garden, and get creative.
Top Safety tips:
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Before you go on your leaf hunt, talk about creatures and plants that should be avoided, e.g. ants that may bite, nettles and poisonous berries.
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Check that the area you are leaf hunting in is safe and free from dangerous objects, e.g broken glass.
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Make sure that you wash your hands after collecting the leaves.
Leaf Rubbings
What you need:
- Fallen leaves
Top tip: Flat, freshly-fallen leaves work best. As they dry out leaves curl-up and crumble easily.
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Wax Crayons
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Paper (We used plain white printer paper)
What to do:
Look carefully at the leaves you have collected. Think about their shapes, sizes, colours and textures. What things are the same and what things are different?
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Choose a leaf and lay it on a table with the veins (the bumpy side of the leaf) facing up.
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Put a sheet of paper over the top of the leaf.
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Hold the piece of paper in place and use the side of a crayon to colour over the top of the leaf. Make sure that you colour over the whole leaf. You should start to see the veins and crinkly edges of the leaf.
Top tip: Using darker coloured crayons makes clearer rubbings of the leaves.
- Try using coloured pencils, or pastels, instead of wax crayons. Which make the best leaf rubbings? What happens if you use a different type of paper?
Colour in a leaf!
What you need:
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Fallen leaves
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Felt-tip pens or paint
What to do:
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Choose a leaf and lay it on a table.
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Use the felt-tip pens, or paint, to decorate your leaf in any way you like. Be creative and have fun.
Autumn Leaf Collage!
What you need:
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Fallen leaves, sticks, acorns, conkers etc.
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Glue (Top tip: P.V.A or white glue dries clear)
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Paper or card
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Scissors
What to do:
- Lay a piece of paper, or card, flat on a table.
- Choose some of the leaves, sticks etc. that you have collected and arrange them in any way you want onto the paper. Have fun and be creative!
- Glue the leaves, sticks etc. into place on the piece of paper or card.
- Let the glue dry.
Top tips:
- Flat, freshly-fallen leaves work best. Dried out leaves curl-up, crumble easily and are hard to stick down.
- Use strong glue and press the leaves down well.
- Leave your collage to dry where it is for a few hours so that the leaves get a chance to stick before you move it.
Activities develop:
- Observational skills
- Creativity
- Fine-motor skill e.g. picking, tearing, cutting, colouring and sticking (strengthening and developing small hand muscles)
- Language and communication skills
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