Materials
Leaves of different shapes and sizes
Newspaper
Meat trays
Tempera paint in fall colors
Newsprint
Instructions
1. Collect leaves with
the children a day
or two before you
begin the project.
2. Separate the
leaves on newspaper
to dry.
3. After the leaves
are dry, ask each
child to select a
leaf.
4. Have the children
feel both sides of
the leaf.
5. Ask the children to
lay their leaves on a meat tray.
6. Let the children choose a color of paint and gently fingerpaint the veined side of their leaf.
7. When they are finished, have the children turn their leaf over and press the painted side onto a
piece of newsprint, leaving an image of the leaf on the paper.
8. Encourage the children to make as many prints as they can while there is paint on their leaf. Let
them experiment with other colors and leaves.
9. Have the children cut out some of their prints, if they choose.
More to do
Language: Record the progress of fall in a journal.
More art: Draw a tree trunk and branches on the bulletin board or a mural and attach the children's
leaf prints. Make greeting cards with the leaf prints. Design a leaf scrapbook.
Snack: Have a leafy snack with lettuce and dressing.
