Art with Leaves

Leaf Printing

Materials

• Carpet underlay sponge or dish washing sponge
• Scissors
• Real leaves or leaf patterns
• Paint
• Meat trays

Using carpet underlay or dish washing sponges, cut out patterns for different leaf shapes. Pour paint into the meat trays. Dip the sponges into the paint and create. When available, you may also use real leaves to paint with by pressing a green leaf into the paint and then pressing it onto the paper.

Leafy Designs

Materials

• A variety of real leaves of varying shape and color

Collect a variety of leaf shapes, sizes, and colors. Willow leaves are great for bug wings. Small colored shrub leaves make excellent heads and legs. Encourage the children to make whatever they would like to create. That makes it art and not a craft. Open-ended art instead of craft projects are encouraged by early childhood educators.

Wooden Frame Pictures

Materials

• Four tongue depressors for each child
• A variety of materials collected from a walk
• Glue
• Picture or drawing
• Magnets