"Leaf" It To You!
There is a scientific reason why leaves change color in the fall: They lose chlorophyll and turn into beautiful shades of red, yellow, orange and brown. Together these colorful leaves make some really neat crafts for kids.
Here are some easy-to-do crafts ideas for the kids to do this fall.
To make a leaf print, you will need newspaper, leaves, tempra paint (red, orange, yellow), paintbrushes and black construction paper. After the kids have collected their leaves, have them select one or two and place them on the newspaper. Let them paint the leaves red, yellow and orange. Put the black construction paper over the painted leaf and gently press down to make a print. Keep doing this until the page is full.
To make a leaf suncatcher, you will need wax paper, fall leaves, newspaper, crayon shavings and an iron. Cover the work area with newspaper. Have the kids sprinkle a small amount of crayon shavings onto a piece of wax paper. Arrange the leaves on top, then sprinkle more crayon shavings and cover with another piece of wax paper. Place a piece of newspaper on top and iron until the crayon shavings melt. Trim it and hang it in the window.
To make a leaf bracelet, all you really need is some masking tape. Wrap a piece of masking tape (sticky side out) around your child's wrist. Go on a nature walk and have the child collect one leaf from several different trees, sticking each to their bracelet. Hold up each leaf shape and have the child identify any similiar ones they have on their bracelet.
To make cornstarch impressions, you will need cornstarch, baking soda, water, a saucepan, waxed paper and objects from nature such as leaves, twigs and flowers. In a saucepan, mix together 1 cup of cornstarch, 2 cups baking soda and 1-1/4 cups water. Cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens. Cool, then flatten the mixture between sheets of waxed paper. Let the children lay leaves, twigs, flowers or any other natural object on top of the cornstarch mixture and press down firmly. Then have them remove the objects to see the detailed impressions they have made.
To make an autumn tree, you will need crayons, markers, leaves, glue and a large piece of paper. Go for a walk and collect some colorful leaves (the more colorful the better). To make a tree outline, trace your child's hand (with fingers spread) and their arm (up to the elbow) on a large piece of paper. Help them color the inside of the tree. Glue the leaves onto the branches and around the base of the tree. You can also cut out apples and glue them onto the tree.
To make water leaf prints, you will need paintbrushes, small buckets of water, tempra paint and construction paper (for use inside). Have your kids paint the leaves with water, then press them on the cement. Observe the pattern the print makes. Point out the vein of the leaf. Indoors you can use tempra paint instead of water. Paint the leaf and then press it down on white construction paper.
Fall days are a great time to go on a leaf hunt. Whether it's in your backyard, around the neighborhood or in the nearby woods, the colors of nature are all around. With a little imagination and creativity, you and your children can turn those leaves into beautiful works of art
There is a scientific reason why leaves change color in the fall: They lose chlorophyll and turn into beautiful shades of red, yellow, orange and brown. Together these colorful leaves make some really neat crafts for kids.
Here are some easy-to-do crafts ideas for the kids to do this fall.
To make a leaf print, you will need newspaper, leaves, tempra paint (red, orange, yellow), paintbrushes and black construction paper. After the kids have collected their leaves, have them select one or two and place them on the newspaper. Let them paint the leaves red, yellow and orange. Put the black construction paper over the painted leaf and gently press down to make a print. Keep doing this until the page is full.
To make a leaf suncatcher, you will need wax paper, fall leaves, newspaper, crayon shavings and an iron. Cover the work area with newspaper. Have the kids sprinkle a small amount of crayon shavings onto a piece of wax paper. Arrange the leaves on top, then sprinkle more crayon shavings and cover with another piece of wax paper. Place a piece of newspaper on top and iron until the crayon shavings melt. Trim it and hang it in the window.
To make a leaf bracelet, all you really need is some masking tape. Wrap a piece of masking tape (sticky side out) around your child's wrist. Go on a nature walk and have the child collect one leaf from several different trees, sticking each to their bracelet. Hold up each leaf shape and have the child identify any similiar ones they have on their bracelet.
To make cornstarch impressions, you will need cornstarch, baking soda, water, a saucepan, waxed paper and objects from nature such as leaves, twigs and flowers. In a saucepan, mix together 1 cup of cornstarch, 2 cups baking soda and 1-1/4 cups water. Cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens. Cool, then flatten the mixture between sheets of waxed paper. Let the children lay leaves, twigs, flowers or any other natural object on top of the cornstarch mixture and press down firmly. Then have them remove the objects to see the detailed impressions they have made.
To make an autumn tree, you will need crayons, markers, leaves, glue and a large piece of paper. Go for a walk and collect some colorful leaves (the more colorful the better). To make a tree outline, trace your child's hand (with fingers spread) and their arm (up to the elbow) on a large piece of paper. Help them color the inside of the tree. Glue the leaves onto the branches and around the base of the tree. You can also cut out apples and glue them onto the tree.
To make water leaf prints, you will need paintbrushes, small buckets of water, tempra paint and construction paper (for use inside). Have your kids paint the leaves with water, then press them on the cement. Observe the pattern the print makes. Point out the vein of the leaf. Indoors you can use tempra paint instead of water. Paint the leaf and then press it down on white construction paper.
Fall days are a great time to go on a leaf hunt. Whether it's in your backyard, around the neighborhood or in the nearby woods, the colors of nature are all around. With a little imagination and creativity, you and your children can turn those leaves into beautiful works of art
