Autumn is well and truly here, so once more, leaf activities are a must-do with children at the moment. As with so many natural materials, the non-uniformity of leaves – each one being unique – this can lead to a lot of creative thinking, exploring and play. Here’s some invitations to think in interesting ways.
What can a leaf be used for?
How many leaves could fit into a match box? Is folding or scrunching a leaf allowed? Or must you find tiny leaves only?
Challenge children to find a leaf with the most colours on it. Some of the ones below do a fine job…
Think of 3 ways to improve a leaf…
If you asked a tree about losing its leaves in Autumn, what would it say?
How many questions could you ask about a leaf?
Is it true that the higher a holly leaf is situated on a tree, the less prickles it has?
What other thoughts might you have about leaves… Leave a comment here (Geddit?)
This blog post first appeared in September 2011.
Check my Fall unit:
http://csupamoka2.blogspot.com/search/label/%C5%91sz
You may find some interesting activities with chesnut, acorn & different berries…
Thanks Mariann
What type of answers do your students give? At what age range? Your post gets me thinking about what my kids might say…
A lot depends on their age. Usually 5 and 6 years have the most divergent responses. My son who is a teenager thinks I am mad if I ask him a lot of these sorts of questions…!
What does the leaf feel and see as it flies off the tree and falls / is blown to the ground?
Can you show me how a leaf (or seed) falls or is blown?
Thanks Matt
May this be the first of many comments on my blog from you! LOL!
This is ausome – ho ho. Thank you … another question for growing minds:
What would autumn be like if the leaves stayed up and the trees fell down?
Love it! Thanks Alex!
I collected few different sizes of leaves and it just so happend I had a straws in my bag and we were competing who could carry the the biggest leave from A to B with a straw
Thanks Unnur – you always have such good ideas.