Leaf Rubbings

Purpose:  This activity will encourage children to observe and discuss the wonders of nature. These discussions teach children the art of conversation as well as supporting the development of vocabulary. Take your children on a leaf walk in the spring (if possible) to collect leaves for this activity.

 

Materials/Advance Preparation:

• fresh leaves of different shapes and sizes
• crayons, preferably thick ones with the paper stripped off.  The ideal crayons for this are beeswax block crayons (see notes below).
• paper

 

Directions:

1. Place a leaf on a smooth table and cover with a sheet of paper.

2. Using the side of the crayon (lay the crayon down on the paper), rub the crayon back and forth until the leaf's outline and features are clearly visible.

3. Place another leaf under the paper and use a different colored crayon to make a rubbing.  It's fine if the leaf rubbings overlap a bit; in fact it makes the rubbing even more beautiful.

4. Give the children a chance to notice and describe features of their rubbings (e.g. "My leaf has three points," "My leaf has a jaggedy edge").  Echo their observations back to them.

    

Notes: Beeswax block crayons are amazing tools for young children's artwork.  They are easy to hold, made of natural ingredients, are very bright and opaque, are extremely durable, and they can be used in a variety of ways.  The broad edge can be used to make smooth color and is ideal for rubbings.  These crayons are quite expensive but (believe it or not) my kindergarten classes have been using the same bucket of block crayons for twelve years!  It was well worth the investment.  One source for these crayons is: Nova Natural Toys and Crafts.

http://www.novanatural.com/

(877) 668-2111

 

Eric Gidseg

 

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