Finished Leaf Print design.

STREAM Activity: Leaf Print

Fall in Love With This Leaf Print!
Activity best for children ages three and up

Fall is just around the corner, and as fall approaches leaves are going to start changing colors. In the fall, leaves change color because the trees start to get ready for winter. During the warm months leaves are green because of a chemical called chlorophyll. As it gets cooler and the days get shorter, trees stop making chlorophyll, so the green color fades away. Let’s make an art project with leaves you might find outside on the ground.

GUIDING QUESTIONS

  • What do you think happens inside a leaf that causes it to change color as the weather gets cooler?

MATERIALS

  • White paper

  • Paint (any color you want)

  • Leaves and a stick

  • Paintbrush

  • Paper plate

  • Black marker

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Paint your leaf with two colors. We chose orange on top and yellow on the bottom!

Leaf painted orange and yellow.

STEP 2

Press your painted leaf onto the paper to form the butterfly wing. Repeat this three more times to complete all four wings on your butterfly!

Painted leaf pressed onto paper.

STEP 3

Add glue to a stick. This will be the body of our butterfly.

Glue put on stick.

STEP 4

Glue down the stick to the middle of your butterfly.

Stick glued down onto paper.

STEP 5

Finish off your butterfly by adding antennas with a black marker. Now you are ready to display your leaf print butterfly!

Finished Leaf Print design.