Leaf Rubbings
This works best when the leaves still have some moisture and are not dried. This is a simple activity that the children will enjoy very much. It will help them notice details in leaves.
Objectives:
Children will compare, contrast, describe and write of the characteristics of different leaves.
Materials:
Crayons, thin paper and leaves.
Procedure:
Take the children to an area where they can find leaves and have each collect at least a few. Take a few extra leaves as spares. Return to the classroom for the following:
1. Place the leaves flat on a hard surface.
2. Cover the leaf with thin white or light color paper.
3. Peel the paper from a crayon and lay it flat lengthwise over the paper and the leaf.
4. Rub lightly to see the image of the leaf on the paper.
5. Use different colors for different leaves to get a colorful picture.
Close:
Place a large leaf on the overhead projector. Mark the veins with a black ink marker to emphasize the different patterns of leaves of at least two different trees. Ask the children to identify and write the names of the different trees next to the images of their leaves in their rubbings. Ask the children to describe the different patterns the veins make in different leaves. What are the characteristics that allow us to differentiate between one type of leaf and another? These include size, shape, vein pattern, edge pattern ect.. Gather together several leaves from the same tree. Try to find two that are EXACTLY alike. Like snowflakes, no two leaves will ever be exactly the same. Even very young children are capable of finding contrasting features. Ask the children to list the identifying characteristics in writing. Use the items on this list to compose a short written description of how we can tell one leaf from another.
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