Autumn Leaf Lesson Plans for Nannies and Children

This week I visited the Scholastic web site for lesson plans about leaves in the Fall. I recommend going to the library and borrowing Fall Leaves Fall,  Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf, We’re Going On A Leaf Hunt and Leaf Man.

In Fall Leaves Fall by Zoe Hall, two brothers enjoy everybody’s favorite autumn activities: chasing leaves through the air, stomping on them, raking them into piles, and jumping in! While reading this book children will learn how leaves change in autumn. Told Children will be provided with examples of how they can explore and learn about leaves. The last page of the book illustrates how leaves grow and change throughout the year. (Scroll down to end of article to see more children’s books about autumn leaves).

1. Stomp on leaves, rake them into piles, and jump in!
Be sure to do what the brothers do in the book  Fall Leaves Fall and have fun with leaves.

2. A Fall Leaves Collage
Also read Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

You will need paper, markers or crayons, glue, and a variety of leaves. Read the two pages in the book Fall Leaves Fall that depict the brothers holding collages. Have the children use leaves and drawing materials to create their own collages and explain what they did on their collage.

3. Leaf Rubbings
Give the child a paper bag and go on a nature hike to collect different types of sturdy leaves. Remove the paper wrapper from several crayons. Place a small piece of tape on stem of leaves and tape to the table. Place a piece of paper over the leaves and use a little tape to hold the paper firmly on the leaves. Have the child rub the side of the crayon over the paper. The leaves shape and features will appear.

4. Leaf Snack
Make sandwiches and use leaf cookie cutters to create leaf shaped sandwiches. Alternatively use Jell-O to make Leafy Jigglers. For the acorn sandwich, you can add a “cap” by spreading a tiny amount of the Maple-Pecan Brown Butter to the top. In a small saucepan melt 1 stick of butter over medium heat and cook until the butter begins to brown (about six to eight minutes). Remove from heat, strain and let sit at room temperature until set, about an hour. Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and combine.

5. Scavengur Hunt
Also read We’re Going On A Leaf Hunt and Leaf Man

Take the kids on a walk outside with a paper bag and find the items listed below:

1 red leaf
1 brown leaf
Small stones
Small twigs
Acorns
Any other interesting items you can find

After you have collected your items, take the piece of paper and create a “Nature Creature.”

6. Leaf Sun Catcher

You will need:
Wax Paper
Fall Leaves
Crayon Shavings
Iron (do not allow children to iron)
Newspaper

Directions:
Cover work surface with newspapers. Sprinkle a small amount of crayon shavings on a piece of wax paper. Arrange leaves on top. Sprinkle more crayon shavings and cover with another piece of wax paper. Place a piece of newspaper on top and iron with a warm iron until crayon shavings melt. Trim and hang in the window.

7. Songs

Up on the Treetop
(to the tune of “Up on the Housetop”)

Up on the treetop
Watch the leaves.
They are changing.
You can see.
Red and orange,
Yellow and brown.
Pretty soon they’ll all fall down.

Crunch, crunch, crunch!
Walk through the leaves.
Crunch, crunch, crunch!
Walk through the leaves.
Up on the treetop
In the fall,
Leaves are changing
Watch them all!

Leaves on the Tree
(to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus)

The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown. . .orange and brown…
The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown
In the town.
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish. .. swish, swish, swish…
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish
Down to the ground
The leaves on the trees come tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down
The leaves on the trees coming tumbling down
Down to the ground

Reference: Scholastic lesson plans and Tea With Friends

Fall Leaves Fall!

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt

Leaf Man