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Growing Hands-On Kids

Growing Hands-On Kids

Child Development Tips, Tools, and Strategies

You are here: Home / Fine Motor / Fall Leaf Rubbing Activity

Fall Leaf Rubbing Activity

October 17, 2013 By Heather Greutman 2 Comments

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It is amazing how many kids have never done a fall leaf rubbing before. My mother in-law is always commenting how many kids she comes across in her job that have never done it before. She is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant like myself and also works for the same company that I use to work for, in the public schools.

Leaf rubbing is such an easy and also creative way to keep memories of the beautiful fall leaves without having to keep a bunch of dry and crackling leaves in your house. There are a lot of great fine motor skills being practiced too with this activity.

Fall Leaf Rubbing Activity

What You Need for Leaf Rubbing Activity

  • Various Leaves (I picked ones up off the ground, not off of trees)
  • Large, heavy book
  • Plain, white paper
  • Colored Pencils
  • Scrapbook Paper or Construction Paper
  • Tape or Glue Dots
  • Glue (Optional)
Leaf Rubbing Collage 2

Directions

  1. Gather your fall leaves and get a large heavy book
  2. Place all the leaves into the book, leaving a few pages between each leaf
  3. Close the book and either place it back into a bookcase or set another heavy object on top of it so that the leaves will be flat – let them flatten overnight.
  4. The next day take all your leaves out of your book and place them in a collage on a plain, thin piece of white paper.
  5. Take another sheet of white paper and place it over the leaves.
  6. Use colored pencils to color over each leaf, using different colors as desired. (Tip – remember not to press too hard or you won't see the details of the leaf well).
  7. Once all the leaves have been colored over, take your paper off of the top and discard the leaves (or you could use them for another activity!)
  8. Cut out around the leaves so that the paper is small enough to be placed on a colored piece of paper.
  9. Take pieces of masking tape or glue dots and place them on the back of the fall leaf collage.
  10. Press the collage onto a piece of construction paper or scrapbook paper and hang it for decoration.
Leaf Rubbing Collage 1

Here are all the leaves I placed into the large book the night before. I just placed it in the bookshelf over night. The last picture on the bottom right is what they looked like the next day.

Leaf Rubbing Collage 3

Fine Motor Skills Used in Leaf Rubbing Activity

  • Bilateral Coordination
  • Muscle Grading (ability to press harder or softer through the pencil while coloring)
  • Good Pencil Grasp (age appropriate grasps)
  • Hand strength and endurance
Leaf Rubbing Collage 4

And the finished result! I hung this on our fridge when I was done. You could use it to decorate any part of your house for fall. You could also frame it and display it in your child's art work area or Montessori area of your home if you follow Montessori style learning.

Leaf Rubbing Collage 5

You can find the rest of my posts in this 10 Days of Fall Fine Motor & Sensory Activities for Children Series by clicking HERE.

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Filed Under: Fine Motor Tagged With: Fine Motor, Kindergarten, Preschool 3-5

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CONTENT DISCLAIMER: Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
All information on the Website is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for medical advice from a physician or your pediatrician. Please consult with a medical professional if you suspect any medical or developmental issues with your child. The information on the Websites does not replace the relationship between therapist and client in a one-on-one treatment session with an individualized treatment plan based on their professional evaluation. The information provided on the Website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied.

Do not rely on the information on the Website as an alternative to advice from your medical professional or healthcare provider. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment as a result of any information provided on the Website. All medical information on the Website is for informational purposes only.

All activities outlined on the Website are designed for completion with adult supervision. Please use your own judgment with your child and do not provide objects that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Never leave a child unattended during these activities. Please be aware of and follow all age recommendations on all products used in these activities. Growing Hands-On Kids is not liable for any injury when replicating any of the activities found on this blog.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY The Website was developed strictly for informational purposes. You understand and agree that you are fully responsible for your use of the information provided on the Website. Growing Hands-On Kids makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees. You understand that results may vary from person to person. Growing Hands-On Kids assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions that may appear on the Website.

Comments

  1. Rebekah says

    October 18, 2013 at 9:45 pm

    I’ll have to try this with Seth this weekend!I know he would love this!

    Reply
    • Heather Greutman says

      October 18, 2013 at 9:53 pm

      Have fun!!! 🙂

      Reply

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