Colorful Leaf Prints

If you're looking for a quick, easy-to-set-up art activity that capitalizes on back-yard nature, try this one. Highly versatile in its simplicity, it can be set up either on-site in your outdoor classroom or in your indoor art area—bringing nature right into the classroom.

Materials needed:

Paper, felt-tip markers, freshly picked leaves (look for sturdy ones with strong vein structure on their underside)

Instructions:

1. Color the entire back (veined side) of the leaf using thick felt-tipped markers. (Hint: use a piece of scrap paper underneath so that the child can color all the way to the edges of the leaf.)

2. Quickly, while the ink is still very wet, turn the leaf over onto a piece of white or light colored paper. Holding the leaf firmly so it does not move, gently rub or press to transfer the color onto the paper. (Older children can manage this on their own, but an adult may have to assist younger children with this step.)

3. Continue, using different shaped leaves and colors to create a beautiful collage of leaf prints.