Once Upon a Book ~ Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

 Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

by Lois Ehlert

Summary:  Lois Ehlert teaches you about the life cycle of a maple tree . . . that is fun and delightful to read.  What I like?  A few of the pages have leaves actually cut into them!  (I’m a texture girl!)

Bible verse:  Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.”  Genesis 1:14

Activities

Rake Leaves

This is the first year that Gabe has had any desire to help rake leaves.  So . . . I Iet him.  I was actually pretty impressed with his precision and handling of the rake! 

He also had some fun jumping in our new compost bin . . . pretending to be a grape leaf stomper.

 

Leaf Snake

I found this idea first at Delightful Learning who found it from Cindy, at Along the Way (who also found it elsewhere).

Supplies

• button
• tote strap/ribbon (approximately 1 foot long)
• thread
• needle
• felt (red and yellow)
• scissors

Directions

• Sew button on to the end of the ribbon.  Make sure to use a larger button.
• Cut out felt shapes. 
• Fold felt in half to make slits slightly smaller than your button with a pair of scissors
• Have your kiddo thread the shapes over the button and down the ribbon!

 

Draw A Maple Leaf

My sister occasionally sends me some great art blog posts that she has discovered.  And I am now passing them on to you after asking Kathy, the blog owner of Art Projects for Kids.  Drawing the maple leaf would be a great activity to combine ages.  Allow your older children to draw the leaf, but have that cute tot of yours color the maple leaf in! 

 

Click on the picture for instructions!

 

Gabe and I modified this activity.  I had him gather red and yellow leaves . . . and brown leaves.

• He I sorted them according to color.

• Counted the points of each leaf.

• And colored an imprint of the leaf.

To do this, take all of the paper off the crayon of your choice.  Place leaf under a sheet of thin paper.  You can tape the leaf with masking tape . . . knowing that it “could” rip should you opt to remove the leaf. 

Hold the paper for your child, while they lay the crayon sideways (horizontally) and slide the crayon back and forth over the hidden leaf. 

 

Tissue Paper Leaf Painting

Supplies

• the above leaf made into a pattern on cardstock
• tissue paper
• Sharpie
• watercolor paint
• glue stick
• watercolor paper
• these instructions from Art Projects for Kids

If you draw, cut, and later trace around the leaves, your child could glue them on and accomplish the painting . . . leaving them feeling very proud of their accomplishment!

 

Textured Fall Leaves

 

Supplies

• paper towels cut into leaves
• water
• glue
• paint brush
• watercolor paper
• crayons
• watercolor paint
• instructions from Art for Kids

Your tot just might be able to tear leaves on already traced paper towels.  You might also let them try to cut out the leaves.  I really like this project because you are using a texture . . . and when the paper towel gets wet, it will delight your tot!!!!

Head on over to Granola Mom 4 God to win this great Fall Unit Study from The Simple Homeschool  – 66 pages!  A great compliment to Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf for your older children. 

Want to see what's coming next (and books we've done in the past)? Click here to see our Once Upon a Book webpage!