Autumn Leaves

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Photo Credits:  Seth Chrisman

     Yesterday, we took a walk in the unseasonably golden sunshine of a Seattle afternoon.  The leaves were blazing with vivid color--we gathered up a bunch and brought them home to preserve them in translucent wax paper.  Remember this childhood classic?

Here's What You Need:

fresh-gathered colorful leaves

2 sheets of wax paper for each picture

an iron

paper towels or thin dishcloth

Here's What You Do:

*Your child chooses favorite leaves and arranges them on a sheet of wax paper.  Be sure to leave an inch between leaves so the wax paper can melt around them and hold them in place.

*When the design is complete, place another sheet of wax paper over the top--like a leaf sandwich.

*An adult turns the iron on low.  Place a paper towel or thin dishcloth over the picture to protect the iron from the wax. An adult gently presses the iron to the picture.  Move it slowly over all of the leaves so the wax melts and seals them in place.  Make sure the edges are melted together, too.

*Trim around the edges to make them neat--(I decided to round the corners) and then tape it to a window and admire your creation!

Here are some fall books to enrich your autumn adventures!

by Lois Ehlert

by Elizabeth Maestro

by Linda Glaser

by Zoe Hall

by Lois Ehlert

Falling Leaves Finger Play

Four little leaves  (hold up 4 fingers)

Sitting on a tree, (Put them on back of other hand)

One fell off  (make 1 tumble down)

Then there were three.

Three little leaves (hold up 3 fingers)

All yellow and brown,

One danced away (make 1 swirl away )

Down to the ground  (touch the floor)

Two little leaves (hold up 2 fingers)

Waving in the breeze. (wave them about)


One flew off (make one "fly" away)
Away from the trees.

One little leaf (hold up last finger)

Left on the tree—

Said “goodbye wind!” (wave goodbye)

And flew down to me. (point to self)