Coat supple leaves with tempera paint and press them onto paper while still wet to create leaf prints. Use them to bring to life trees your students have created with markers or construction paper. As the leaves dry, add new layers, varying the position of the leaves to give the project depth and texture. Use different colors to give your tree a more realistic look. Dark colors can make up your base layers and lighten as you move toward the outer layers. Alternatively, create piles of fallen leaves or use various types of leaves to create a forest scene or leaves blowing in the wind. These work well for upper elementary students and beyond.
Have students trace around a leaf and draw in the veins and stem. Use small pieces of colored tissue paper to glue inside the sections of the leaves, creating a stained-glass effect on your paper. Alternatively, trace only the leaves on your paper and challenge the children to create objects like butterflies, hats and birds from the outlines of the leaves. These projects are for students in pre-k and kindergarten.
Collect some beautiful autumn leaves with different colors and patterns. Have the students roll a thin layer of glue on a piece of legal-sized paper or large construction paper sheets. Place leaves on the paper at various angles, pressing them into the glue until you have covered the paper. Allow the glue to dry, then laminate the sheet to preserve the leaves. These make great fall or Thanksgiving place mats. Alternatively, have each student choose a few leaves and lay them on a small sheet of paper. Cut construction paper to frame around the leaves and glue into place. Place a thin piece of cardboard or cardstock under the framed leaves and cut to size. Laminate it all together and have the student use it as the cover for a fall journal. These projects are for students in elementary school.
Have students use floral wiring to wire groups of leaves to floral stakes. Punch the stakes into Styrofoam shapes to create wreaths or wall hangings or group a handful of stakes together and create a leaf arrangement for a vase. Alternatively, instruct students to wire leaves to branches and create a miniature tree for the classroom. These projects are for students in elementary school.