Combine fall leaves in vibrant golds, reds and browns with acorns, pine cones and other autumn treasures found outdoors. Cut out the center of a heavy paper plate and have preschoolers paint it brown with nontoxic paint. Glue leaves around the plate after the paint is dry and add heavier decorations with hot glue at the end. Add a loop of string or ribbon at the top for hanging and pre-kindergartners will each have a unique fall decoration to display.
Create a nature journal on leaves and their corresponding trees with a simple book made of stapled-together construction paper and white paper. Collect leaves during a nature walk around the school property, yard or local nature area. Give students a glue stick to attach one leaf to each page. Try to match the leaves with the tree it fell from and help students write the name of the tree in their science journal while discussing the different shapes, sizes and colors. Let students decorate the pages and covers with crayons or stickers when they return to the classroom.
Create decorations for the classroom or home out of small autumn leaves collected by your pre-kindergarten children. Have each student spread glue over a sheet of waxed paper and place small autumn leaves on top of the glue. Spread a small amount of glue on top of the leaf and add glitter. Press a second sheet of waxed paper on top of the first, sandwiching the leaves between the two. Press firmly and let dry. Punch a hole in the top and hang from the ceiling or in front of a window with string so the sun shines through the project.
You probably remember leaf rubbings from your own childhood, so enjoy the process with your own pre-kindergarten children or class. Tape different sizes and shapes of fall leaves onto a table or flat work surface, keeping the tape only on the underside of the leaf so as not to interfere with the rubbing. Lay a piece of paper over the leaf, taping down if desired. Remove the paper from a crayon and rub and roll the long side of the crayon over the leaf firmly, watching your preschoolers amazement as the veins and leaf edges appear on their pages.