Experts say that kids should spend at least 30-60 minutes per day playing outside. Fun, outdoor activities help kids socialize, exercise, hone their creativity, and connect with nature. (Adults, by the way, also get mood-boosting physical and mental benefits from spending daily time outside.) Fortunately, the end of summer doesn’t mean the end of backyard play. At Weed Man, we believe that your lush, healthy yard is a playground all year round! Here’s an easy fall craft that’s fun for the whole family.

Leaf Rubbing

Leaf rubbing is a fun, easy way for kids (and kids at heart) to learn about trees and plants while creating a beautiful piece of art, worthy of hanging on the refrigerator–and your lawn will thank you for picking up some fallen leaves in the process! Follow these simple steps.

Gather Your Materials

Odds are good that you already have all these materials laying around the house–both inside and outside! To get started, all you need are some sheets of paper, crayons of varying colours, and a clipboard or other hard surface to write on. Lastly, you’ll need lots of fallen leaves!

Go On a Leaf Hunt

This is your time to explore! Search all corners of your yard, park, or other outdoor space for leaves in many different shapes and colours. Get creative! Anything with a natural texture, like roots, tree bark, and some varieties of flowers, can make an interesting piece of art. You can even try some blades of grass! When you’re done, gather all your collected leaves together and take this opportunity for the kids to learn about the changing of the seasons and the trees and plants each leaf came from.

Create Your Leaf Rubbings

To create your leaf rubbing, sandwich your leaves between a hard surface and a sheet of paper (you may want to tape the edges of the paper to prevent movement).

Rub your crayons across the paper at different angles to bring out the natural texture of leaves. Pro tip: remove the labels from your crayons and turn them sideways to cover the paper with the widest part of the crayon. 

From this activity, you’ll be able to clearly see the components of the leaf’s anatomy, such as the stem, veins, margin, apex, and lamina. Give the kids a fun learning challenge by asking them to label their leaf parts and compare and contrast the characteristics they see in different leaf types.

There you have it! Another fun way to enjoy the great outdoors. (Looking for more ideas? Try our flower pressing activity!)

At Weed Man, our #1 goal is to help you enjoy your outdoor space, and we care for your lawn like it’s our own. For exceptional lawn care services like fertilization, weed control, and aeration, find a Weed Man near you and get a free quote today!