Mystery Leaf Rubbings is a huge success!
Sure, sure. We may have done leaf rubbings before. But add an element of surprise? That is where Mystery Leaf Rubbings takes this classic to another level.
It sparks conversation and builds on prior knowledge. – The perfect Breakfast Invitation to begin your day with kids at home. Pick your leaves ahead of time, and the surprise is what is underneath.
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Leaf rubbings aren’t just for preschool.
Shortly after setting this up for my preschooler, my six and seven-year-old came storming in from outside.
What is this? We want to try!
Who am I to put an age limit on an activity? So I played it cool and invited them right in. Art is a pretty big deal over here, and this easy art activity didn’t disappoint.
RELATED: Looking for outdoor activities for kids? I have a whole lot of them!
Let’s use what we have to make easy play prompts.
Nature rubbings require only a few supplies.
Chances are, you already have the supplies you need!
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- White paper roll – lots of uses for this all over our pages
- White construction paper (printer paper also works)
- Crayons
- Beeswax crayons work great for toddlers
- Painter’s tape
- Laves – go collect all sizes!
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How to make leaf rubbings
- Collect leaves from outside. I like to get different sizes and textures.
- Tape down a large piece of white paper.
- Lay the leaves around the white paper.
- Tape the stem to the paper.
- Cover the top of the leaf with white paper.
- Tape the top and bottom of the top layer to make the leaf a mystery until rubbed.
- Place a few crayons to the left of the paper.
- PRO TIP: Take off the paper and roll the crayon on its side.
- Use one crayon at a time to rub over the hidden leaf.
- Lift the paper to discover how the two leaves match!
I like to collect the leaves ahead of time.
I collect a few leaves and cover each leaf without my children seeing them. That way, we create a mystery and a conversation that explodes as they recognize the leaf from our yard.
As my six-year-old leaf rubbed the Hydrengia, he shouted, Oh look! It’s mom’s favorite plant!
We are planting the ideas about different leaves, sizes, and textures and watch our children make the connections. I am certain the next time we head outdoors, one of the boys will call out a tree that was done in our leaf rubbings play prompt!
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Want to take leaf rubbings to the next level?
Add watercolors! Follow the same directions as above and then color in with watercolor.
And you know us over here on this corner of the web. All this coloring, painting, and taking tape off is sharpening those fine motor skills! So let’s do more of this to help us when it comes time to write letters and numbers down the road.
Next, you’ll want to check out these other simple activities with leaves.
Ready? Head outside, and let’s start our leaf rubbings!
