Leaf Rubbings
Collect outside, rub inside, and see the veins appear.
- Ages
- 3–10 yrs
- Play
- 20–40 min
- Prep
- 5 min
- Mess
- barely any
- Energy
- calm
- Where
- at the table
You’ll need
Things you probably have at home.
- thin paperDon’t have it? Amazon
- crayons with the wrappers offDon’t have it? Amazon
Optional
- a magnifying glassDon’t have it? Amazon
- a bag for collecting
- scissorsDon’t have it? Amazon
- a glue stickDon’t have it? Amazon
How to play
Before you start: Go outside and collect a handful of leaves, the more different the better. Peel the paper off a few crayons.
Put a leaf vein-side up on the table and lay paper over it.
Rub the side of the crayon flat across the paper — sideways, not the tip.
The leaf appears. Do it again in a second color, overlapping.
Compare the patterns from different leaves under the magnifying glass.
Cut the best ones out and glue them into a collage.
What it helps with
Keep it safe
- Agree the rule outside: we do not pick berries or mushrooms. Wash hands afterwards.
Make it different next time
- Rub coins, keys and bark and turn it into a texture hunt.
- Do the whole page in one color and paint over it with thin watercolor.
Cleanup: Leaves to the compost, crayon shavings brushed up.
Three more like this
- Good for siblings
Learn something
Animal Footprint Fossils
10–30 min 2–7 yrs Some mess- play doughto buy
- toy animals or dinosaursto buy
- Good for siblings
