leaves

Zucchini Leaf Paint Prints

September 2, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Fall is a popular time to do art activities with leaves. Aside from picking tree leaves to work with, don’t overlook garden plants as interesting subjects for leaf art projects. For instance, the zucchini plant is one with large, curvy leaves that beg to be used in painting or drawing projects. In this post, the garden plant is featured in a stunning zucchini leaf paint prints art activity.

Zucchini ready to be harvested in mid summer.

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Zucchini is a green summer squash with large yellow star-shaped flowers and silver-speckled leaves. All parts of the zucchini plant can be eaten, and it is a common food in many cultures.

A gorgeous star-shaped flower on a zucchini plant.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for zucchini leaf print art:

zucchini leaves
tempera paint in fall colors
paintbrush
paper towel sheets
garden or disposable gloves
11 x 14-inch sturdy art paper
waterproof tablecloth or large sheet of manilla paper

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Making The Zucchini Leaf Paint Prints

As this is a painting activity, first lay down a waterproof tablecloth. A large sheet of manilla paper also works fine.

Next, fill paint pots with red, green, yellow, and orange tempera paint.

A large, silver-speckled zucchini leaf ready to paint for a leaf printmaking activity.

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Then set up a station with a zucchini leaf, a paintbrush, and a paper towel sheet. Add pots filled with red, yellow, green, and orange paint.

Put on gloves and paint the leaf, dabbing excess paint onto a paper towel sheet between colors.

A zucchini leaf is a good subject for a printmaking activity. The painted leaf makes a beautiful paint print.

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When the leaf is covered in paint, carefully flip it over on a large sheet of all-purpose art paper, gently pressing all parts of the leaf down.

A leaf print in fall colors made with a large zucchini leaf and tempera paint. An all-ages art activity everyone will enjoy.

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If the leaf is covered with a lot of paint, a second print can be made with it. The print has a little less paint but looks equally beautiful.

How to make a leaf print in fall colors with a large zucchini leaf and tempera paint. An all-ages art activity everyone will enjoy.

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Note: The stem and back of the zucchini leaf are a little prickly, so wearing a pair of garden or disposable gloves is advisable.

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Zucchini Leaf Tracing

Zucchini leaves have interesting curves and edges and also make good subjects for tracing. Before painting the zucchini leaf, trace around it and then color it in with crayons or pencil crayons. Or use the zucchini leaf template below to paint or color.

A free zucchini leaf template for art and craft activities.

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Zucchini Leaf PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Zucchini Leaf Transient Art

Once the printmaking activity is done, the painted leaf can be displayed for a few days or even a couple of weeks. Although the leaf isn’t flat at the start, it becomes very flat afterward, making it easy to work with in a wall display.

Or you can just paint the leaf as a transient art project without using it for printmaking

A painted zucchini leaf used in printmaking can be displayed for a few days or weeks as transient art.

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Pumpkin Leaf Transient Art

A pumpkin leaf also makes a great canvas, as it is large and uniquely shaped. As a transient art activity, set out a pumpkin leaf for a painting activity. You may want to tape the back of the leaf down to make it a little flatter before using it as a canvas.

A large pumpkin leaf on a vine can be picked and used in a transient art painting activity.

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Paint a large pumpkin leaf canvas with fall-colored tempera paints for a beautiful transient art project.

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Maple Leaf Activities

Spin Painting Maple Leaf Art

Horse Chestnut Leaf Art Activities

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[Read more…]

Shamrock Leaf Print Art

March 12, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Shamrock leaf print art is an activity I’ve wanted to try for a few years now, and this spring I carved out time for it. The art project is easy and enjoyable to do, and I am sure you will like it too.

A good time to try this leaf print art activity is around St. Patrick’s Day, as shamrock plants are plentiful in stores then. The compound leaves on the plant look like the shamrock symbol that the country of Ireland is known for. Irish people think shamrocks represent good luck, and they are prominent in clothing, decorations, and tableware during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

An Oxalis Regnelli shamrock plant with compound leaves composed of three triangular leaflets.

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The shamrock plant I found is called Oxalis Regnellii, which comes from Africa and some parts of the Americas. It has delicate leaves with three triangle-shaped leaflets. The leaves fold up neatly on overcast days and anytime it is dark, and open up when they are exposed to sunlight. The tiny, white, long-stemmed flowers have five petals.

A tiny white flower on an Oxalis Regnellii plant.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this nature-based art project:

shamrock plant
green and purple acrylic or tempera paint
paint pots
paintbrushes
purple and green pencil crayons
all-purpose art paper
green and purple construction paper
newspaper or manila paper
magnifying glasses

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Making The Shamrock Leaf Print Art

Before using the shamrock leaves for printmaking, give participants a chance to study the plant. Offer magnifying glasses to view the leaves and dainty flowers with yellow stamens. Set the plant out in a sunny place and then put it in a dark area to see how its leaves fold down and spread out depending on how much sunlight the plant is getting.

To prepare the art activity, snip a few leaves off the plant to use for making paint prints.

Steps to make beautiful shamrock leaf print art. This is an easy-to-do all-ages nature art project

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Next, lay down newspaper sheets or a large piece of manilla paper for participants to work on.

Then add an art station with a sheet of all-purpose art paper, leaf sprig, paintbrush, and green acrylic paint for each participant. My paper size is an 11-inch x 14-inch inch sheet cut in half, creating a 7-inch x 11-inch piece to work on.

Note: Non-toxic tempera paint is a good choice for young children taking part in the activity.

Afterward, invite participants to brush the tops of the leaflets on their sprig thoroughly with green paint, flip the leaf over, and carefully press the painted sides down on the paper. Have them gently rub their fingers over the leaflets and pat the edges down to transfer as much paint to the paper as possible.

Beautiful shamrock leaf print art with leaves from the Oxalis Regnelli plant. This is a nature art project that is perfect for St. Patrick's Day.

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Then ask everyone to slowly lift their leaf off the paper canvas and repaint it to make more leaf prints. The shamrock leaves are delicate, but when handled gently they can be used a few times. If someone’s leaf tears, offer a new sprig to use.

When the paint prints are dry, ask participants to use a pencil crayon to add stems to the leaves.

As a finishing touch, mount each shamrock leaf print art project on a similar-colored construction paper background.

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Making Purple Shamrock Leaf Print Art

A purple shamrock, called Oxalis Triangularis, has similarly shaped leaves and flowers as the Oxalis Regnallii. This purple shamrock showcases deep purple, dark-edged leaves that respond to darkness and light in the same way.

A purple shamrock plant with compound leaves composed of three triangular leaflets.

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With purple acrylic or tempera paint, let participants create shamrock prints just as they were made in green.

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If there are any leaves left on the plant after the printmaking activity is done, add them to a playdough activity. Or have someone without pets take the plant home to care for.

Note: All Oxalis plants are toxic to dogs, cats, and grazing animals such as horses and must be kept out of their reach. These plants are slightly toxic to humans. Make sure to supervise all shamrock leaf activities closely so that no one ingests the leaves.

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More Shamrock-themed Activities:

Shamrock Paper Plate Lion

Shamrock Dissolving Candy Experiment

St. Patrick’s Day Painted Shamrock

Shamrock Rolling Pin Art

Scissor Skill Shamrock Collage

[Read more…]

Light Table Leaf Exploration

October 29, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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One of the nicest places to observe colors and shapes in fall leaves is on the light table. Early learners get the chance to investigate natural materials indoors. The leaves get illuminated and their stripes, spots, and beautiful colors become even more noticeable. And best of all, there are a lot of learning possibilities in this light table leaf exploration activity.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Fall leaf matching on the light table is easy with silhouettes drawn on overhead transparencies.

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Gather the following supplies for this low-prep, economical nature play invitation:

leaves in different colors, shapes, textures, and sizes
overhead transparencies
black permanent marker
“leaf” word strip
transparent alphabet letters
magnifying glasses
artificial flowers in vases

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Light Table Leaf Exploration

To collect the leaves, take your little charges on a nature walk. Give everyone a bag and ask each participant to find leaves in different shapes, sizes, and colors.

Back at home or in class, set some of the leaves on a light table for the children to view. Invite everyone to explore, sort, and arrange the foliage.

Extra leaves can be placed in an indoor DIY mud kitchen or added to a sensory tub.

Include magnifying glasses for early learners to see leaf veins and midribs clearly.

Fall leaves look extra pretty on the light table. And this leafy center has many learning opportunities.

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Place a word strip with the word “leaf” on the table, and include transparent alphabet letters. Encourage children to say and spell the word.

Fall flower sprigs in vases add ambiance to the center.

Exploring leaves is super fun on the light table. Magnifying glasses and the word "leaf" add learning possibilities to the center.

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Overhead Transparency Leaf Silhouettes

Trace some of the leaves onto overhead transparencies using a black permanent marker. Invite your early learners to match the light-enhanced leaves to their silhouettes.

Leaf matching on the light table is easy with silhouettes drawn on overhead transparencies.

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Light Table Leaf Exploration Benefits

This simple sensory activity has so many learning opportunities. Here are some possibilities this leaf light table setup offers:

recognizing leaf colors
counting and sorting leaves
shape matching
ordering leaves by size
alphabet letter identification
learning to make and spell a word
discussing leaf midribs and veins
creating designs with leaves

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Related: Eyedropper Leaf Art

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[Read more…]

Color Magic Milk Experiment

October 8, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Have you ever done the color magic milk experiment? It is quick and easy to do, and participants are always in awe of the results. In this version, I add artistic flair by giving the experiment a leafy twist.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Just a few supplies are needed for this simple but stunning kitchen science experiment. Gather the following:

2 liters milk
red, yellow, and blue food coloring
dish detergent
large round serving tray
maple leaf frame (optional)

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The Color Magic Milk Experiment

Effortlessly perform this color magic milk experiment in four easy steps. A maple leaf frame enhances the kitchen science experiment.

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To do this experiment, start by pouring a layer of milk into a food tray. Using homo milk is recommended, but 1% and 2% will also work.

Note: Outdated milk is a great choice for this experiment.

Next, float a maple leaf frame on the milk. (My frame is a cardboard cutout purchased at a dollar store.)

Note: The leaf-themed frame adds interest to the experiment, but is not necessary for it to work.

Then drip yellow, red, and blue food coloring inside the frame.

This next step is where the magic happens… Squirt a drop of dish detergent onto each pool of colors. Watch the colors instantly race to the edge of the frame, swirling around as they go.

After the initial color burst, check back after ten minutes and you will see a variety of hues slowly starting to fill in the maple leaf shape.

Watch the color magically spread around the maple leaf frame in this kitchen science experiment.

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At this point, you can add a little more food coloring and a tiny bit of dish detergent for more color play.

The colors slowly fill out the maple leaf frame in this color magic milk experiment with an artistic twist.

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View this maple leaf color magic science experiment as a video.

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The Science Behind This Color Experiment

Although milk is made of mostly water, it also contains fat and protein. These are both sensitive to changes in the milk. When dish soap is added to the tray, it breaks up the surface tension of the milk and is attracted to the fat molecules. The fat molecules try to scurry away but end up bonded with the soap molecules. The movement of the food coloring makes this process visible. As more and more soap and fat molecules bond, the color movement slows down and eventually stops.

Since the fat content in milk is super important in this experiment, homo milk works the best. But 2% and 1% milk (which I often have handy) also show stunning results.

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More Leaf Activities

Five Leaf Art Activities

Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art

Light Table Leaf Exploration

Eye Dropper Leaf Art

Maple Leaf Activities

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[Read more…]

DIY Portable Mud Kitchen

October 7, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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I am a huge fan of mud kitchens but also love a DIY portable mud kitchen option. A “to go” mud kitchen that can be taken on nature outings or set anywhere in the classroom is economical and easy to set up. And it offers a multitude of imaginative play opportunities.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Portable Mud Kitchen Supplies

Supplies for a portable mud kitchen that can quickly and easily be set up indoors or outside, Fall leaves are the highlight.

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To make a pop-up mud kitchen, simply use supplies you have on hand. Gather the following:

milk crate
small wire shelves
cardboard box square
play pots and pans
loaf pans and muffin tins
soup spoons
wood slices
pine cones
rocks
leaves
black permanent marker
black crayon
circle tracers

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The DIY Portable Mud Kitchen

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This portable mud kitchen can be set up anywhere. In the classroom, it allows you to bring in natural materials for early learners to explore in an effortless way.

To put it together, start off by using circle tracers (think food container lids) to draw stove burners on a cardboard box square with a black permanent marker. Color in some of the circles with a black crayon.

Place the stove top drawing on an upside-down milk crate. Or draw stove burners on the bottom of a box.

Set the crate and drawing (or box stove) in a sensory table (sand and water table.)

Add small wire shelves (available at dollar stores).

Collect old pots, pans, muffin tins, and serving bowls and place them in the table. Include serving spoons.

Sprinkle in rocks, wood slices, pine cones, and leaves in a variety of colors. Invite little learners to explore the center.

It’s that simple!

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More Mud Kitchen Play

This setup can be taken outside and arranged on the ground or on a bench. Load all the supplies in the crate for easy transport.

A metal bowl “sink”, a pitcher of water, tea cups, whisks, potato mashers, and ladles would add interest and sensory opportunities to this center.

An active world tray positioned on the ground works well as a base instead of a sensory table. Or set up the supplies on a tarp.

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Related: Fall Sensory Play

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[Read more…]