Leaf Dances

crayola supplies

Construction Paper™ Crayons
Washable Watercolors
Watercolor Brushes with Plastic Handle
Giant Marker and Watercolor Pad

household supplies

recycled newspaper
leaves
paper towels
container(s) of water

Why?

Wet-on-wet watercolor and crayon techniques help capture the motion of autumn's falling leaves.

Steps

1. Identify fallen, colorful autumn leaves. Use a field guide to select those that are safe to pick up and collect.
2. Cover your work area with recycled newspaper. Use Crayola® Washable Watercolors and Paint Brushes to paint the underside of a leaf. While it is still wet, press the leaf onto light-colored construction paper, applying even pressure to all parts. Lift the leaf carefully.
3. Repeat this process with several leaves, using different colors of watercolor. Overlap some of the leaf prints to create the effect of motion.
4. For added color, try a wet-on-wet watercolor technique. With your brush, drop color onto still-wet portions of your painting. Control the direction of the spreading color by lifting and tipping your painting.
5. After the leaf prints dry completely, use Crayola Construction Paper Crayons to accentuate portions of the leaves. Use partial outlines near the prints' edges, trying varying colors and pressures.

adaptations

Use Crayola Crayons to create an under-drawing before making the leaf print. Crayon will resist the paint, so use a light crayon with darker watercolors. The under-drawing could have a fall theme, or be used to identify a particular tree.

Make a series of leaf prints, varying the colors to represent different seasons. Use light greens for spring, dark greens for summer, and reds and oranges for fall.

Make crayon rubbings with different leaves.

Younger students and those with special needs may benefit from short practice sessions experimenting with watercolor printing and wet-on-wet techniques before creating final artwork. Provide leaves and plenty of paper for experimentation.

benefits

Children identify trees by their leaves and observe changes in leaf color in autumn.

Students create leaf prints from fallen leaves to interpret motion visually, and use wet-on-wet watercolor and crayon techniques to enhance colors.

grades

Pre-K and Kindergarten
Grades 1 to 3
Grades 4 to 6
Special Needs

subjects

Science
Visual Arts

time

Less than 1/2 hour
30 to 60 minutes
Multiple Sessions

curriculum standards links

US: Research U.S. Standards
UK: Research UK Standards
Canada: Research Canada Standards

safety guidelines

Crayola Washable Paints—Not for use as body/face paint.