Gold-Leaf Bookmark

crayola supplies

household supplies

Why?

Celebrate nature with a bookmark! Collect fallen leaves to create a unique way to mark your page.

Steps

  1. 1. Collect at least six small, fallen leaves of the same type from your neighborhood or school yard. Identify its species. Find how that type of tree reproduces. Report your findings to your class and show the leaves you collected.
  2. 2. Here's how to make a bookmark with your leaves. With Crayola® Scissors, cut a piece of cardboard, recycled file folder, or posterboard into a bookmark. Use your imagination to make an unusual shape, perhaps a tree or one with wavy edges.
  3. 3. Cover your art area with newspaper. Swirl two colors of Crayola Tempera Paint with a Crayola Paint Brush while applying it to the bookmark. Dry.
  4. 4. Brush the underside of a leaf with gold Crayola Premier Tempera. Press the painted side down on the bookmark to make an imprint. Carefully lift it off. Repeat to form a pattern. Dry.
  5. 5. Place Crayola School Glue on the back of one leaf. Attach it to the top of your bookmark. Dry.
  6. 6. Punch a hole in the top of your bookmark. Tie a ribbon through the hole. You're ready to read!

adaptations

Students with special needs may prefer adult help in cutting out the cardboard.

Encourage each student to find a different variety of leaf. Make a bulletin board display in the hall and label each tree under its corresponding leaf design.

Create a large wall hanging of real and imprinted leaves. Identify names of the trees under the leaves.

Use the bookmarks as a quiz. Students exchange bookmarks and identify the trees from which the leaves came.

benefits

Students recognize various trees by examining their leaves.

Students gather information about how different trees reproduce.

Students discover what deciduous trees grow in their area and report their findings orally to classmates.

Students create a bookmark showing a real leaf and its imprint.

grades

Grades 1 to 3
Grades 4 to 6
Special Needs

subjects

Language Arts
Science
Visual Arts

time

30 to 60 minutes

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.

Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.

String-Like Materials—Includes string, raffia, lacing, yarn, ribbon, and other similar material. Children 3 years and younger should not be given any string-like material that is longer than 12 inches. Close adult supervision is essential whenever children use string-like material. When crafts are to be worn around the necks of children 8 years and younger, attach the ends of the “string-like material” with clear adhesive tape, which allows easy release of the bond if the craft becomes entangled or caught on equipment. For children older than 8 years, the ends of the “string-like material” may be tied and knotted.

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