Whether you call it autumn or fall, celebrate this beautiful season with a week of play-based, hands-on leaf activities!
This article includes simple ideas for process art, music & movement, literacy, maths, science, sensory play and more — all easy to set up and perfect for early learners.
P.S. This post includes a handy printable of these activity ideas.
🎨 Process Art and Crafts
Here are some art activities that will encourage creativity and free expression:
1. Nature Collage
Children go on a nature walk and collect natural items such as leaves, twigs and seeds. Arrange and glue them onto cardstock.
2. Leaf Stamping
Press real leaves into paint and stamp them onto paper. Use leaves of different shapes and sizes, and paint in the colours of autumn: red, orange, brown and yellow.
3. Fingerpaint Autumn Trees
Provide an outline of a tree trunk with branches, or have older children draw one themselves. Let children dip their fingers into paint and press finger “leaves” onto the branches. Provide red, orange and yellow paint and encourage the children to fill their trees with different-coloured leaves.
4. Leaf Rubbings
Place a sheet of white paper over a leaf and rub over the whole leaf with a crayon. Watch how the patterns and outline emerge.
5. Paper Trees
Collage torn paper pieces to make colourful fall/autumn trees.
6. Blow Painting
Dip a straw into paint and let a droplet of paint fall onto the paper, then blow through the top of the straw to make windy effects on the page.
🎵 Music and Movement
1. Leaf Play
This activity is a must-do during this season, and your children will absolutely love it!
Give your children time to play – really play – in the leaves that have fallen down. If you don’t have enough at your school or centre, ask the children to collect them during the week before this and bring in a bag filled with leaves each.
Let them throw the leaves, stamp in them, roll in them, have play fights, etc.
2. Collect Leaves
After playing with the leaves, have the children collect them and put them into bins or tubs to use for art and sensory activities. They can take turns raking the leaves or gathering them in their hands.
3. Instrument Play
Invite children to use rhythm sticks to make the sounds of wind blowing through the trees. They can tap, shake, or rub the sticks together softly and then more loudly to mimic gentle breezes and strong gusts, exploring how the volume and tempo change the “windy” effect.
4. Leaf Dance
Play soft music and have children twirl scarves or ribbons, pretending to be leaves blowing in the wind.
5. Songs
Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down
Sing this to the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down, while the children pretend to fall like leaves. Here are the lyrics:
Autumn leaves are changing colours, changing colours, changing colours.
Autumn leaves are changing colours all over town.
Repeat the verses with: Autumn leaves are falling down; Take a rake and rake them up; Make a pile and jump in.
The Leaves on the Trees
Sing this song to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus. Make up any lyrics you can think of:
The leaves on the trees are falling down, falling down, falling down
The leaves on the trees are falling down, all over town
The leaves on the trees are orange, yellow, red; The leaves on the trees are changing colours; The leaves on the ground go crunch, crunch, crunch.
Five Little Leaves
Teach your kids this fun counting song with actions. The song counts backwards from five:
Rake, Rake, Rake the Leaves
Sing this to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
Rake, rake, rake the leaves
That have fallen down
Name the colours that you see
Red and orange and brown
Feel free to make up additional verses.
6. Leaf Balance
Work on the skill of balance by having children walk with a leaf on their head, being careful not to let it fall off. Have a leaf balancing competition.
7. Move Like a…
Stand tall and be a tree; let your branches sway in the wind, be a leaf falling off a tree and swirling around in the air; lie on the grass.
📚 Literacy and Stories
1. Book Ideas
- Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert is a visual story that encourages kids to use their imagination.
- Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert is about a child who adores their maple tree. It teaches all about the growth cycle of a tree.
- The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming is such a fun read about a squirrel who loves counting the leaves on his tree and tries to figure out why his leaves are going missing.
2. Story Retelling
After reading Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert, encourage children to collect real leaves and use them to recreate scenes or characters from the story. They can arrange the leaves on paper to form their own “Leaf Man” and tell what adventures he might go on next, building imagination and storytelling skills.
3. Describing Words
Give children a leaf during circle time. Each child has a turn to describe their leaf using adjectives for size, colour and texture. Provide an example by describing your leaf first: My leaf is big; it is light green and has long veins on it; the edges are ragged.
🔢 Maths, Science and Sensory Play
1. Leaf Sorting
Go on a leaf colour hunt to find leaves in a variety of shapes and colours. Sort them afterwards by colour, size or shape.
2. Leaf Graphing
Draw a graph on the board or a large sheet of paper showing how many leaves of each colour were found.
3. Measuring Leaves
Compare the lengths and widths of leaves using non-standard units of measurement such as cubes or sticks.
4. Leaf Patterns
Create AB or ABC patterns using different coloured leaves. Children can also glue the leaves onto paper to display their repeating pattern.
5. Leaf Inspection Station
Set up a Leaf Inspection Station where children can closely examine leaves with magnifying glasses. Encourage them to notice details such as veins, edges, shapes, and textures.
6. Indoor Leaf Bin
Fill a tub with dry leaves and add scoops, tongs and containers for fine motor play. They can pour, collect, scoop and crunch the leaves.
7. Hide-and-Find
Hide letter cards, numbers, and small animal or insect toys inside the bin for the children to discover.
8. Clay Impressions
Press leaves into playdough to reveal the details on them. Make this permanent by using clay, then let the children paint their impressions and take them home.
9. Why Do Leaves Change Color?
Play this fun video from SciShow Kids. It’s a great, simple explanation of the science of leaves changing colour:
💬 Dramatic Play and Social-Emotional Learning
1. Listening Walk
Take the children out on a nature walk and invite them to listen carefully to the sounds of nature – rustling leaves, crunching sounds or birds.
2. Leaf Puppets
Glue leaves to popsicle sticks to create leaf characters. Draw faces on the leaves with felt-tipped pens, then use them for imaginative play.
Learning about autumn leaves is a wonderful way to celebrate the season through play and discovery. 🍂
Next, explore more seasonal fun with the Pumpkin Theme Activities, Halloween Theme Activities, or browse the full list of Preschool Themes and Activities for year-round ideas.
📄 Want a quick reference sheet of these activities? Download the free printable below and keep it in your planning binder.
🍂 Fall Leaves Theme Activities
Notes
Whether you call it autumn or fall, celebrate this beautiful season with a week of play-based, hands-on leaf activities!
This article includes simple ideas for process art, music & movement, literacy, maths, science, sensory play and more — all easy to set up and perfect for early learners.
🎨 Process Art and Crafts
Here are some art activities that will encourage creativity and free expression:
1. Nature Collage
Children go on a nature walk and collect natural items such as leaves, twigs and seeds. Arrange and glue them onto cardstock.
2. Leaf Stamping
Press real leaves into paint and stamp them onto paper. Use leaves of different shapes and sizes, and paint in the colours of autumn: red, orange, brown and yellow.
3. Fingerpaint Autumn Trees
Provide an outline of a tree trunk with branches, or have older children draw one themselves. Let children dip their fingers into paint and press finger “leaves” onto the branches. Provide red, orange and yellow paint and encourage the children to fill their trees with different-coloured leaves.
4. Leaf Rubbings
Place a sheet of white paper over a leaf and rub over the whole leaf with a crayon. Watch how the patterns and outline emerge.
5. Paper Trees
Collage torn paper pieces to make colourful fall/autumn trees.
6. Blow Painting
Dip a straw into paint and let a droplet of paint fall onto the paper, then blow through the top of the straw to make windy effects on the page.
🎵 Music and Movement
1. Leaf Play
This activity is a must-do during this season, and your children will absolutely love it!
Give your children time to play – really play – in the leaves that have fallen down. If you don't have enough at your school or centre, ask the children to collect them during the week before this and bring in a bag filled with leaves each.
Let them throw the leaves, stamp in them, roll in them, have play fights, etc.
2. Collect Leaves
After playing with the leaves, have the children collect them and put them into bins or tubs to use for art and sensory activities. They can take turns raking the leaves or gathering them in their hands.
3. Instrument Play
Invite children to use rhythm sticks to make the sounds of wind blowing through the trees. They can tap, shake, or rub the sticks together softly and then more loudly to mimic gentle breezes and strong gusts, exploring how the volume and tempo change the “windy” effect.
4. Leaf Dance
Play soft music and have children twirl scarves or ribbons, pretending to be leaves blowing in the wind.
5. Songs
Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down
Sing this to the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down, while the children pretend to fall like leaves. Here are the lyrics:
Autumn leaves are changing colours, changing colours, changing colours.
Autumn leaves are changing colours all over town.
Repeat the verses with: Autumn leaves are falling down; Take a rake and rake them up; Make a pile and jump in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyJIfdA71Lc
The Leaves on the Trees
Sing this song to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus. Make up any lyrics you can think of:
The leaves on the trees are falling down, falling down, falling down
The leaves on the trees are falling down, all over town
The leaves on the trees are orange, yellow, red; The leaves on the trees are changing colours. The leaves on the ground go crunch, crunch, crunch.
Five Little Leaves
Teach your kids this fun counting song with actions. The song counts backwards from five:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c85nzaetFs4
Rake, Rake, Rake the Leaves
Sing this to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
Rake, rake, rake the leaves
That have fallen down
Name the colours that you see
Red and orange and brown
Feel free to make up additional verses.
6. Leaf Balance
Work on the skill of balance by having children walk with a leaf on their head, being careful not to let it fall off. Have a leaf balancing competition.
7. Move Like a...
Stand tall and be a tree; let your branches sway in the wind, be a leaf falling off a tree and swirling around in the air; lie on the grass.
📚 Literacy and Stories
1. Book Ideas
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert is a visual story that encourages kids to use their imagination.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndu51wy3wFw
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert is about a child who adores their maple tree. It teaches all about the growth cycle of a tree.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn8EV1MZu8s
The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming is such a fun read about a squirrel who loves counting the leaves on his tree and tries to figure out why his leaves are going missing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLCfh4l477k
2. Story Retelling
After reading Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert, encourage children to collect real leaves and use them to recreate scenes or characters from the story. They can arrange the leaves on paper to form their own “Leaf Man” and tell what adventures he might go on next, building imagination and storytelling skills.
3. Describing Words
Give children a leaf during circle time. Each child has a turn to describe their leaf using adjectives for size, colour and texture. Provide an example by describing your leaf first: My leaf is big; it is light green and has long veins on it; the edges are ragged.
🔢 Maths, Science and Sensory Play
1. Leaf Sorting
Go on a leaf colour hunt to find leaves in a variety of shapes and colours. Sort them afterwards by colour, size or shape.
2. Leaf Graphing
Draw a graph on the board or a large sheet of paper showing how many leaves of each colour were found.
3. Measuring Leaves
Compare the lengths and widths of leaves using non-standard units of measurement such as cubes or sticks.
4. Leaf Patterns
Create AB or ABC patterns using different coloured leaves. Children can also glue the leaves onto paper to display their repeating pattern.
5. Leaf Inspection Station
Set up a Leaf Inspection Station where children can closely examine leaves with magnifying glasses. Encourage them to notice details such as veins, edges, shapes, and textures.
6. Indoor Leaf Bin
Fill a tub with dry leaves and add scoops, tongs and containers for fine motor play. They can pour, collect, scoop and crunch the leaves.
7. Hide-and-Find
Hide letter cards, numbers, and small animal or insect toys inside the bin for the children to discover.
8. Clay Impressions
Press leaves into playdough to reveal the details on them. Make this permanent by using clay, then let the children paint their impressions and take them home.
💬 Dramatic Play and Social-Emotional Learning
1. Listening Walk
Take the children out on a nature walk and invite them to listen carefully to the sounds of nature – rustling leaves, crunching sounds or birds.
2. Leaf Puppets
Glue leaves to popsicle sticks to create leaf characters. Draw faces on the leaves with felt-tipped pens, then use them for imaginative play.
Exploring autumn leaves is a wonderful way to celebrate the season through play and discovery. 🍂