Totally Awesome Fall Leaf Rubbing Sensory Activity

My kids love sensory activities. They are definitely sensory seekers, so I’m always looking for fun activities that incorporate both sensory input and learning. As the fall leaves started to drop, I realized I could mix science, sensory, and fall all into one fun activity, this totally awesome fall leaf rubbing sensory activity! My kiddos spent over an hour hunting for leaves then tracing their shape onto paper and studying the differences and similarities between various types of leaves.

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A fall leaf rubbing is a classic activity that’s perfect for homeschools and classrooms during the Fall season. You don’t need much, and it’s a really simple activity for moms and kids. Sometimes we really need a sensory activity that’s guaranteed to go well, and this is one of our go-to’s!

Fall Leaf Rubbing: A Fall Sensory STEM Activity

Oh, and the best part? It doesn’t take much to transform this simple activity into a STEM investigation!

What you’ll need for the leaf rubbing activity:

Fall leaves (get as many different species as you can)
Crayons
Magnifying glass
Thin paper

Go to any area where you’ll find a bunch of different types of leaves. Our yard has several species of tree, so we were able to create quite a collection of leaves just from our yard. The next best thing would be a visit to a wooded park.

Let the kids spend as much time as they want collecting leaves. You want leaves that are still flexible rather than dry and crunchy.

Sandwich the leaves between two pieces of paper, with the vein side up. Rub the side of a crayon over it to reveal the leaf’s pattern.

Have the kids inspect the rubbing with the magnifying glass. What differences and similarities do they see between different species of leaves?

Looking for more STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) projects and inspiration?

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