10 Fall Leaf Art Projects For Little Graders

Autumn is peeking around the corner, ready or not. Here are 10 fall leaf art projects for early graders to help teachers get their Fall on.

Fall leaf art is high on my list of fun activities for this time of year.

We’re peeking around the corner at Autumn, whether we’re ready for summer to be over or not.

So we squirreled up 10 projects for early graders to help teachers get their Fall on.

They’re all easy-peasy, but they may need just a little hunting and gathering to make them happen.

1. Foil Printed Fall Tree Art 

Supplies:

1. White card stock
2. Washable kid’s paint, such as Crayola, in fall colors
3. Piece of foil for each child
4. Tree trunk template (get it by filling in the form at the bottom of the page)
5. Small paper plate for each child to use as a paint palette

Directions:

1. Print the tree template onto white card.
2. Give each child a paper plate with dabs of fall colored paint
3. Cut a 6″ strip of foil for each child.  Ask them to scrunch it up into a loose ball.
4. Demonstrate dabbing the foil, then dabbing the colors onto the tree card.
5. Admire the quick and easy amazing results!

2. Bubble Wrap Print Fall Tree

Supplies:

1. 4″ square of bubble wrap for each child
2. Paper plate for each child to use as a paint palette
3. Washable paints in fall colors
4. Tree template printed on white card for each child.  Get template by filling the form below.

How to do it:

1. Hand out the white card stock with the tree template.
2. Give each child a paper plate with dabs of fall colored paints
3. Demonstrate how to scrunch up and dab the bubble wrap into the paint then onto the tree.
4. Let the paint dry and hang up to admire.

3. Pom Pom Painted Fall Tree

Supplies:

1. 1″ pom poms or cotton balls
2. Paper plate for each child to use as a paint palette
3. Washable paints in fall colors
4. Tree template printed on white card for each child.  Get template below.

How to do it:

1. Hand out the white card stock with the tree template.
2. Give each child a paper plate with dabs of fall colored paints
3. Demonstrate how to dab the pom pom into the paint then onto the tree.
4. Let the paint dry and hang up to admire.

4. Finger Print Painted Fall Tree

Supplies:

1. Paper plate for each child to use as a paint palette
2. Washable paints in fall colors
3. Tree template printed on white card for each child.  Get template at the bottom of the page.
4. Wet paper towels for each child to clean their finger tips between dabs.

Directions:

1. Hand out the white card stock printed with the tree template.
2. Give each child a paper plate with dabs of fall colored paints.
3. Demonstrate how to dab finger tips into the paint then onto the tree.  They don’t need to clean their fingertips between each dab, as the color mixing will be fine.  But when the paint dries and gets uncomfortable on their fingers they’ll want to clean them on the wet paper towel.
4. Let the paint dry on your Fall Leaf Art and stand back to ooh and aah!!

5. Glitter Paint Fall Leaves

Supplies:

1. Paper plate for each child to use as a palette for Mod Podge
2. Silk leaves in fall colors
3. 1″ foam brush for each child
4. Wet paper towels for each child to keep their brush wet and to clean their fingers
5. Glitter in fall colors

How to do it:

1. Hand out the colored leaf copies for the children to cut out, or you can pre-cut them.  Scrunch the paper leaves up, then smooth out again slightly.
2. Give each child a paper plate with a puddle of Mod Podge.
3. Set up a “glitter station” for each color of glitter.  The children will bring their leaves to be glittered at the station, instead of getting each of their spaces messy with glitter.  A glitter station could be an empty pop flat lined with paper to catch the glitter as it’s sprinkled.  The paper with glitter can be picked up and re-used.
4. Demonstrate how to dip the foam brush in the Mod Podge, then brush onto one leaf at a time.  Place the glue brush onto wet paper towel and fold the towel over the brush to keep it wet for the next brush.  While the Mod Podge is still wet, move the leaf to a “glitter station” and sprinkle with glitter.  Shake off the loose glitter and set aside to dry.
5. Make leaf banners with the glitter leaves glued to string, or wrap jute twine around the “belly” of a mason jar, then tuck the glitter leaves into the twine to decorate the jar, or??
6. Another realistic fall leaf tutorial.

6. Mason Jar Mod Podge Art

Supplies:

1. Paper plate for each child to use as a palette for Mod Podge
2. Silk fall leaves (like from the Dollar Store)
3. 1″ foam brush for each child
4. Wet paper towels for each child to keep their brush wet and to clean their fingers

Directions:

1. Give each child a palette of Mod Podge, foam brush, fall leaves and wet paper towel.
2. Brush Mod Podge onto a leaf sized blotch on the jar.  Press a leaf into the wet glue.  Turn the jar and add another leaf.  Turn back slightly, and overlap the leaves with more leaves until the jar is covered.  Let the glue dry, then place a complete coat of Mod Podge over the whole jar.
3. Tie the neck of the jar with jute twine or raffia.
4. Add tea lights, but only allow the candles to be lit when adults are present.
5. Another candle jar craft idea.

7. Falling Leaves Snow Globe

What you need:

1. Mason quart jar for each child, with ring and lid
2. Gather twig branches that will fit inside the jar
3. Small silk fall colored leaves, about 15 to 20 for each child
4. Glitter if desired
5. Water

Directions:

1. Give each child a jar, ring and lid.
2. Tuck the branch into the jar, add leaves, and glitter if desired.
3. Fill the jar with water, close tightly with the ring and lid.
4. Tie the neck of the jar with jute twine or raffia.
5. Shake like a snow globe, and watch the leaves fall from the “tree.”  (An option is to glue the branch to the lid with water-proof glue so it doesn’t float in the water.)

8. Q-Tip Painted Fall Tree

What you need:

1. Paper plate for each child to use as a paint palette
2. Washable paints in fall colors
3. Tree template printed on white card for each child.
4. Q-tips and rubber bands

Directions:

1. Give each child a paper with the tree trunk pattern.
2. Place dabs of fall colored washable paint on paper plates for each child.
3. Bundle 20 or 25 Q-tips and wrap with a rubber band for each child.
4. Demonstrate how to dab the Q-tip bundle into the paint and dab onto the tree.
5. Let the pictures dry and tape to your art wall.
6. Another simple watercolor Fall Tree Painting DIY.

9. Autumn Leaf Sensory Art

What you need:

1. Small zipper bag for each child
2. Washable paints in fall colors
3. Leaf shapes cut out of black card stock.
4. Tape

How to do it:

1. Give each child a sealed zipper bag with dabs of paint inside.
2. Tape the bag to back of the black card with the leaf cut out.
3. Tape the black leaf cut out card stock on top of the bag of paint.
4. Demonstrate how to work the paint around to fill the open area of the leaf.
5. The best part of this fall leaf art is that no fingers get dirty, but the children get the feel of paint as they manipulate it.

10. Textured Fall Tree Art

This project may be a bit more advanced than you wish to do with the youngest grades, but if they can get messy, I think they would really enjoy this.  And the best part is that their mom will be happy to hang this leaf art on her wall to add to the home’s Fall decor.

Supplies:

1. 8″x 10″ blank artist canvas, one for each child.
2. Tree trunk template.
3. Grey graphite tracing paper.
4. Drywall plaster.
5. Washable paints in fall colors.

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How to do it:

1. Depending on the age of the child, have them paint the entire canvas, front and sides, with two coats of gray acrylic paint, or do it ahead.  Transfer the tree trunk outline to the canvas:  Place the graphite paper on the canvas, then position the tree template on top.  Tape in place, and trace all the lines with a pencil.  Press just hard enough to make a clear outline on the canvas.  You don’t need outlines for the leaves.
2. Again, depending on the age, you paint or have them paint the tree outline with brown paint, using a Q-tip.  Leave the paint streaky, to simulate bark.
3. Ahead of time, mix the fall paint colors with the drywall plaster.  The mixtures should be the consistency of cake batter. You can mix about a cup of each color, or more if you have a huge class.  If the paste is too thick, you can add water.
4. Place a blob of each color on paper plates for each child.
5. Demonstrate how to dab texture on your fingertip, then pat on the tree branches in leaf patterns, some larger than others.
6. Let the canvas dry.  Amazing!!

Check out this Fall Free-Form Painting tutorial for more classroom art fun.

Have fun with our collection of Fall Leaf Art.
Let us know how yours turns out!