Yesterday we learned about ways to grow language skills during a Fall Nature Walk. If you missed the post be sure to check out my free nature walk scavenger hunt printable! Today we continue to learn about leaves with the book When The Leaf Blew In
When the Leaf Blew in is a simple, adorable book with bright illustrations. In the beginning of the book, an orange leaf blows into a barn and causes a cow to sneeze. The cow’s sneeze creates a whole chain of events with all of the animals in the barn. Children will get a kick out of the different animals and the non-stop silly events that occur because of one leaf. My favorite part of the book is the illustrations of red, orange and yellow fall foliage in the background. I also love the expressions on the animals faces as they leap, hop, fly and run. This is a fantastic book to teach children new action words.
As you probably already know, I love pairing a great children’s book with a craft project. I first stumbled upon this Fall Fingerprint Tree while searching on Pinterest for leaf projects. I modified the project just a bit to make it more practical for displaying year after year.
Supplies
Blank canvas (super cheap at a craft store!)
Paint brushes
Paint (brown, green, red, and yellow)
Instructions
1. Prepare for messiness by covering your table with newspaper. Prepare child by removing any clothes that will be in the way. I think this was my children’s favorite step to this craft!
2. With brown paint, paint your child’s forearm and hand. Press painted forearm and hand onto canvas, forming the tree trunk and branches.
3. Allow trunk to dry and while the trunk is drying read the story When the Leaf Blew In or give your child a piece of paper to paint on.
4. Once trunk is dry, help your child make leaves with his thumb or index finger. Use different colors to represent fall foliage.
5. Once the branches are filled in with as many leaves as your child desires, paint grass on the bottom. Allow project to dry before displaying on your wall!
Giveaway
I used Natural Earth Paint for this project, as well as for the Pumpkin Letter Recognition Pocket Craft. Natural Earth Paint was founded by Leah Mebane, a professional oil painter. When Leah became pregnant with her first child, she was forced to discard her large supply of toxic, synthetic paints and jugs of turpentine. She then resupplied her art studio with natural clay pigments and walnut oil. When she found an unfilled niche in the market for natural, non-toxic children’s paints, she began her own business. Now she creates earth-based paints that are healthy for herself, the environment, and especially her baby boy.
Earth Paints are created from clay pigments that are collected from the ground, and then crushed, sifted, and sieved into a very fine powder. The paints can be used on rocks, paper, fabric, wood, shells and more. They have a creamy, tempera-like consistency that is easy for toddlers to use. Unlike many other children’s paints on the market that are transparent or dull because of added fillers, preservatives and low quality pigment, these are very high quality, opaque and are enjoyed by older children and adults as well.
The natural, muted earth tones of these paints were perfect for this project, as the colors of the tree and leaves appear more true to real life. More importantly, I felt at ease while my children played with these paints. In addition to these paints being non-toxic, they easily wash away with a little bit of soap and water.
The paint does come in powder form, but is simple to mix. Here is a quick review demonstrating the ease of mixing the paint and my overall impressions of the paint.
Sorry for the yellow tint in the video. The lightening in my kitchen is not video friendly but a working mom has to fit in video time when the kids are in bed and the light is just not right.
Leah is generously offering all readers of Simply Stavish a $5.00 discount off any Natural Earth Paint kit.
To claim your discount use the code: earthart
In addition, I’m happy to bring you a Natural Earth Paint giveaway. One winner will receive 3 large packets of red, blue and yellow paint and a nature art activity booklet (value- $17). This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to all US Residents.
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
what a great post! loving it! we are doing lots of walks and collecting leaves, acorns, etc and talking about the changes – super fun – i love fall!! thanks for the great giveaway!
ang recently posted..Garlic Cheddar Cornbread
That tree is such a cute idea!
Shell recently posted..Being a Mom Stereotype
Twitter: AbbyPediatricOT
October 23, 2012 at 8:04 PM
That tree is such a cute idea! And great for sensory exploration, too!
Abby recently posted..Finding Balance
So cute! We go outside and do scavenger hunts.
This is such a cute idea! We live in Michigan so we can walk right outside to see the leaves, but ultimately a trip to the park is the best way. To see all of the different colors on the different kinds of trees and to teach her which trees do what, i.e. the maples for the syrup, the walnut trees, the Dogwoods, Cherry Blossum, Deer Apples, etc.
So cute, my nephew would love this!
Auntie K recently posted..Halloween Candy BOOquet
We read books, discuss the tilt of the earth and rotation, and how the changing weather affects plants and animals.
Elizabeth – Water Rolls Uphill recently posted..Farm Rich Snacks Review and Giveaway
we take nature walks almost daily. We collect leaves, branches and note the changes in the hours of sunlight
lots of Nature walks!
Lots of crafts!
I think it would be fun to read a book about the changing of leaves with my granddaughters
Doing some great crafts and hopefully painting too!
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I like taking my girls on walks and letting them collect leaves and see all the different colors.
hunting for different types and colors of leaves. Nature walks.
Twitter: madeinusablog
October 27, 2012 at 12:43 PM
We have a beautiful board book called “Leaves” that tells the story of the seasons changing with a baby bear. Also wanted to add that I love that this product is green AND made in USA!
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Walking and looking at the park would be the best way to teach, having fun helps us remember…
Doing crafts and painting, drawing, or taking small souvenirs like an acorn, leaves, a few small twigs, and making them into a collage would be very worthwhile.
We could display our art and be proud of our work!
I just talk to them about it, sometimes we read books.
My kids and I collect the changing colored leafs and make a art collage
We talk about the changing colors of the leaves while taking nature walks
We’ve taken walks and collected leaves. We then did crayon rubbings with them.
We have several favorite books about the changing of the seasons.
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I have 2 neices who I was telling how fun it is to get a leaf and put it between two pieces of paper and color over it. Then when they’re done they have a beautiful print of the leaf. I think it’s fun making pictures with different colors of leaves. I love your idea! Thank you for the great giveaway!
Yes, we have already been talking about it!