Leaf rubbings activity + free printable book

I had tried to interest my kids in a leaf rubbing activity for a while to no avail. Then I put together a cute little booklet and paired it with some special, triangle-shaped crayons, and suddenly they were hooked. Who knew?!?

A leaf rubbing activity is a great way to combine science and fine motor skills into one fun little project. I set up this invitation to do leaf rubbings with the following materials:

• Basket with cover pages and blank pages to make their own leaf rubbings books (see link at end of post to get your free copy of the Leaf Rubbings Book)
• Triangle-shaped crayons (we purchased these ones from P’Kolino, but I these triangular crayons from Crayola also look good)
• Basket of leaves (I used leaves we had preserved in glycerin, but you can use fresh leaves as well)

I showed my kids how to place a leaf under the paper and use the crayon to create a rubbing of it.

It was tricky for my kids to hold the paper still over the leaf in order to get a good rubbing, but they did manage to do it (with a bit of help).

Once they had made their leaf rubbings, they put the pages together, added a cover, and created their leaf rubbings books.

Want a copy of my Leaf Rubbings Book?

Get it as part of the Fall Printables Bundle.

Or get it by clicking the button below.

More resources for learning about leaves

More leaf posts from Gift of Curiosity:

• The best way to preserve leaves
• Leaf anatomy
• How leaves “breathe”: A transpiration demonstration
• How leaves get water
• How and why leaves change color in the fall
• Leaf collages art project
• Leaf rubbings activity book
• Fall leaves Sudoku
• Fall leaves lacing cards

For more leaf activities, see my Botany Unit Study page and my Leaves Unit Study Pinterest board.