The Leaves Are Out - Can You Identify Them?

This most recent post comes from the most wonderful book, a favorite in my collection, called "I Love Dirt" by Jennifer Ward. The book is designed with your family in mind and gives you wonderful outdoor activities to do together as a family no matter the season.

Fot this one inparticular we are again focusing on a summer activity. You may have noticed that things are particualry green right about now. Everything has leafed out and looks glorious. Sooo...it is time to go on a leaf hunt. For those kids who are prticularly sentimental such as mine, you can also create pressings from the leaves you gather. Learn how by visiting this website.  

Now to get ready for your day of Leaf Looking make sure you have the following materials. You will need a notebook, pencil with an eraser, camera (optional) and plastic bag or basket for your collections.

Now head out to your nearest tree. This can be in a park or your very own backyard. Make sure to get permission if you plan to collect leaves from somewhere other than your own yard. Nature provides plant colors an shapes of all different sizes and you can never go wrong when you try to take the time to understand the purpose that each of them serve.

Some leaves absorb sunlight while others block it. Some leaves may have a waxy coating which actually stores water. Some leaves have very special shapes that are designed to ensure that the plant meets its very special needs -- such as sttracting prey or catching rainwater. Some plants are fuzzy, some are netted or bumpy. Take a sample here and there and compare and contrast what you find. If you'd prefer not to take the leaves make sketches of the leaves or take photos and take notes about texture color, smell, even taste! (Caution however -- never taste a plant that you do not recognize. For more on edible weeds and plants check out this guide. )

Arrange you leaves into categories. Also are there noticible nibbles on the leaves you observe? What might have been snacking on them? How might an animal use a leaf? If you have a leaf book see if you can identify the leaves you find. If not make a trip to the local library in your commnity. For the competitive types you can even ake a game out it and see who can identify the most different types of leaves.

Lastly for the creative and artisitc types who want to keep those leaves here is a fun art project. You will need crayons and wax paper along with you rleaves. Also make sure you have an adult on hane just to be safe.

1. Lay out your leaves on a piece of wax paper.

2. Shave your pre-peeled crayons so that the shavings fall onto the wax paper all around your leaves, the brighter the shavings the better.

3. Lay your second piece of wax paper on top of the leaves and wax shavings.

4. Let a parent or adult use an iron to carefully press the two sheets of wax paper together on a non-stick surface such as an ironing board or towel-covered table.

5. When cooled you wil have beautiful leaf art that you can hang in your windows to  catch the afternoon sun.

Have a great idea? Send it to me and I will post it. Also send me your photos and I will post them in a future blog!