During our recent unit on leaves and plants, we tried out several new hands-on activities that the boys really enjoyed. We did lots of leaf collecting and some leaf pressing and painting.
Our kindergarten curriculum (My Father's World) has a Biblical theme for each unit. The theme for this one was "I will live and grow in Jesus." The curriculum suggested using a branch of leaves to illustrate this point. We put a whole branch in a vase with water and then we pulled off one leaf and put it by the branch but unconnected. The twins were fascinated and would check it every day to see how the leaf was doing. After a couple days, the leaf is, of course, dry and brittle and the boys totally got it without any explanation. That night, they greeted their very confused daddy waving the poor leaf and saying "See, this is what happens when you're not with Jesus." Gosh, I love how these children see things so simply.
We also tried leaf pounding. I read about it online and figured it would be most fun for the boys since it involved hammers, loud pounding, and smushing things to smithereens. Of course, they loved it.
We collected leaves from around the neighborhood and pulled out the hammers. I cut out two sheets of unbleached muslin for each. The boys arranged their leaves on one sheet of muslin and covered their arrangements with another sheet. We put all three layers on some cardboard and hammered away till we could see the imprint of the leaf. I eventually took this activity outside where our neighbor kids could join in the merriment.
I strung a few together with some vintage green and white polka dot bias tape I had collected from a yard sale and for now it's hanging by our front door.
The maple leaf is my favorite. Such clear lines.
I think the boys liked the colored leaves and the real wet leaves that would really splatter all over.. wouldn't you know? Fun to hammer but not such a good imprint.
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Our kindergarten curriculum (My Father's World) has a Biblical theme for each unit. The theme for this one was "I will live and grow in Jesus." The curriculum suggested using a branch of leaves to illustrate this point. We put a whole branch in a vase with water and then we pulled off one leaf and put it by the branch but unconnected. The twins were fascinated and would check it every day to see how the leaf was doing. After a couple days, the leaf is, of course, dry and brittle and the boys totally got it without any explanation. That night, they greeted their very confused daddy waving the poor leaf and saying "See, this is what happens when you're not with Jesus." Gosh, I love how these children see things so simply.
We also tried leaf pounding. I read about it online and figured it would be most fun for the boys since it involved hammers, loud pounding, and smushing things to smithereens. Of course, they loved it.
We collected leaves from around the neighborhood and pulled out the hammers. I cut out two sheets of unbleached muslin for each. The boys arranged their leaves on one sheet of muslin and covered their arrangements with another sheet. We put all three layers on some cardboard and hammered away till we could see the imprint of the leaf. I eventually took this activity outside where our neighbor kids could join in the merriment.
I strung a few together with some vintage green and white polka dot bias tape I had collected from a yard sale and for now it's hanging by our front door.
The maple leaf is my favorite. Such clear lines.
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8 comments:
Faith, Those are gorgeous! I am going to have to do that!
I mean, the girls... the girls are going to have to do that ;)
I love the muslin pounding art you made! Wow! I didn't know you could do that. I want to try right now. I guess I need to go get the materials first, but really this is such a marvelous project. So glad you shared on Monday Madness. I will be sharing it with other tomorrow.
What a cool thing! I never knew this could be done and I have plenty of muslin to do this. I think we may try doing this this week. I'm so glad you shared this, I will also be featuring it this week on Monday Madness!
Absolutely beautiful!!! I truly adore the leaf pounding activity and the end result!
Kerri
That is fantastic. I assume you knew that you'd get that result before you started? They look incredible. Can't wait to get back from my holiday and find myself some white cloth so i can have a go.
Wow, those are so beautiful!! I can't wait to try this with my son (who also happens to love hammering things to smithereens). :) Thank you for sharing this!
I can't believe I haven't tried that yet! Looks great!
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