Kids corner
Let’s have fun with autumn leaves….!
Brought to you by Jane Byrne our Kids’ Corner Contributor
Eucalyptus trees are evergreen, unlike deciduous trees that lose their leaves in autumn. Gum trees can shed their leaves throughout the year, usually because of harsh or extreme weather events. Lack of water can also make them shed. I came across one of the longest eucalyptus leaves I have ever seen in a park in Fish Creek.
Collecting leaves is such fun, especially in autumn when you hear the crunching noises they make when walking over them.
Look closely at the leaves you collect. Can you see the main vein down the center of the leaf and more veins coming off the main vein? The veins of a leaf move nutrients and water that comes up from the stem, essentially food for the tree or plant to grow. You will feel different textures from different varieties of trees. Gum leaves have a beautiful smell, fresh and clean.
How many different leaves have you collected? Try using your leaves as stencils, tracing around the outside. Now you could draw some lines along the length of the leaf to show the veins. You can create patterns inside the lines using textas, paint or pens. Add funny faces or even legs, making your leaves into critters. What else have you thought of to do with your dried autumn leaves?
What you will need for leaf art -
- Lots of different types of leaves
- Paper
- Paint
- Brushes
- Container for water
- Textas
- Pencils
Take some pics of your art work and send them to us at operations@opengardensvictoria.org.au
Past activities