5-Day Fall Art Lesson Plan for Preschool: Easy Autumn Leaf Crafts

Engage your preschool and kindergarten learners with a complete 5-day fall art lesson plan. This hands-on unit uses natural autumn leaves for daily art projects that develop fine motor skills and teach fall colors. Activities include leaf rubbings, paint stamping, a torn paper tree collage, and creating a wearable autumn crown. Get detailed daily instructions, material lists, and differentiation tips perfect for the classroom or homeschooling.

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Lesson Plan: My Amazing Autumn Art Adventure

Overall Learning Objectives

By the end of this 5-day lesson, the learner will be able to:

  • Identify and name at least three fall colors (red, yellow, brown, orange).
  • Use natural materials (leaves) to create four different types of art.
  • Follow simple, two-step instructions to complete a creative project.
  • Develop fine motor skills through tearing, gluing, stamping, and coloring.

Materials Needed

  • A bag or basket for collecting leaves
  • A variety of fresh fall leaves (different shapes, sizes, and colors)
  • Paper (white copy paper, construction paper in various colors)
  • Crayons (with paper peeled off)
  • Child-safe, washable paint (red, yellow, brown, orange)
  • Paper plates (for paint)
  • Child-safe glue or glue stick
  • Googly eyes (optional)
  • A long strip of cardboard or a paper plate with the center cut out (for Day 5)
  • Stapler or tape (for adult use)
  • Smock or old t-shirt to protect clothing

Day 1: Leaf Hunt & Magic Pictures (30 Minutes)

Learning Objectives

  • Collect different types of fall leaves on a nature walk.
  • Create a leaf rubbing using a crayon and paper.
  • Identify leaf colors and textures (e.g., "bumpy," "smooth").

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Hook: Sing a simple song like, "Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down. Autumn leaves are falling down, all over town!" (to the tune of "London Bridge is Falling Down").
  • Objectives: "Today we are going on a special adventure! We will be Leaf Detectives and find amazing fall leaves. Then, we will use our leaves to make magic pictures appear on our paper!"

2. Body (20 minutes)

  • Activity 1 - "We Do" - Leaf Hunt:
    • Go outside with a bag or basket.
    • "Let's look for colorful leaves! Can you find a red one? Wow, good job! Let's find a yellow one now. Feel this leaf. Is it smooth or bumpy?"
    • Encourage touching and describing the leaves as you collect them.
  • Activity 2 - "I Do, We Do, You Do" - Magic Leaf Rubbings:
    • I Do (Modeling): "Watch me make magic! First, I put a bumpy leaf under my paper. Now, I take my special crayon with no paper and rub it sideways. Rub, rub, rub. Look! A leaf picture is showing up! It’s magic!"
    • We Do (Guided Practice): "Let's make one together. You choose a leaf. Okay, put it under the paper. Let’s hold the crayon together and rub. Good job!"
    • You Do (Independent Practice): "Now it's your turn to be the magician! Pick your favorite leaf, put it under the paper, and make your own magic picture."

3. Conclusion (5 minutes)

  • Recap: "Look at all our magic pictures! You found red, yellow, and brown leaves. You used a crayon to show the bumpy parts of the leaf."
  • Show and Tell: Hold up a rubbing and ask, "Tell me about this one. What color is your magic leaf?"
  • Clean-up: Sing a clean-up song while putting crayons away. Keep the leaves for tomorrow.

Assessment & Differentiation

  • Formative Assessment: Observe if the child can point to a named color and follow the direction to place the leaf under the paper.
  • Scaffolding: For learners who struggle, tape the leaf to the table to keep it from sliding. Use a larger crayon for an easier grip.
  • Extension: Challenge the learner to make a pattern with their rubbings or try layering two different colored rubbings on top of each other.

Day 2: Leaf Stamping Fun (30 Minutes)

Learning Objectives

  • Use a leaf as a stamp to create prints on paper.
  • Identify the parts of a leaf (stem, veins) in a simple way.
  • Practice fine motor skills by pressing and lifting.

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Hook: Look at the leaves collected yesterday. "Remember our bumpy leaves? Today, we are going to give them a paint bath and teach them how to make stamps!"
  • Objectives: "We are going to paint our leaves and press them on paper to make beautiful leaf pictures. Stomp, stomp, stomp go the leaves!"

2. Body (20 minutes)

  • "I Do, We Do, You Do" - Leaf Stamping:
    • I Do (Modeling): Put on smocks. "First, I choose a leaf. I will paint the bumpy side. See the little lines? Let’s paint them red. Now, I turn it over and... PRESS! I pat it gently. Now, I lift it up by the little stick (the stem). Look! A leaf stamp!"
    • We Do (Guided Practice): "Let's do one together. You pick a color. Yellow? Great! Let’s paint this leaf together. Now, let’s press it on the paper. 1, 2, 3... lift!"
    • You Do (Independent Practice): "Your turn! Pick a leaf and a color. Paint it, flip it, and press it to make your own leaf stamps. You can make a whole page of them!"

3. Conclusion (5 minutes)

  • Recap: "Wow! You made so many leaf stamps. You used the leaf to put paint on the paper."
  • Gallery Walk: Lay the wet paintings out to dry. "Let's walk by and look at all our art. Which one is your favorite stamp?"
  • Clean-up: Wash hands and brushes together while singing a silly washing song.

Assessment & Differentiation

  • Formative Assessment: Observe the child's ability to press the leaf down and lift it to create a print.
  • Scaffolding: Use sturdier leaves (like magnolia or oak) that are less likely to tear. Help the child paint the leaf or guide their hand to press it down firmly.
  • Extension: Encourage mixing two colors on one leaf before stamping to see what new color it makes on the paper.

Day 3: Torn Paper Tree Collage (30 Minutes)

Learning Objectives

  • Create a tree collage using torn paper.
  • Practice fine motor skills by tearing paper and using glue.
  • Identify the parts of a tree (trunk, branches, leaves).

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Hook: Show a picture of a fall tree or look at one outside. "What is this? A tree! What does a tree have? A big brown trunk and lots of colorful leaves!"
  • Objectives: "Today, we are going to build our very own fall tree using paper and glue. We will be Tree Builders!"

2. Body (20 minutes)

  • "I Do, We Do, You Do" - Building a Tree:
    • I Do (Modeling): "First, our tree needs a strong trunk. I'm going to tear this brown paper. Rip! Rip! Now I put glue on my paper... stick, stick, stick. There is my tree trunk."
    • We Do (Guided Practice): "Let's tear some red and yellow paper for our leaves. Can you help me rip this piece? Good tearing! Now let's put glue on our tree branches and stick on the leaves together."
    • You Do (Independent Practice): "Now you can finish your tree! Tear the colorful paper into little leaves and glue them all over your tree's branches. You can make some leaves fall to the ground, too!"

3. Conclusion (5 minutes)

  • Recap: "You are a wonderful Tree Builder! You tore paper to make a trunk and lots of colorful leaves."
  • Show and Tell: "Tell me about your tree. Does it have a lot of leaves? What colors did you use?" Point to the trunk and ask, "What is this part called?"
  • Clean-up: Put glue caps back on and gather paper scraps.

Assessment & Differentiation

  • Formative Assessment: Can the child tear paper and apply glue (with help)? Can they point to the trunk of their tree?
  • Scaffolding: Pre-tear some of the paper into strips. Use a glue stick for less mess. Draw a faint outline of a tree trunk for the child to follow.
  • Extension: Encourage the child to add other details, like drawing grass at the bottom or a sun in the sky. Count the "leaves" as they are glued on.

Day 4: Silly Leaf Creatures (30 Minutes)

Learning Objectives

  • Use imagination to turn leaves into creatures or animals.
  • Combine natural materials with craft supplies.
  • Practice creative expression and storytelling.

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Hook: Hold up a few leaves of different shapes. "Let's use our imaginations! Does this long, skinny leaf look like a bunny ear? What about this round one? Maybe it’s a turtle shell!"
  • Objectives: "Today we are going to take our leaves and turn them into silly animals! We will give them eyes and make them come alive!"

2. Body (20 minutes)

  • "I Do, We Do, You Do" - Making Leaf Creatures:
    • I Do (Modeling): "I think this big maple leaf looks like a funny monster. I'm going to put some glue here... and add a googly eye! And another one! Roar! I made a leaf monster."
    • We Do (Guided Practice): "Let’s look at this oval leaf together. What could it be? A little mouse? Okay! Let's put one eye on it together. Where should the nose go?"
    • You Do (Independent Practice): "Now it's your turn to be a creature creator! Look at all the leaves and decide what animals they can be. Use glue and eyes to make your own leaf creature family."

3. Conclusion (5 minutes)

  • Recap: "Look at all the amazing leaf creatures you made! You used your imagination to turn leaves into animals."
  • Puppet Show: Let the child use their favorite leaf creature as a puppet. "What sound does your leaf mouse make? Squeak, squeak!"
  • Clean-up: Put away the glue and googly eyes.

Assessment & Differentiation

  • Formative Assessment: Observe the child's engagement and creative choices. Can they name their creature?
  • Scaffolding: Offer suggestions for what a leaf could be (e.g., "This one looks like a fish!"). Help apply the glue for the small googly eyes.
  • Extension: Encourage the child to draw legs, arms, or a habitat for their leaf creatures on the paper around them. Create a short story about the creatures.

Day 5: Royal Autumn Crown (30 Minutes)

Learning Objectives

  • Create a wearable piece of art (a crown or wreath).
  • Review and use leaves collected throughout the week.
  • Demonstrate pride in the artwork created over five days.

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Hook: "All week you have been an amazing Autumn Artist! Today, we will make something very special that you can wear. We are going to make a royal autumn crown!"
  • Objectives: "We will use our favorite leaves to decorate a crown. When you're done, you will be the King or Queen of Autumn!"

2. Body (15 minutes)

  • "I Do, We Do, You Do" - Decorating the Crown:
    • I Do (Modeling): Show the pre-cut cardboard strip. "This will be our crown. I'm going to choose my favorite leaf, put glue on it, and stick it right here. I'll add another one next to it."
    • We Do (Guided Practice): "Let's work on your crown together. Which leaf should we add first? This big red one? Okay, let's put glue on it together and press it on your crown."
    • You Do (Independent Practice): "Now, you can decorate your whole crown! Fill it up with all your favorite leaves. Make it beautiful and colorful."
  • Finishing Touches (Adult Step): Once the child is done decorating, let the glue dry for a moment. Then, measure the cardboard strip to the child’s head and staple or tape it to fit.

3. Conclusion (10 minutes)

  • Coronation Ceremony: Place the finished crown on the child’s head. "Hooray for the King/Queen of Autumn! You made a beautiful crown!"
  • Summative Review (Art Show): Display all the art from the week (rubbings, stamps, collage, creatures, and crown). "Look at everything you made! You made magic pictures, leaf stamps, a tall tree, and silly creatures. You are a wonderful artist! Which project was your favorite to make?"

Assessment & Differentiation

  • Summative Assessment: The child's collection of art serves as the final assessment. Their ability to talk about their creations (e.g., "This is my tree," "I like my red crown") demonstrates understanding and engagement.
  • Scaffolding: Use a paper plate wreath (with the center cut out) as it's easier to handle than a long strip. Use a glue stick for easier application.
  • Extension: Add other natural items to the crown, like small twigs or acorns (with adult supervision). Create a "royal scepter" by gluing a special leaf to the top of a stick.

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