Inside: Create a colorful leaf craft … in a baggie! This no-mess activity explores the sense of touch as the fingers press on top of the baggie, mixing the colors around the leaf.
Put together a colorful leaf craft in a baggie!
This sensory experience is all about the process as the hands press on the plastic, moving and mixing the colors on top of the provided leaf printable.
You can also move a roller across the baggie for extra fine motor fun.
This leaf craft is a great addition to your fall theme and enjoyed by toddlers and preschoolers!
We love learning about leaves in the fall. In fact, we explore leaves throughout the month of November as they are turning colors and falling off the trees.
Over the years I have provided an assortment of leaf activities, including:
Watercolor Leaves for the Window
This year I decided to do some color mixing in a baggie using our free leaf printable. The process was loved and the results were beautiful!
Click here to see how our classroom was set up for the leaves and pinecones theme!
Colorful Leaf Craft Painted In A Baggie
Supplies needed:
Leaf printable (scroll down towards bottom of this page to find the download)
Tempera paint in assorted fall colors
Gallon-sized sealable plastic bags
Rollers (optional)
Find more fall fine motor activities here!
Setting up this leaf craft activity:
Make copies of the leaf printable. (I suggest using heavy paper so it won’t tear.)
Cut around the leaf and place inside the baggie.
Then, squirt at least three different colors into the baggie and seal it.
The Invitation to Paint
Using Fingers
Invite your children to use their fingers to press on top of the bag.
At first they might be surprised that the paint does not come off on their hands, as my students were.
They can also use their entire hand to press and “smooth” the plastic, spreading the paint and mixing the colors.
Baggie painting is not new for us. We’ve also enjoyed painting with marbles inside plastic bags and our toddlers had a blast painting muddy pigs with shaving cream and paint in baggies!
In fact, it was those two activities that inspired me to put together this leaf craft.
Using Rollers
Another option is to give the children rollers.
Using rollers has been a favorite at our art table since back when I first started teaching.
I especially love this nifty tool because it works the entire arm with larger movements than when using brushes.
We’ve used rollers with:
- Cardboard Christmas Trees
- Apple Art (Rolling paint on bubble wrap is always a hit!)
- Easel Painting
Color Mixing Experience
By using more than one color, this activity includes color mixing.
You can ask your children what colors they see as they are pressing (or rolling) on the plastic.
When Finished
Once the color mixing is finished, open the bag and pull out the painted leaf.
Let dry.
Click on the graphics below for the free pdf:
Other ideas to go with this activity:
Art: Watercolor Leaves
Color Recognition: Leaf Matching Activity
Circle Time: Leaf Props
Nature: Leaf Sorting and Counting
Math: Leaves Count and Clip Activity
More Fall Activities
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