Leaf hunt activities are a fun way to get students up and moving; getting hands-on with their learning! Whether you are using leaf cards or real, colorful leaves, there are many ways to include learning in your leaf adventure. You can design leaf hunts that will help learners solidify math concepts, story elements, or even art activities! Check out this collection of 20 fantastic resources to help with your next leaf hunt!
1. Addition and Subtraction Leaf Hunt
This activity is great after reading a fun book about leaf hunts. You can actually use this with a variety of math activities. Use artificial leaves or paper leaves to write math equations on, and then match them with the answers. Older learners could also practice more advanced math like multiplication or division.
Learn More: Andrea Knight
2. Numbers All Ways
Another basic math concept to use this for would be matching up the numbers on the leaves. Match up the numerals with a representation of the number. You could use place value or a visual representation of the number. Students must use the leaf matches to find the correct pair of number representations.
Learn More: Andrea Knight
3. Leaf Name Collage
This leaf project is fun for young learners who are learning their names. They can collect leaves from a leaf hunt around their yard or school. They can then break the leaves into pieces and use them to create a collage of their names. They can then simply glue the pieces onto a template of their names.
Learn More: Teach Me Mommy
4. Leaf Examination and Exploration
Taking a walk and having a leaf hunt is the first step in this activity. Students will then pick a leaf they like the most, draw it, describe it, and write about it. It’s a great way to bring real leaves into the classroom and add to literacy development.
Learn More: Pre-K Printable Fun
5. Leaf Color Match
This is a super easy leaf hunt activity! Collect a variety of leaves and have students match the leaf to a color. This is a great way for students to practice learning about colors and matching. Be sure to collect an assortment of leaves so students can vary their learning.
Learn More: Blue Skies
6. Leaf Sort
After completing a fun leaf hunt, you can do a sort. This can be done in a variety of ways. The leaves can be sorted by color, type, or even size. Students can practice many skills, but being able to distinguish different aspects will be helpful in building vocabulary and practicing new skills.
Learn More: Blue Skies
7. Types of Leaves Collection
Prepare these bags with printed pictures or photos of leaves for students to find. As students participate in a leaf hunt, they can carry the bags and mark off the leaves they find. You could even make it a competition to see who can find the most number of each leaf.
Learn More: Barley and Birch
8. Name that Leaf Activity
Go on a leaf hunt and play this scavenger hunt and trivia game. Students will read each description and look at a sketch to guide them as they look for each leaf. Students can use this activity to begin learning about how to identify leaves.
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9. Leaf Hunt Checklist
This leaf hunt checklist will help expose students to many different types of leaves. As students explore the outdoors, they can look for specific types of leaves and check them off their list.
Learn More: New Horizon Academy
10. Leaf Vein Tracing
After a leaf hunt, show students the parts of the leaf- including the stem and veins. Have them trace the veins and stem using paint pens of contrasting colors. They will then see the intricate details of each leaf and begin to realize how fragile they are.
Learn More: Go Science Kids
11. Leaf Hunt Scavenger Hunt
This printable leaf scavenger hunt is fun for students! They can find specific types of leaves, like orange leaves and crunchy leaves. As they locate each item on the list, they can check it off. You can even make it a race to see who can finish the fastest.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
12. Numbers and Letters Leaf Hunt
This leaf hunt can be done indoors. Simply set up this fun hunt by printing and laminating these leaf-themed cards. You can use these to help students practice finding numbers and letters. You can have students track their findings with a checklist by practicing writing the letters and numbers.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
13. Leaf Rubbings
After your leaf hunt, show students how to create leaf rubbings. As they lay the paper over the leaves, they can use crayons to shade over them; forming an imprint of the leaves.
Learn More: Lil’ Country Librarian
14. Leaf Book
Help students build a leaf book after they complete a leaf hunt. Encourage them to write about their observations and findings. This printable book will be a great resource to use alongside a picture book about going on a leaf hunt.
Learn More: Happy Little Kindergarten
15. Leaf Graphing
After taking a nature walk and completing a leaf hunt, have your students sort their leaves by color. They can use this free printable to create a leaf graph to track the amount of each leaf they have by coloring in one square to represent each leaf.
Learn More: How We Learn
16. Leaf Symmetry Activity
This is a fun leaf activity to use when teaching about symmetry. You can have students collect leaves on a leaf hunt and then cut half the leaf away- allowing them to lay the leaf down on paper and draw the remaining half of the leaf where the stem creates a line of symmetry.
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17. Leaf-Stained Glass
This beautiful art craft is perfect for displaying different kinds of leaves. Use two pieces of contact paper to display leaves and add a border of tape around it. Encourage students to choose a variety of different leaves to display and put them somewhere where they can be seen!
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18. Leaf Observation Activity
Creating a leaf observation project for students will be a fun way for them to learn. Have students take a nature walk and gather interesting items on a leaf hunt. Have students pick their favorite leaf and take some time to really observe it. Use this printable to then help them organize their thoughts and findings.
Learn More: The STEM Laboratory
19. Leaf Lanterns
Help students create these beautiful leaf lanterns. Using a balloon as a base, layer single sheets of tissue paper that have been cut into small squares. Brush over them with some watered-down glue. Then add on the leaves from your leaf hunt. Inflate the balloon and add a battery-powered candle.
Learn More: Little Pine Learners
20. Leaf Masks
Have students look for large leaves to use for masks whilst on a leaf hunt. They can then create eye holes for their mask. Next, they can decorate it by adding a nose and whiskers. Students can use the stem as a handle to hold the mask up to their faces.
Learn More: Babyccino Kids
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