Skill Level: Beginner ages 2 + (younger ages require some parental assistance)

A leaf rubbing is an impression made on paper by placing a leaf under the piece of paper and rubbing a crayon, chalk or other coloring tool over it. This creates a sort of outlined image on the paper that has colored all of the raised parts of the leaf. These rubbings can be used in a variety of creative ways. It is an activity that nearly any age can do, with a little assistance from Mom or Dad for the youngest pair of hands.

Items you'll want to pack for this activity:

Tracing paper or Tissue paper

Crayons (choose a couple colors to pack, so you aren't carrying around the whole box of 364 colors!) or Drawing pencils
A flat surface you might try bringing mat board on your trip as it is light to carry and you can get small boards that fit neatly in a day pack.

Easy to Follow Directions:

Collect a variety of leaves around the area you are visiting. Try to find different types, shapes and sizes. Pine needles and leaves with too many pointy edges aren't the greatest for this project as they may puncture your paper. Try to find leaves that will lay flat.
To begin, place one leaf with the veins (bumpy side) up on your flat surface. Place your tracing or tissue paper over the leaf where you would like the impression to be made. Be sure when you are creating your leaf rubbing that you hold the paper firmly in place. This is a great point for parents to assist the little ones! Selecting your crayon, tear the paper off of it and laying your crayon sideways over the paper, rub gently repeatedly over the area until you are happy with the shade and looks of the leaf impression you have.
For a different look, instead of your crayon, try another Leaf Rubbing using the side of your pencil point. (You might also try colored pencils or chalk for this project!)

Ways to use your Leaf Rubbing:

Start a Nature Scrapbook
What a great way to keep track of all the places you've been!
Remember to write the date and location that you did the rubbing

Use your rubbing to identify the tree that it came from
You can find many resources on the web that will help you to identify the trees in the area you visited.
Try visiting www.arborday.org for a free guide to help you identify trees.

Try rubbing over a grouping of leaves and use your rubbing in other art projects. Leaf Rubbings are great to make cards, framed pictures, wrapping tissue; you can cut them out and use them to decorate nearly anything!

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