Leaf Rubbing & Prints

Age Range: 5 - 12 years
Time Required: Unlimited
Fundamental: Outdoors & Practical

Learn about the different types of plants & leaves that grow in your area.

Use the rubbings & prints as a simple & effective way of decorating cards or making wrapping paper.

Materials Needed

  • A collection of leaves
  • Thin paper
  • Soft pencil or crayons
  • Paint and rubber roller or brush

Instructions

  1. Choose a leaf and place it on  a hard surface.
  2. Place some thin paper on top, using the side of the pencil or crayon gently rub across the area of the leaf.
  3. OR Use a rubber roller or brush to add paint to you leaf. 
  4. Turn it over and press onto your paper or card.
You can Rub or Print different types of leaves on the one piece of paper or just repeat with the same leaf to create an art work or design.

Use  your paper to wrap a gift or cut out to decorate a card. 

As a Girl Guide, How Can I Lead This Activity?

  • Find out which leaves are from which trees. Are they gum leaves? liquid amber leaves? What are the differences in the leaves.

    • As a Unit Leader, How Can I Make This Activity Girl Led?

  • Let the girls choose the media they use, experimenting with different types of pencils or papers
  • Ask the girls what they are going to use their Rubbings & prints for

    • As a Unit, how can we make sure everyone is included?

  • When the Unit are showing the Rubbings & Prints appreciate the different outcomes for the activity.

    • Follow Up Questions and Reflections

  • What can we do differently next time?
  • What other activities could you do with your new skill?
  • How did it make you feel?
  • What did you like or dislike?
  • What did you learn?

    • Activity source and acknowledgements

    This has been a long time favourite of Girl Guides. Printed at one time in the JUNIOR SPARKIT (GGAVIC) 1989 and in Fun Out Doors (GGANSW) 1984.

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