Launchpad - Introducing the topic (10–20 mins)
Step 1Begin by taking the child on a nature walk or exploring the backyard together. Point out different trees and plants and encourage the child to notice the leaves. Explain to the child that trees need water, sunlight and nutrients. If a tree doesn’t have all these things, it might drop its leaves to stay healthy. Add that some trees drop all their leaves to stay healthy during the colder months, while others only drop some of their leaves when they grow new ones.
Step 2Collect a variety of fallen leaves with the child. These will be used to create leaf rubbings. As the child picks up the leaves, count aloud and encourage the child to count with you. While collecting the leaves, you might ask questions to encourage mathematical thinking, such as:
- Are the leaves big or small?
- What colours are the leaves?
- What shapes do you see?
- How many leaves do you have?
Discover - Exploring the topic (20–30 mins)
Step 1Help the child to place a leaf on a flat surface and lay a piece of white paper over the leaf.
Step 2Hold the paper in place with your fingers or tape and show the child how to rub the side of a crayon over the paper, directly above the leaf, applying gentle pressure. As they rub, the texture and shape of the leaf will appear on the paper.
Step 3Repeat the process with other leaves, creating multiple rubbings on different sheets of paper. Encourage the child to compare the sizes and shapes of the leaves.
Step 4Use the leaf rubbings to facilitate maths discussion. Show the child how to count the number of leaves that they have rubbed, pointing to each leaf while counting aloud.
Step 5Support the child to sort the leaf rubbings into size and shape by asking them:
- Can you find the biggest leaf?
- Can you find the smallest leaf?
- Can you see any shapes?
Step 6To wrap up, ask the child a final reflection question, ‘What did you learn about leaves and trees today during our activity?’
Showcase
Make
Record a video documenting the activity, including interviews with those involved sharing their insights and reflections. This may include filming each step of the flower-pressing process or the child explaining the parts of the flower that they have labelled on their flower-press diagram.
Compile leaf rubbing pictures in a scrapbook. Highlight learning by organisng them by size or shape. The scrapbook can be added to, as the child finds more leaves and creates other pieces of nature artwork. As the child develops their ability to understand counting, these concepts can also be added to the scrapbook.
Use materials from the activity to build a model or prototype of something related to the topic, fostering hands-on learning and creativity.
Create a game related to the activity, such as a trivia game or charades, to reinforce learning in a fun way.
Play
Set up simple hands-on experiments or demonstrations that promote repeated practice, discussion and ongoing investigation.
Encourage imaginative play using clothes, toys or props related to the concept and let them role-play scenarios that reinforce their understanding.
Create a sensory box filled with materials related to the topic and let them explore, touch, feel and manipulate the items freely.
Sing songs (known or made up) and encourage dancing or movement in ways that explore or mimic the concepts being explored.
Write
If the activity involved a visit to a museum or community centre, write thank-you notes to any instructors or organisers, reflecting on what has been learned.
Collaborate on writing a fictional story or play inspired by the themes or concepts explored during the activity.
Reflect on what has been learned during the activity and write letters to be opened at a later date, sharing thoughts, goals and aspirations.
If the activity involved outdoor exploration, begin a nature journal to document future outdoor adventures and observations.
Plan
Brainstorm ideas for a follow-up activity or experiment inspired by what has been learned during the initial activity.
Take time to reflect on how the activity could inspire new goals, discussing ways to incorporate similar experiences into your routine in the future.
If the activity involved a specific topic or field of study, reach out to experts or professionals for interviews or Q&A sessions to deepen understanding.
If you enjoyed the activity, why not share it with other families within your community? Plan a workshop or invite a friend over to re-create the experience and share your new knowledge.