Fall Foliage Fun: Leaf-Themed Classroom Projects for Elementary Students

7 simple activities that will LEAF you feeling Fallish

We are now in the thick of the crisp morning vibes of Fall. When you go out to the stores you will see everything covered in autumn colors, costumes are out and the decoration of choice is leaves. Browns and reds and yellows to signify the change of seasons. This is the segway into those cold holidays that are just around the corner. This is the time for hayrack rides and bonfires and sweaters. The comfort of fall extends into the classroom. We love to find ways to add the cute coziness into our projects, learning and decor. Try these 7 activities in your classroom to add to the excitement of Fall into your own learning space.   

1. Fall Wreath 

Welcome the idea of fall on your door with a Fall Wreath. I love the idea of having the scholars in my learning space add leaves to create their own wreaths to put on your door or in your hallway. This could be a great team building activity where groups of students have to work together to design and create their wreath. To make this start by using your MARK 5 Die Cutting Machine to cut out many of leaves from the Leaf #3 Die Cut, the Leaf #4 Die Cut as well as the Leaf-Oak #3 Die Cut using fall colored cardstock or construction paper. Then cut out the flat part of a paper plate which the leaves can be glued to. Set your scholars up into teams to make these for your classroom or you can have your students make one of their own to take home to their families. Finish up this project by adding string or ribbon to the top so you can hang them up. 

2. Fall In Love with Learning Bulletin Board

This is the absolute cutest bulletin board to highlight that Fall is here but also that learning is happening in your classroom. Begin by adding blue bulletin board sheet paper to the back of the board. You will also need to outline and cut out a tree using brown bulletin board sheet paper as well. Once this is set up it is time to create the detailed elements using your MARK 5 Die Cutting Machine. The die cuts you will need for this would be an alphabet set, the one shown in this example is the Collegiate Alphabet - 4" Set. You will also the Leaf- Maple #4 Die Cut in order to make the leaves for the board. You will need to cut out the words Fall In Love With Learning with your alphabet set. Next you will need to cut out tons of green, yellow, orange and red leaves to add to the tree. You can use this as a cute board or you can add student input by having them write different things they have enjoyed learning about on the leaves to display. Having this board up for the months of September, October and November is an adorable way to connect learning and the season we are in. 

3. Thankful Trees 

This project is a great one for students to make at school and take home to showcase their learning, their writing skills as well as their creativity. This is something parents will want to keep forever. You will need to do a bit of prep work but the students will be able to assemble all of the elements themselves. Start with light blue construction paper for the backdrop. Then cut green construction paper into thirds for the grass in the picture. Next you will need to use your MARK 5 Die Cutting Machine to cut our the trees using the  Tree-No Leaves #1 Die Cut and the Leaf- Maple #4 Die Cut make sure to use the small version of this leaf so that the children can put several on their trees. Have your students glue on the grass and tree. Then have them select 4-6 leaves to write on, they will need to put one idea on each leaf before gluing them on to their trees.   

4. Leaf Journals

This is a fun opportunity to combine the season of fall with writing and creativity. You can use these journals to allow students to write about their day. Another idea is to use them when going on a quick fall walk and they can make observations of the changes that happen in this season. You could also have them write poetry or stories about fall. The possibilities are honestly endless. To make these journals you will need to use your MARK 5 Die Cutting Machine as well as the Book-Leaf Die Cut. Start by cutting the front and back leaf-shaped covers from Green cardstock or construction paper. Next you will need to cut inside pages from lined handwriting paper or plain white printer paper. Let your students decorate the cover by coloring it and then they can handwrite or use stickers to write the title on the front. You will finish up by lining up the cover and pages then punch holes so you can use brads, yarn, cording, ribbon or leather to bind the pages together.  

5. Full of Fall Boxes

This is a great activity to create with scholars for them to take home as a keepsake. For this you can have students bring pictures from home or you can print images of each of your scholars that you have taken during the school year of each of them working and learning. This is an excellent way to highlight all of the work each of your students has been doing this school year. Use your MARK 5 Die Cutting Machine to create the Album-Explosion Box #2 Die Cuts. You can decorate these boxes using the Halloween #2 Die Cut Set or you could add small versions of the Leaf- Maple #4 Die Cut or the Leaf-Maple #2 Die Cut. Students can spend time decorating their boxes, gluing on their pictures. Finish this project by having your students write a letter, note or card to their families about why they are thankful for their family.

6. Fall Frames

This is another great option to create as a way to send home a fall keepsake to families. If you happen to have trees that have shed their leaves near your school, use this as the stage for scholars to sit on or lay on to take a picture for you to add to the frames to send home. Once they are taken and printed you can work on assembling your frames for families. You will use your MARK 5 Die Cutting Machine to cut out a Frame-Convertibles #2 Die Cut for each of your students. You can also have prepped and cut out a bunch of each element in the Leaf-Oak & Acorn Die Cut Set. You also should have cut out a few small Owls Die Cut for each student. Let your scholars decorate and add to their frames to make them uniquely their own. Have them dry overnight and send them home with each of your learners the next day. Families will love to hang these up and showcase them in their homes. 

7. Thankfulness Wreaths 

Our last project is a way to get your students thinking about what they are thankful for. This could be a craft for kids to do individually or in groups depending on if you want to use them in your classroom decor or if you want to send them home with the kids. To make these you will need to use your MARK 5 Die Cutting Machine to pre-cut the Ring Die Cut and also cut out many of the larger versions of Leaf-Oak & Acorn Die Cut Set. Once these are cut and passed out to scholars, have each child write one thing they are thankful for on each leaf. Then have each child or group write "I am Thankful" on a banner, you can free hand this or make simple strips for the banner. The kids can then decorate and glue together four acorns for each wreath. Next, punch two holes approximately 3" apart on the ring. Put string or wire through the holes to create a hanger, then tie the ends of the string in a bow. After that you will need to assemble the wreath by overlapping the leaves and gluing them onto the ring. Finish up by gluing the banner across the middle of the wreath and attaching the brown acorns.

All of these ideas are fun and interactive ways to get the students excited about the change of the seasons. Connecting learning in school with creativity and teamwork is worth the effort. Allowing families to see and experience their children's learning is also something that they will value forever. These are the projects that your scholars will remember forever even as they grow into adults, and these keepsakes are things they can show their own kids one day.  

Written by Amy Pinegar.