Leaf Art

Last year, I posted about a fun idea I did with my 2nd graders - see it here - I'm actually talking about the 2nd one on that post - the leaf people. OK, is this a way too complicated way to start a post???

Anyway, I did it again this year. I really like it. And I like to give the kids a chance to get creative. I think it's important. I don't tell them what to make - much. Last year, I told them to make a leaf person and I might have showed them some pictures from a previous year. But I basically tell them to use their liquid glue. And to write their name on the back of the paper :) And to arrange their leaves before they start gluing. 

This year, I saw this post from Science for Kids. And I thought, why do my kids have to make leaf people? Why can't they make whatever they want? So I showed them the pics on the Science for Kids blog and told them they could do things like this. {But I didn't make copies of her paper - she has a freebie for that if you want to download those.}

But, I told my kids, everything had to be made out of leaves.

Well, I don't know - I'm afraid that maybe giving them free rein turned many of their leaf pictures into sort of leaf throw up - just throw a ton of leaves on the paper and glue them down. See what I mean??

OK, 1 and 2 and maybe 3 are great - but what's this on 4? 

Well, two things here. I think creative is important - I think it goes along with thinking for yourself and making your own decisions and letting your brain think outside the box. {So that's what #4 is LOL} 

The other thing is I had one little sweetie come up and ask me what to make. No, no, kiddo, that's your choice. Shouldn't kids be able, and want to make their own "things"?

Anyway, this is leaf people art 2013. I like it!

Big fat PS - After I showed my class the pictures from last year via my blog, one of my little sweeties asked if their leaf art was going to be on the website. You just never know, now do you?