Overview: A great way to introduce children to the wonders of the fall season...We're Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger is a story about three friends who go on a hiking adventure in search of leaves. Read the story aloud and then set out on your own outdoor adventure! Provide children with small paper bags or buckets with handles so they can collect their own leaf samples. Students then use their leaves to complete the following activities:

Recommended Grade Level(s): Pre-K, Kindergarten, First, Second

Materials:

Leaf Hunt Sensory Sheet--Students describe what they saw, smelled, heard, and felt on their leaf hunt.

Leaf Hunt Graph--Students use the graph to show how many leaves they find of each kind (birch, maple, hickory, and oak). An empty space is provided for an additional leaf type.

Autumn Is...Fall Activity--Students make individual colláges in the shape of a large leaf. Items collected from the leaf hunt are pasted on and labeled.

Autumn Leaf Banner--Perfect as a seasonal center, students paint leaves to create a beautiful classroom display.

Fall Color Wheel--Students make a color wheel using colors seen during the fall season. Leaves collected from the nature walk are then sorted using the color wheel. Two follow-up worksheets are provided to help students organize and interpret their data.