Tips for Building a Fun and Educational Leaf Collection

No matter what time of year it is, children are often intrigued by the changes that occur in nature as the seasons shift. Whether the trees in your back yard are sporting fresh green leaves or vibrant autumn colors, check out five steps to follow with your homeschooler as you build a fun and educational leaf collection.

1. Start by studying the characteristics of various types of leaves, with the goal of introducing your homeschooler to basic leaf structure and new vocabulary.

2. Once you’ve learned a few new terms, go on a nature walk and collect as many different leaves as you can find. Strive to gather leaves that are whole and without blemish. Note that compound leaves, such as pecan and ash, are composed of multiple leaflets, so be sure to gather an intact leaf for your collection.

3. Use a field guide to identify the type of tree your leaf belongs to and take notes about the tree’s characteristics. Include details about the tree’s color, texture, size, and location, as well as the date of leaf collection.

4. Flatten and dry the leaves using a homemade leaf press or improvise by preserving the leaves between the pages of an old phone book. To help the leaves dry completely flat, add extra weight atop the press or phone book. Heavy items like books or bricks work well.

5. Once the leaves are flat and dry, preserve them within a homemade book. Adhere a notecard or sticky note to each page and fill it with information about the leaf. Include the scientific and common names, a brief description of the tree each leaf comes from, and the location and date the leaf was found.