Did you know that chlorophyll is what makes leaves green? This very important pigment is also what helps plants photosynthesize, which means that they make energy out of sunlight! You can put chlorophyll to use by transferring it onto paper to create unique leaf prints. Looking for a quieter option for creating leaf art? Try our leaf rubbing activity!
What You’ll Need
White paper
Paper towel
Hammer
Variety of green leaves
What To Do
Head outside to collect some leaves. Look for leaves with a variety of shapes, sizes, and shades of green.
Place your leaves on a plain white sheet of paper, with the top side of the leaf facing upwards.
Place a sheet of paper towel on top of the leaves.
Hit the leaves with the hammer, making sure to tap the entire surface of the leaf.
Remove the paper towel and throw out the leaf.
Observe the design left behind by the chlorophyll of the leaf!
Once you’ve explored the shapes of leaves and what their prints look like, get creative with decorating greeting cards, note paper, or wall art!
Ask Yourself
Did all of the leaf prints turn out to be the colour you expected?
Why wouldn’t this activity work very well in the fall?
What is one similarity between how you get energy, and how plants get energy? What is one difference?
Blog post written by Claire Merkosky, SCiP intern.