Tracing Leaves Fine Motor Activity

Explore leaves with tracing and matching in this fun nature activity. This open-ended kids activity provides exciting learning opportunities with leaves in natural surroundings.

preschool math with leaves nature activity

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Take a walk through your neighborhood with your preschoolers. Explore your natural surroundings with all your senses. Draw attention to the trees and leaves as you enjoy your stroll.

  • How many different kinds of leaves and trees can you see?
  • Is there wildlife visible in and around the trees?
  • Can you smell the leaves and other plants around you?

Enjoying nature with kids is important for the development of early learning skills. Kids get to exercise observational skills, decision making skills, sensory skills, language skills and more.

 

Kids nature activity with leaves

 

I recently purchased a dollar store plastic place mat decorated with a variety of green leaves. We took the mat outside and collected leaves from the trees growing nearby.

We were able to match many of the leaves we collected to the leaves on the mat. We also found a few leaves not represented on the place mat.

Hands-on activities like leaf-tracing and leaf-matching extend the benefits of experiencing nature.

Collect a few leaves in different colors, shapes or sizes. Then engage fine motor, sensory and cognitive skills with this simple math activity with leaves. 

 

Leaf matching activity

This matching activity combines nature and math in a fun hands-on way. Kids can learn to identify leaves by their names, as well as by shape and texture. 

 

Tracing and matching leaves preschool math

 

Step 1. Trace leaves onto poster board.

Step 2. After tracing, protect the leaves with contact paper so they can be used over and over without drying out.

Step 3. Label each leaf outline on the chart with a permanent marker.

 

Related: Leaf Experiment - Observe how leaves change as they dry out.

 

 Leaf shapes tracing and sorting prek activity

 

Step 4. Match each leaf to its outline.

  • Name the leaf. Trace the outline with a finger.


Nature activities with trees and leaves provide a closer association with nature while engaging developmental skills such as fine motor and sensory. 

This is a fun activity to do with early learners at home or in the classroom. Add this activity to a nature study or science center at home or in the classroom for hands-on exploration.

A nature walk through the park, a nearby neighborhood, or even your own back yard offers so many things to observe.

What do you see in the trees?

 

Preschool math with leaves

 

Outdoor Play on Pinterest 


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