These autumn leaves preschool activities provide five days of songs, stories, movement, sorting, simple science, art and fine motor practice.
In addition, the free printable pack follows the theme Autumn Leaves All Around. Each day introduces a different part of the autumn season through a predictable circle time routine. Teachers and homeschoolers can follow the complete five day sequence or select individual activities to complement their existing autumn plans.
Five Days of Autumn Leaves Preschool Activities
The activities are organized into five daily themes:
- Day 1 explores autumn leaf colors.
- Day 2 investigates falling autumn leaves.
- Day 3 introduces raking and sorting leaves.
- Day 4 explores windy autumn weather.
- Day 5 celebrates movement and autumn changes.
Each day includes a short introduction, a circle time song, a suggested read aloud, discussion prompts and a related hands on activity. The pack also contains printable worksheets, crafts, sorting activities and visual props that can be used during circle time, small groups or centers.
Because the activities are connected, children can revisit the same autumn words and concepts in several different ways. They can sing about leaves, observe real leaves, sort printable leaves, investigate wind and create autumn art.
Day 1: Autumn Leaves Color Activities for Preschool
First, introduce the colors that children often notice on autumn leaves. Look at real leaves or the included leaf props. Then invite children to name the colors and compare the different shapes.
Simple questions can encourage children to observe and share:
- What colors can you see on the leaves?
- Are all the leaves the same shape?
- Which leaf is your favorite?
- What happens to leaves during autumn?
The suggested read aloud is We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger. The story complements the color theme while encouraging children to notice and name different autumn leaves.
Autumn Leaves All Around Song
Begin the daily activities with the “Autumn Leaves All Around” song. Use the included song poster and printable leaf props as visual supports.
Children can hold up the red, yellow and brown leaf props when each color is named. They can also move their hands gently from side to side to represent leaves drifting through the air.
Because the song uses simple and repetitive words, preschoolers can begin joining in before they have memorized every line.
Autumn Leaf Color Sorting Activity
Next, use the printable sorting activity to help children sort red, yellow and brown leaves. Children place each leaf on the mat with the corresponding color.
However, children who are new to sorting may benefit from beginning with only two colors. Add the third color when they are ready for an additional challenge.
Autumn leaf color sorting supports:
- Children recognize and name colors.
- Children compare visual details.
- Children sort objects by an observable attribute.
- Children develop early classification skills.
- Children use autumn vocabulary during conversation.
Dot Paint Leaves Worksheet
Afterward, children can complete the Dot Paint Leaves worksheet. They can fill the circles on the leaves with red, yellow, or brown dot paint.
Encourage children to press the dot marker once inside each circle instead of rubbing it across the page. As a result, the finished worksheet will show the round marks created by a dot marker while also providing valuable hand control practice.
Day 2: Falling Autumn Leaves Activities for Preschool
On the second day, the focus moves to the way autumn leaves fall from trees. First, invite children to move their hands high above their heads. Then ask them to slowly lower their hands toward the floor like falling leaves.
Compare leaves that float gently with leaves that fall more quickly. In addition, introduce action words such as falling, floating, turning, spinning and landing.
The suggested read aloud is Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert. The illustrations provide opportunities to identify leaf shapes, colors and familiar objects created from natural materials.
Falling Autumn Leaves Song
Use the included song poster and leaf props while singing about falling leaves. Children can begin by holding their leaves above their heads.
Next, they can slowly lower the leaves, turn them in small circles and let them land gently on the floor. The actions add movement to circle time while reinforcing the new autumn vocabulary.
Autumn Leaf Rubbings
Next, place real leaves beneath sheets of paper with the veins facing upward. Children can gently rub the side of an unwrapped crayon across the paper.
As a result, the shape of each leaf and its detailed veins will gradually appear. Try several leaf shapes and crayon colors. Then encourage children to compare the patterns they can see.
Leaf rubbing supports careful observation, hand control and an early understanding of texture. It also helps children notice details that may be difficult to see when they first look at a leaf.
Autumn Leaves Preschool Activities: Finger Paint Leaves
In addition, the Finger Paint Leaves worksheet provides a simple sensory art experience. Children can add red, yellow, and brown fingerprints to the tree and around the ground.
The completed pages should look different from one another. For example, some children may create neat rows of fingerprints, while others may overlap colors or make leaves appear as though they are blowing through the air.
Day 3: Autumn Leaves Sorting Activities for Preschool
During Day 3, these autumn leaves preschool activities move from observing leaves to gathering, comparing and sorting them. Begin by discussing what happens when many leaves fall onto the ground.
Children can pretend to gather leaves into piles. They can also compare the sizes, shapes and colors of real or printable leaves.
The suggested read aloud is Leaves by David Ezra Stein. The story can help children talk about seasonal change and how animals respond when autumn arrives.
Raking Autumn Leaves Song
First, sing the “Raking Autumn Leaves” song while children pretend to hold and move a rake. They can pull their arms toward their bodies and then pretend to gather the leaves into a large pile.
Use the printable rake, child and leaf props to demonstrate the actions before inviting children to join in. Afterward, ask children to recall the order of the actions in the song.
Autumn Leaves Preschool Activities: Big and Small Leaf Sorting
Next, introduce the big and small leaf sorting activity. Children place the large leaves on the big leaf mat and the smaller leaves on the small leaf mat.
Introduce the words big, small, larger and smaller as the leaves are compared. For example, place two leaves beside one another and ask children to explain how they know which leaf is larger.
This autumn leaf sorting activity supports:
- Children compare objects by size.
- Children sort objects into two groups.
- Children use comparative vocabulary.
- Children strengthen visual discrimination.
- Children explain their observations using simple sentences.
Raking Leaves Tissue Paper Craft
Finally, children can complete the Raking Leaves tissue paper craft. First, they color the rake with crayons or markers. Then they tear or scrunch small pieces of red, yellow and brown tissue paper.
Next, children glue the tissue paper pieces onto the printed leaves. This activity combines creative expression with meaningful fine motor practice.
Larger tissue paper pieces can be prepared for children who are still developing hand strength and control.
Day 4: Autumn Weather Activities for Preschool
On Day 4, children explore the way wind moves autumn leaves. First, invite them to think about what they can see, hear and feel on a windy day.
Ask children to describe what happens to leaves, trees, flags and clothing when the wind blows. Then introduce words such as wind, breeze, blow, move, fast and slow.
The suggested read aloud is The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins. The story provides a playful introduction to the way wind can lift, carry and scatter different objects.
Windy Autumn Day Song
Use the cloud and leaf props while singing the “Windy Autumn Day” song. Children can blow gently, wave their hands and move their leaf props through the air.
Meanwhile, encourage children to listen for the action words in the song and copy the corresponding movements. The props provide a helpful visual reminder of what is happening in each part of the song.
Wind and Leaf Investigation
Next, place several real leaves or lightweight paper leaf shapes on a clear surface. Use a small fan to investigate how moving air affects them.
For example, place the fan at different distances from the leaves. Children can observe whether the leaves move slowly, quickly or not at all.
In addition, compare what happens to light and heavy objects. Ask children to predict which objects will move before turning on the fan.
Afterward, discuss what happened. Children may notice that lighter objects move more easily or that the leaves travel farther when the fan is closer.
An adult should operate the fan and keep fingers, hair, clothing and loose materials away from the moving blades.
My Wind Journal
After the investigation, children can record their observations in the My Wind Journal. They can draw the leaves, the fan or the direction in which the objects moved.
In addition, an adult can write each child’s explanation beneath the drawing. This connects the science investigation with drawing, oral language and early writing.
Windy Cloud Craft
Next, children can complete the Windy Cloud Craft by gluing cotton balls onto the cloud outline. They can gently pull the cotton balls apart or leave them round and fluffy before attaching them to the page.
The soft cotton balls add a simple sensory element to the activity. The finished craft can also be displayed as part of an autumn weather display.
Windy Day Tracing Worksheet
The Windy Day Tracing worksheet combines weather vocabulary with prewriting practice. Children trace the different paths created by the blowing leaves.
The straight, curved and looping lines help develop pencil control. For additional practice, children can trace each path with a different crayon or marker.
Day 5: Autumn Movement Activities for Preschool
Finally, Day 5 brings the week together through movement, art and a review of autumn changes. Invite children to recall the leaf colors, falling movements, raking actions and windy weather explored during the previous activities.
The suggested read aloud is Fall Is Not Easy by Marty Kelley. The story offers a humorous way to discuss the way trees and leaves change with the seasons.
Jumping Into Fall Fun Song
On Day 5, sing the complete “Autumn Leaves All Around” song again, revisiting the verses and actions introduced throughout the week. Children can hold up the leaf, cloud, rake and jumping child props when they appear in the song.
This final review brings together autumn leaf colors, falling leaves, raking, windy weather and jumping into a pile of leaves. The repetition helps children recall the vocabulary and movements they have practiced throughout the week.
Autumn Leaf Obstacle Course
Next, create a simple movement path using hoops, leaf shapes and floor markers. Children can move through the course one at a time.
For example, children can step over pretend branches, tiptoe around leaves, move like leaves in the wind and jump into a pretend leaf pile.
Keep the path short and clearly spaced. In addition, place hoops flat on the floor and supervise children as they move through the course.
Autumn Leaf Painting
Finally, children can complete the Autumn Leaf Painting page. The printable includes three large autumn leaves that can be painted with red, yellow and brown paint.
Children can use a paintbrush to fill each leaf with color while experimenting with different brush marks and textures.
Encourage children to paint carefully inside the thick outlines. The finished leaves will retain the natural brush marks and color variations created during the painting process.
Autumn Books for Preschool Circle Time
The following five books complement the daily autumn themes:
- We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger complements the autumn color and leaf hunt activities.
- Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert encourages children to notice leaf shapes and use their imaginations.
- Leaves by David Ezra Stein introduces seasonal change through a gentle story.
- The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins complements the wind investigation and weather activities.
- Fall Is Not Easy by Marty Kelley provides a playful way to review autumn changes.
Displaying the books near the circle time area makes it easy to revisit them throughout the week. After reading, the books can also be placed in the reading area for children to explore independently.
Please note that these books are suggested read alouds and are not included in the printable pack.
Preparing the Autumn Leaves Preschool Activities
These autumn leaves preschool activities can be prepared in advance and organized by day. Alternatively, teachers and homeschoolers can print only the songs, activities and worksheets that complement their existing autumn plans.
For easy preparation:
- Print the song posters and teaching props on cardstock.
- Laminate the reusable sorting mats and leaf cards.
- Print individual worksheets and craft pages on regular paper.
- Cut out the circle time props and attach them to craft sticks.
- Store the materials for each day in a labeled folder or container.
- Keep crayons, markers, dot paint, paint, glue, tissue paper and child safe scissors nearby.
- Collect real autumn leaves for the sorting, rubbing and science activities.
First, prepare the song posters and visual props. Next, organize the sorting activities and individual worksheets. Finally, place each day’s materials in a labeled folder so everything is ready when it is needed.
Organizing the materials by day makes it easy to move from the song and group discussion to the related hands on activity.
What Is Included in the Free Autumn Leaves Pack?
The free 38 page pack brings all of the autumn leaves preschool activities together in one easy to prepare resource.
The printable pack includes:
- A five day preschool circle time plan is included.
- Five autumn song cards are included.
- Printable circle time props are included.
- Red, yellow and brown leaf sorting mats and cards are included.
- Big and small leaf sorting mats and cards are included.
- A Dot Paint Leaves worksheet is included.
- A Finger Paint Leaves worksheet is included.
- A Raking Leaves tissue paper craft is included.
- A Windy Cloud craft is included.
- A My Wind Journal page is included.
- A Windy Day Tracing worksheet is included.
- An Autumn Leaf Painting page is included.
- Printable cloud, leaf, rake and child puppets are included.
Because the activities are connected, children can revisit autumn colors, weather words, movement concepts and seasonal vocabulary in several meaningful ways.
Download the Free Autumn Leaves Preschool Activities
These free autumn leaves preschool activities provide a simple way to plan a complete week of seasonal circle time learning.
Throughout the week, children can sing, sort, compare, investigate, trace, paint and move. As a result, they encounter the same important autumn ideas through several age appropriate and hands on experiences.
Click one of the buttons below to download the free Autumn Leaves All Around printable pack.
Please note: The suggested read aloud books and additional materials shown in the activity photographs are not included in the printable PDF.
Happy Teaching! 😊
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