Leaf Rubbing Activity

Leaf Rubbing Activity Supplies

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• Leaves!  larger ones are good and a variety will yield some nice results!
• Tracing paper
• Parchment paper
• Wax paper (this is totally different from parchment paper!)
• Aluminum Foil (also called tin foil)
• Oil pastels (a little like crayons but totally different results!)
• Crayons
• Colored pencils
• a clipboard

How to Make Leaf Rubbings

• Place the leaf on a 9 x 12 Clipboard (it helps to hold everything in place as we created our prints)
• Cover the leaf with each type of paper you are using for the activity
• Slowly, use each medium (crayons, colored pencils and oil pastels) and rub it over the top of the paper to see the outline and details of the leaf

There are SO many ways to do this activity!

Feel free to mix and match your papers and drawing supplies in any way you’d like to for the project.

For example, you might use oil pastels with all three types of paper to examine how the leaf print looks different based on the type of paper.

You can also use all three drawing tools (crayons, oil pastels and colored pencils) on one piece of paper to create a more layered leaf collage!

Or mix and match your favorites like we did!

Leaf Rubbing on Wax Paper

First we used an orange Oil Pastel Stick on the wax paper.

Wax paper has a glossy surface and the oil pastel compliments it nicely.

It really looks like a ‘wet’ print when you’re finished.

Leaf Print on Tracing Paper

With colored pencils, you only need to apply light pressure as you rub the side of the tip across the paper.  If you push too hard, the pencil will rip the paper.

And let kids get creative — if they want a purple or rainbow leaf rubbing, great!

Leaf Rubbings with Crayon

You can find parchment paper in rolls (similar to tin foil) or buy flat sheets of parchment paper which is easier if you’re doing this activity with a group!

Parchment paper in it’s nature is a non-stick material — which also means that most tape and glue won’t work with it if you are hoping to display the print.

We did find out that you can tape the edges of the print to a window but it would not adhere to other pieces of paper.