Something about patterns and order is appealing to most preschoolers and toddlers. Kids love order, even though it doesn’t seem like it when they are tearing through the house trailing a line of toilet paper behind them. Even though kids don’t seem to care about order and patterns, this leaf patterning activity will catch their interest and satisfy their need for order. Mimicking patterns and predicting the next color in a series is a valuable skill for preschoolers that help strengthen pre-math skills and build STEM thinking skills in even the youngest kids. Grab some fall leaves and try this activity with your preschoolers this fall!
If you don’t have fabric leaves, you can always go outside and use fresh leaves.
MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THE LEAF PATTERN ACTIVITY:
You probably already have almost everything you need for this activity!
Leaves Fall Colored Maple Leaves We’re Going on a Leaf HuntWhy Do Leaves Change Color? Carson Dellosa Leaves Cut-Outs There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves!
This activity is super simple, but kids will love doing it over and over, especially kids who LOVE patterns and making things repeat over and over.
All you need is to lay out some cloth leaves (you can also use real leaves for this activity).
Start a pattern with the leaves, then have your preschoolers continue the pattern.
At first, they may be a little confused with what you’re asking them to do, but once they realize they have to guess what comes next in the pattern, then they will catch on quickly.
The best thing about this activity is that kids will want to do it for a surprisingly long time.
Try different patterns, like AB patterns, ABC patterns, ABB patterns, AAB patterns, ABBC patterns, and any other combination you or your preschoolers can think of. When you’re tired of making patterns, pick up the leaves and clean up is over. It’s super simple and tons of fun!
Planning for Fall? We’ve done all the work for you!
We now have interactive thematic lesson plans for toddlers (18-35 months) AND preschoolers (3-5 years)! Get ready for fun and learning with unit lesson plans for FALL. Explore a variety of themed hands-on activities! Easy to follow lesson plans include activity modifications and adaptations to meet the needs of all learners. For more information, click on the graphics below:
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