Drawing with Petals
Rub flower petals and leaves against paper for an easy outdoor creative experiment.
Keeping samples of the flowers used to draw with in a nature journal.
This is a simple project that requires no setup and few materials. If you don’t have paper, you can even rub flower petals and leaves on the sidewalk.
This is an opportunity for children to experiment without pressure to make a finished drawing. The purpose is to explore and experience.
Materials:
Paper
Petals and/or Leaves
Tape (optional)
Scissors (optional)
Markers (optional)
Process:
Collect petals and/or leaves. We went for a walk on our school site and used fallen poppy petals, so we didn’t pick flowers.
Invite children to rub the plant matter against the paper to see what color is produced.
Questions: Does the petal or leaf change color as it is exposed to the air and dries? How does it smell? What does it feel like? Can you mix colors?
If you have scissors and tape, the children can experiment with shaping and collaging their plant materials. With markers, the children can add to their drawings. However, they often enjoy using plant material alone.
