Use your imagination (and some paper, glue, and a pen or pencil) to turn ordinary backyard leaves into a whimsical menagerie.

Materials

• Autumn leaves from your yard
• Paper

• Glue
• Pencils, pens, or crayons

1. Go outside and see what kinds of animals are hiding in your leaf piles. Below are some possibilities. When you’ve found leaves in your yard whose shapes you like, glue them to pieces of paper and use pencil, pen or crayon to make your creatures complete. To preserve your creations, press them between two books.
2. MAPLE:These leaves have three main points and lots of smaller ones; count them as they flutter by.
3. ROSE:The rounded shape of this bush’s leaves makes them look a lot like little shields.
4. BIRCH: As big and tall as this white-bark tree can get, its leaves are as small and as light as feathers.
5. GERANIUM: You might flip your wig if you find one of these wild-looking leaves in your yard.
6. BARBERRY:While this plant doesn’t live underwater, its leaves resemble raindrops