How to Make a Leaf Rubbing — draw and write

How to Make a Leaf Rubbing: illustrated leaf activity worksheet with space for children’s ideas

Look, then try.

The picture shows the whole trick. Choose a fallen leaf with strong veins and brush it clean. Lay it flat on the table with the bumpy vein side pointing up, cover it with a thin sheet of paper and hold everything still. Peel the paper off a thick crayon, lay the crayon on its side and rub gently across the paper. The veins and edges will appear like magic. Rub too hard and the leaf may tear through, so start lightly and add a little pressure until the pattern shows.

Start drawing and writing below

Open the worksheet to print or save

An adult helps with scissors when cutting out rubbings. Collect fallen leaves from the ground, or pick with permission, and brush off dirt and insects. Wash hands after handling leaves. Nothing you find outside goes in your mouth.

Pen colourPen size

Use a finger, stylus or mouse in each drawing box. Type below it, or ask a grown-up to write your words. Your work stays in this tab. Save before refreshing or leaving.

ACTIVITY 1

My first rubbing

Choose a leaf, hold it still and rub. Draw how your rubbing turned out.

The leaf I used was…My rubbing worked best when…

ACTIVITY 2

Light and hard

Rub the same leaf twice: once with the lightest touch you can, once pressing harder. Draw both results.

The light rubbing looked…The hard rubbing looked…

ACTIVITY 3

My best trick

What helped you most: holding the leaf, rubbing sideways or peeling the crayon? Draw your trick in action.

The trick that helped me…Next time I will also try…

Your ideas belong here. There is no score.

What are we learning?

A rubbing copies texture rather than shape alone. Noticing which side of the leaf holds the pattern teaches careful observation, and controlling pressure builds steady hands for writing.