Sensory Autumn Leaf Painting & Thankfulness

I hope you are starting to see the signs of Fall in your region. Our family took a long drive into the mountains this weekend and were able to capture the sights of the Aspen trees changing into different hues of gold, yellow, and orange.

God is an amazing creator that He not only gives us beauty around is in the form of beaches, mountains, landscapes, trees, and flowers, but He also allows to see variety in each of the seasons as the nature He created changes to grant us variety in creation that we are blessed to enjoy.

I have found that thankfulness can truly transform my attitude. The apostle Paul expressed thanksgiving more than any other attitude. One of the reasons that Paul challenges us to give thanks is because he knows that thanksgiving is an act that will change our outlook and bring God praise. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul taught us “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.”

As you create this Fall craft, encourage you children to come up with their own list of thankfulness. Create a list of things for which your children can be thankful and hang it near the final art projects you create below.

While your kids create, talk about the changing leaves and how thankful we can be that God gives us the different colors in season. Challenge each of your children to create a thankful list.

Supplies: Black card stock, sandwich size ziplock bags, paint, masking tape, leaf templates

1. Start by downloading some leaf templates. You may want to print them directly onto black card stock, or you can print them on regular paper and trace the edges onto black paper.

2. Cut out of leaf template from the middle of the law so that the outside frame is left intact.

3. Squirt different colors of paint into your ziplock bags. You might want to use different quantities of fall colors - brown, green, yellow, red, orange. The more paint you add to the bag, the easier it will for the colors to mix.

1. Squeeze out the extra air in the bag and zip it up. Tape the paint filled bag to a piece of white paper. Tape the frame for the leaf around the bag.

2. Allow you kids to squish and move the pain around the bag to fill the leaf template with color.

1. Explain to your child that each time they touch and move the paint, tit will slightly change the color combinations. Talk about the possibilities of combining primary colors to create colors - for example, red and yellow make orange. A combination of all of the colors creates brown.

Suggestions for a Gratitude List:

1. Pumpkin pie, muffins, coffee, creamer

2. Cooler weather

3. Fall breezes

4. Cozy blankets

5. Changing leaves

6. Crispy air

7. Fresh apples

8. Long walks

9. Socks and slippers

10. Cuddling

11. Warm fires

12. Rosy cheeks

13. Pie

14. Turkey

15. Football

16. Hot chocolate

17. Pumpkin carving

18. Pumpkin seeds

19. Candles

20. Fireplaces

21. Warm fires

22. Family

23. Friends

24. Health

25. Freedom

26. Hayrides

27. Farm animals

28. Apple cider

29. Love

30. Smiles

31. The freedom to move and walk

32. Cinnamon spice

33. Seasons

34. Gathering with family and friends

35. Birthdays

36. Photos

37. Warm soup

38. Groceries

39. Music

40. Dancing

41. Dogs

42. Cats

43. Picnics

44. Good books

45. Adventures visiting new places

46. Indoor plumbing

47. Heat and air conditioning

48. Safe shelter

49. Warm beds

50. Doctors

51. Hospitals

52. Parents

53. Grandparents

54. Warm baths or showers

55. Stuffed-animals

56. Toys

57. Balls

58. Outdoor play

59. Bike rides