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

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