Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Autumn Leaf Collection: Free Printable Game for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Autumn Leaf Collection is a free printable game for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children go outside with a grown-up, collect fallen leaves and match them to the names of five common trees. It takes about 30 minutes outdoors, and needs only paper, a pencil and a few leaves.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. The sheet has two A4 pages. Page 1 is for the child. Page 2 is for the grown-up, with notes, help and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Page 1 is a checklist for a leaf hunt. Each line describes a leaf to find: an oak leaf with wavy edges, a beech leaf with a smooth edge, a sycamore leaf like a hand, a horse chestnut leaf with big fingers and an ash leaf made of small leaflets. There is also a line for any leaf that is a new colour. Children tick each leaf off when they find it and use the lines to write.
- Oak leaf with wavy edges
- Beech leaf with a smooth edge
- Sycamore leaf like a hand
- Horse chestnut leaf with big fingers
- Ash leaf made of small leaflets
- Any leaf that is a new colour
How the leaf hunt works
Read the checklist first
Sit together before you go out. Read each leaf description aloud and talk about what it might look like. This gives children something to look for.
Collect only fallen leaves
Children pick up leaves from the ground. Leave the leaves on living trees where they are.
Match and tick
Hold each leaf against the checklist. Look at the edge and the overall shape. Tick it off when you agree it fits.
Write and share
Use the writing lines to record the names. Then lay the leaves out and tell someone what you found.
Why look closely at leaves?
Leaves are one of the easiest parts of a tree for young children to find and hold. Trees are plants, and each kind has leaves with its own look. Some are lobed like a hand. Some have a smooth edge. Some are made of several small leaflets joined to one stem. Looking at these differences is the first step in naming trees.
Many people learn tree names by looking at leaves, bark and seeds together. Year 1 children do not need to know everything. Spotting that two leaves are different, and finding words to say how, is real scientific observing. Collecting also gets children outdoors, where they notice more than they would from a picture.
Wash hands after handling leaves. Keep away from berries and mushrooms, and never taste anything found outdoors. An adult should stay with the children throughout and choose a safe place away from roads and deep water.
Leaf facts for curious children
- Trees are plants, and leaves are one of their main parts.
- Leaves have thin lines on them called veins.
- Different kinds of tree have leaves with different shapes.
- Acorns grow on oak trees.
- Conkers grow on horse chestnut trees.
Skills and curriculum link
- Observing closely
- Naming common trees
- Sorting and matching
- Comparing shapes and edges
- Describing what you see
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Science | Plants | Year 1 |
| National Curriculum (England) | Science | Seasonal changes | Year 1 |
What children will be able to do
- I can collect and sort fallen leaves.
- I can name some common trees.
- I can say what changes in autumn.
Helping children spot the differences
- Look at the edgeIs the edge smooth, wavy or pointed? Run a finger gently round it. Edges are a good clue and children enjoy feeling them.
- Look at the whole shapeAsk what the leaf reminds them of. Children often say a hand, a fan or a feather, which is a good start.
- Count the partsSome leaves are one piece. Others are made of smaller leaflets. Ask your child to point to each separate part.
- Compare side by sideLay two leaves next to each other. Ask what is the same and what is different. Then use the checklist to decide.
Key words
- LeafA flat part that grows on a tree or plant.
- TreeA tall plant with a trunk, branches and leaves.
- EdgeThe outside line of a leaf. It can be smooth, wavy or pointed.
- LeafletA small leaf like part. Some leaves are made of several leaflets.
- VeinA thin line on a leaf.
- FallenDropped from the tree and now on the ground.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself.
- Read the checklist together and talk about each leaf before you go outside.
- Go outside and collect fallen leaves. Work through the activity together the first time and talk about each choice.
- Match each leaf to the checklist and tick it off. Check against the notes on page 2.
- Come back to it another day, perhaps in a different place. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Look at a picture book or phone to match the leaf together. Start with the leaf that is easiest to spot, such as the one shaped like a hand. Hold your leaf next to the picture and talk about what looks the same.
To stretch confident children
Draw round each leaf and write its name beside the drawing. Then add one describing word for each, such as wavy, smooth or spiky. Compare your drawings with a friend's and talk about what is different.
Make it a game
Race to find the leaf shapes on the list. Take turns to call out a leaf from the checklist, and everyone hunts for it. The first child to bring a matching leaf to the grown-up gets a tick.
Talk about it
- Which leaf is your favourite and why?
- How are these two leaves the same and different?
- Which tree do you think this leaf came from?
- What does the edge of this leaf feel like?
- Where did you find the most leaves?
- What would you look for next time?
Take it off the page
Leaf rubbings
Place a leaf under a sheet of thin paper. Rub the side of a crayon over it until the veins and shape appear. Label each rubbing with the tree name.
Leaf sorting
Lay your leaves on the floor. Sort them into groups, such as big and small, smooth edge and not smooth, or one piece and many pieces. Ask a friend to guess your rule.
Leaf pictures
Stick leaves onto paper to make an animal, a person or a pattern. Write a short sentence about your picture.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. A garden, park or quiet street with trees is enough. Short bursts of ten to fifteen minutes work well, so stop for a rest if attention fades.
Teachers
Use it as a starter or a table activity within a topic on plants or seasons. Collect leaves on a school grounds walk, then sort them back in class. Page 2 offers support and stretch for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair this with a nature walk, a picture book on trees or a leaf rubbing session. It can be repeated across the year in different places, and used again for brothers and sisters.
Where this fits
Before this, children learn that plants and trees are living things and begin to notice the world outside with their senses. This sheet builds on that by asking them to look carefully and describe what they see.
After this, children can go on to look at habitats and the living things found in them in Year 2. They can also try naming other common plants. Close observing and naming are useful in all of these topics.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- How are these two leaves the same and different?
- Which tree do you think this leaf came from?
- What changes do you see outside in autumn?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Autumn Leaf Collection for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can join in with help from an adult, and older children can use the stretch idea on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children practise observing, naming some common trees and sorting leaves. They collect fallen leaves, match each one to the checklist and write the names on the lines provided.
- How long does it take?
The activity is planned for about 30 minutes outside, with one to four children and a grown-up. Page 2 gives notes, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea if they want more.
- What if my child finds it too hard?
Look at a picture book or phone to match the leaf together. Start with the leaf that is easiest to spot and talk about what you see. Repeat the activity another day to build confidence.
- Is it safe to collect leaves?
Yes, with a grown-up present. Collect only fallen leaves, wash hands afterwards and keep away from berries and mushrooms. Never taste anything found outdoors. An adult should choose the place.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. The leaves you collect provide all the colour.
- Can teachers and home educators use it?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, early finisher or table activity. Home educators can use it alone or within a wider plan. It is free to print again for brothers, sisters or a repeat.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.