Fall Leaf Counting Mats (Free Printable)
As the leaves change color and fall from the trees, it’s the perfect time to engage in fun Fall activities that celebrate the beauty of autumn. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to a fun and free fall-themed activity with my Fall leaf counting mats.
This free Fall printable activity is ideal for preschoolers and kindergarteners, offering a playful way to learn number recognition, counting, one-to-one correspondence, and fine motor skills while immersing children in the wonders of the fall season.
Keep reading to grab these free Fall leaf counting mats and bring engaging math worksheets into your classroom this November.
Benefits of Using A Fall Leaf Counting Mat
Counting mats are invaluable tools in early childhood education. They provide a hands-on and interactive way for children to grasp foundational math concepts. My Fall leaf counting mat engages students in a multisensory learning experience, which is extremely effective for young learners.
Counting mats encourage active participation, and are highly engaging. Using counting mats in the classroom fosters a deeper understanding of numbers, counting, and basic math kids need to master and build upon.
Additionally, they promote fine motor skills as children manipulate objects, such as the plastic leaves on these Autumn Leaf Counting Mats.
Plus, the visual and tactile elements of my counting mats make learning enjoyable and memorable, helping children build a strong foundation in math while having a blast in the process. You won’t want to miss out on these fun printables!
Learning Through Play
While your kids learn with my Autumn leaf counting mats, they are simultaneously engaged in a wealth of valuable learning experiences. Here are my favorite ways kids learn through play with counting mats:
Number Recognition
By selecting numbered mats, children begin to recognize numerals, laying the foundation for numerical understanding.
Counting Skills
The act of counting out the leaves one by one helps children develop their counting skills, allowing them to practice counting to 10 and beyond.
One-to-One Correspondence
The concept of one-to-one correspondence is reinforced as each leaf is placed in correspondence with a number. This understanding is fundamental to mathematical development.
Fine Motor Skills
Picking up and placing the plastic leaves on the mat enhances fine motor skills, strengthening finger muscles and dexterity.
Setting Up Your Autumn Leaf Counting Mat
With all your supplies in hand, let’s move on to setting up the Autumn Leaf Counting Mat printable activity. Luckily for you, it’s extremely low prep!
Begin by printing the 1-20 leaf mats on thicker paper. Consider laminating them to ensure durability and hours of learning fun.
Once you’re done printing and laminating, your students are ready to learn! Simply toss the Fall counting mats and leaves in a Fall themed math center for easy accessibility.
My Free Printable Fall Leaf Counting Mat
Ready to grab your own counting leaves activity? These free printable counting mats are perfect to use with your preschool and early elementary students to practice counting, number recognition, and fine motor skills.
I think small plastic leaves work best for this activity since they fit well on the mat without obscuring the images.
However, you could easily incorporate nature study with this printable by taking it outdoors and asking students to find the correct number of fallen leaves to complete the activity.
Counting mats like this are one of my favorite math center resources because they incorporate hands-on learning and fine motor skills development, too. Plus, they’re so versatile!
You can easily adapt these printable Fall leaf counting mats for upper elementary students by asking them to choose two numbered mats and add, subtract, or multiply the leaves.
More Printable Leaf Activities and Crafts
In addition to the Autumn Leaf Counting Mat activity, we have two more engaging printable leaf activities and crafts that you can enjoy with your preschoolers.
Fall Leaf Name Craft Activity
This creative Fall activity combines name recognition with an easy cut and paste leaf-themed craft.
To recreate this adorable Fall leaf name craft, print the template on colored paper or have students color their own.
Students will then write the letters of their name on each leaf, reinforcing letter recognition while also working on fine motor skills.
Children can arrange their name leaves to personalize their craft and add a person jumping in the pile for a festive touch. Be sure to have them write their name on the provided worksheet as well for even more fine motor enhancement.
This activity not only promotes name recognition but also encourages creativity as children design their leafy playground. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the fall season while practicing important early literacy skills.
Fall Leaf Math Craft
This hands-on fall leaf math craft incorporates counting, sorting, ten frames, and graphing, all while embracing the autumn theme.
To do this in your classroom, grab my templates and give each child a handful of paper leaves in various colors. To differentiate for younger students, focus on one color only.
The children start by sorting the leaves by color and counting how many of each they have. Next, they use ten frames (provided as printable templates) to represent the appropriate quantity of leaves for each color.
Once the ten frames are filled out, it’s time for graphing.
The children are given a simple bar graph template (several options available) to represent and display the number of each leaf color.
This counting leaves math craft is a fantastic way to integrate math skills into a fun and visually appealing activity. It encourages children to practice counting, sorting, and graphing, all while celebrating the vibrant colors of fall leaves.
These printable leaf activities and crafts add a layer of excitement and hands-on learning to your fall curriculum. They engage young minds in creative exploration while reinforcing important skills, making the autumn season in the classroom even more memorable and educational.
Free Grateful Craft for Kids
As we approach the season of gratitude and Thanksgiving, it’s the perfect time to engage children in crafting projects that foster appreciation and thankfulness.
One such craft is the creation of a Thankful Tree. This activity encourages children to reflect on what they are grateful for and express their thanks in a creative and visual way.
To start, you’ll need to download my printable tree and leaf templates.
Begin by providing each child with the gratefulness worksheet. Then, encourage your kids to take a moment to reflect on the things they are grateful for.
It might be family, friends, a special toy, good health, delicious food, or anything that warms their hearts. This moment of reflection is a beautiful opportunity to instill the value of gratitude.
Once they’ve identified what they’re thankful for, have the children write or draw these items on the individual leaf cutouts. This step not only reinforces writing and drawing skills but also allows them to express their feelings of gratitude in a tangible way. They can use markers and decorate the leaves as they wish.
Now comes the fun part! Instruct the children to glue their grateful leaves onto the branches of the thankful tree worksheet. Each leaf represents something they’re thankful for. As the leaves accumulate, the tree comes to life with expressions of gratitude.
Once the Thankful Tree is complete, let it dry. You can then display it throughout the classroom walls, a Fall bulletin board, or at home where everyone can admire it.
Benefits of Completing Grateful Activities
Encourage the children to share what they’ve written on their leaves with their peers or family members. This sharing fosters a sense of community and reminds everyone of the many blessings in their lives.
The Thankful Tree craft not only serves as a beautiful decoration but also as a meaningful reminder of the importance of gratitude during the Thanksgiving season. It allows children to express their appreciation in a creative way and reinforces the value of recognizing and cherishing the positive aspects of life.
Leaf Themed Books for Preschoolers
To make the Fall leaf counting mats even more festive, be sure to pair them with a Fall read aloud. Here are my favorite preschool leaf themed books kids love!
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
This enchanting picture book takes children on an imaginative journey following a leaf man made up of different fallen leaves. It’s a fantastic choice for exploring the transformation of leaves during the fall.
Why Do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro
This educational book provides a simple and engaging explanation of why leaves change color in the fall. It’s a great way to introduce young children to the science of the changing seasons.
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson
Join Fletcher, a curious fox, as he tries to save his favorite tree’s leaves when they begin to fall. This heartwarming story is a perfect choice for discussing change and acceptance during the autumn season.
The Leaves on the Trees by Thom Wiley
This rhythmic and rhyming book takes children on a journey through the changing seasons and the leaves on the trees. It’s a great choice for exploring the beauty of nature throughout the year, with a focus on fall.
Reading these fall-themed books aloud in the classroom can enhance children’s understanding of the season, foster a love for reading, and spark discussions about the changing leaves and the beauty of nature.
Enjoy your fall leaf adventures with these wonderful books!
Summing Up The Best Fall Leaf Counting Mats
These Fall leaf counting mats are a wonderful way to merge play and learning during the fall season. These moments of exploration, creativity, and discovery are what make childhood truly special.
So, go ahead and download your Fall leaf worksheets, gather your supplies, and have fun learning to count those colorful leaves while celebrating the Fall season. And don’t forget to explore more fun Fall activities for preschoolers to keep the autumn spirit alive and thriving!
If you have more fantastic fall-themed activities or craft ideas to share, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
