Maple Leaf Silhouettes

Maple Leaf Silhouettes lesson plan

Oh Canada! Study the mighty maple and create a spatter painting with Crayola® Washable Paint and an old toothbrush.

  • 1.

    Find a picture of the Canadian flag. Notice the prominent maple leaf and the bright red colors. Why do you think this leaf and this color were chosen as a national symbol of Canada?

  • 2.

    Research maple trees to learn where they grow, conditions under which they thrive, size, and ages of the oldest maples. Explore their uses as shade trees and for harvest of maple sugar.

  • 3.

    Search outdoors for fallen maple leaves, or use Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils to trace pictures of maple leaves on recycled file folders. Cut out the leaf patterns with Crayola Scissors.

  • 4.

    Cover the work surface with recycled newspaper. In a large, flat recycled box, such as a paper-box lid, arrange maple leaves in a pleasing design on white paper.

  • 5.

    Dip a recycled tooth brush in Crayola Washable Paint. Use your fingers to brush across the bristles, spattering paint onto the paper. Spatter a good amount of paint across the leaves.

  • 6.

    Carefully remove the leaves and then your painting from the spatter-box. Dry.

Benefits

  • Students recognize Canada's national symbol, the maple leaf, which appears on its flag.
  • Children identify characteristics of maple leaves and trees.
  • Students create a spatter painting design using maple leaves.

Adaptations

  • Use spatter painting techniques to create artwork with other natural objects. While objects that have been spattered are still wet with paint, lift them up and press them onto another paper to create a contact print.
  • Explore the Canadian provinces, comparing and contrasting their geography, peoples, and other attributes. What peoples are native to this area of North America? How do the histories of Canada, the United States, and Europe intertwine?
  • Taste various kinds of maple syrup. Record and graph class preferences. If possible, watch the process for collecting and making syrup.
  • Make a larger spatter-box for younger children and those with special needs. Cut one side away from a large box. The three remaining sides will catch any stray paint spatters as students lean in to make maple silhouettes.