Autumn Leaf Mask

one of my favorite activities to do with the children in my class during this time of year was to make "Autumn Leaf Masks" with a sheet of watercolor paper, brightly painted with shades of red, yellow and orange.

1. Have an 11x15 dry, watercolor painting, painted with fall colors, ready to use.

2. Choose a beautiful oak or maple leaf.

3. Trace the leaf onto a plain piece of paper. 4) Enlarge the drawing on a photocopy machine to roughly 10x14 inches. This will become your pattern. Cut out the pattern.

4. Trace the pattern onto the backside of the watercolor painting with a pencil, and cut out the outline (5- to 7-year-olds can do this themselves!).

5. Holding the cut out leaf up to your child's face, mark with a pencil the placement of their eyes.

6. Cut out two eye holes (adults should do this part).

7. Attach a stick to the bottom of the cut-out leaf (I used clear packing tape) to make a mask which the child can hold up over his or her face.

After all the children in my class had finished their masks, we would proudly march in a procession, wearing red, yellow and gold silk playcloths for autumn capes, hiding our faces behind our beautiful Autumn Leaf Masks!