Hapa zome - leaf-bashing
A simple children's craft activity using a hammer to create amazing leaf prints on cloth & paper.
Read More about Hapa zome - leaf-bashingINSPIRATIONS - autumn
A seasonal collection of autumn activities including leaf crafts, wand making, painting, mobiles and songs, perfect for outdoor learning and nature-based creative play.
Introduction
Celebrate the richness of autumn with a varied selection of outdoor activity ideas designed to spark creativity and seasonal curiosity. This inspiration page brings together hands-on crafts and natural art, encouraging children to engage with changing colours, textures and materials found at this time of year.
Ideal for Forest School, nurseries, primary outdoor learning and home education, it offers flexible ideas that support exploration, imagination and group participation. Children can experiment with natural resources while developing fine motor skills and creative confidence.
A practical, go-to collection for embracing autumn outdoors, helping practitioners and families make the most of this colourful and inspiring season.
What you'll need
This activity has been provided by
Useful items from our shop
- Autumn - Gerda Muller
- A Year of Forest School: Outdoor Play and Skill-Building Fun for Every Season - Jane Worroll & Peter Houghton
- Planning for Learning through Autumn
- Skeleton Leaves
- Discover Leaves & Seeds Set
Item available from our shop
Environmental Considerations
Consider the environmental impact of preparing, carrying out & completing this activity. Could this impact be reduced? Specific considerations for this activity could include:
- foraging tips
- leave no trace
Health & Safety Considerations
Follow your usual operating procedures and carry out appropriate risk benefit assessments.
Some considerations particular to this activity include:
- see individual activities
Autumn Leaves
Autumn leaf wand
A magical children's woodland craft activity - a simple-to-make leaf wand for ushering in the autumn fairies.
Read More about Autumn leaf wand
Leaf decorations
Combine leaves & cookie cutters for a fun and effective natural art project for children.
Read More about Leaf decorationsAutumn Art & Craft
Draw or paint a spider's web
A super simple mark making activity using a wooden disc to create a spider web decoration.
Read More about Draw or paint a spider's web
String spiders web
A simple stick and string activity to create your own spiders web!
Read More about String spiders web
Painted pumpkins
A fun hand-painted Halloween decoration, perfect to hang indoors or out.
Read More about Painted pumpkinssome More autumn ideas
Make a broomstick
A simple way to make a useful broom & with a bit of imagination you might be able to fly it!
Read More about Make a broomstick
Autumn hanging mobile
A simple autumnal activity to remind you of the season and all its glorious colours. Slightly different technique to our leaf mobile.
Read More about Autumn hanging mobile
Video: Autumn Songs for Forest School
3 Songs Celebrating Nature
seasonal inspirations
INSPIRATIONS - berries
A selection of activities to inspire you during the berry season.
Read More about INSPIRATIONS - berries
INSPIRATIONS - leaves
The perfect resource for a natural material activity - there's a lot you can do with a leaf!
Read More about INSPIRATIONS - leaves
INSPIRATIONS - conkers
An autumn conker activity collection with nature facts, crafts, games and ideas to support creative outdoor learning using this seasonal woodland treasure.
Read More about INSPIRATIONS - conkersin our shop
Autumn - Gerda Muller
£5.99 exVATAutumn is a fun board book without text and full of illustrations which shows the joys of playing in leaves, collecting conkers, flying kites and making jam.
Buy now
A Year of Forest School: Outdoor Play and Skill-Building Fun for Every Season - Jane Worroll & Peter Houghton
£14.99 exVATRain or shine, this book will get kids playing outside, developing new skills and discovering the wonder of nature across the year!
Buy now
Autumn Inspirations - free pdf download
First appeared in issue 3 of the Outdoor Practitioner - our free online magazine - Autumn 2021.
Autumn Inspirations
Disclaimer: Muddy Faces cannot take any responsibility for accidents or damage that occurs as a result of following this activity.You are responsible for making sure the activity is conducted safely.
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Key Features
- Age Range All Ages
- Duration Less than an hour
- Location Anywhere
- Season Autumn
- Time of Day Anytime
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Categories:
Inspirations
Art & Creating
leaves, sticks & petals
Activity Downloads