# Fall Tree from a Branch
> Bring home a fallen branch, prop it up outside and tape on foam and paper leaves to make a fall tree. Then add stuffed-animal birds and watch the pretend play unfold.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activity-for-preschoolers/
- Ages: 3–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: low
- Time: prep 25 min, activity 1 hr
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class
- Skills: pretend-play, fine-motor, nature-play, tracing

## Materials (one batch)
- 1 piece Fallen tree branch (household)
- Foam leaves
- Construction paper in fall colors
- 1 roll Tape (household)
- 1 piece Scissors (household)
- 1 piece Marker or pencil (household)
- String or twine to tie the branch (household)
- Stuffed animals (birds, a spider, etc.) (optional) (household)
- Toy plates and play food (optional) (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of foam leaves: Paper leaves traced from one foam leaf (We didn't have many foam leaves, so we traced leaf patterns on construction paper using a foam leaf.)

## Safety
- A branch that is only propped up can topple over when excited kids lean on it, run behind it or run through it. Tie it securely to a swing set or other sturdy support.
- Check the branch for sharp ends, splinters or bugs before bringing it home, and supervise kids around it.
- An adult should do the cutting when sheets are stacked several layers thick.

## Before you start
- Collect a fallen branch on a nature walk.
- Trace a foam leaf onto fall-colored construction paper and cut out a pile of leaves.

## Steps
1. Find a fallen branch on a nature walk and bring it home.
2. Prop the branch up and tie it to a swing set or other sturdy support so it won't topple.
3. Trace a foam leaf onto fall-colored construction paper with a marker or pencil.
4. Stack several colored sheets and cut out the leaves so you get at least 5 at once.
5. Gather all the foam and paper leaves and head out to the tree.
6. Tape the leaves onto the twigs, wrapping the tape around the twig for extra support.
7. Hang stuffed-animal birds (or a gigantic spider!) in the branches.
8. Have a picnic or play restaurant under the fall tree.

## Tips
- Arrange as many colored sheets one on top of the other as possible while cutting. With one go, you can have at least 5 leaves.
- To keep sticking frustration-free, remind the kids to tape around the twig for additional support.
- Be ready to talk the kids into NOT taking yards of sticky tape for a tiny leaf.
- On a windy day the leaves have a hard time staying put. The tree was behaving true to its name!
- We noticed the girls are better behaved and willing to listen once we get home if they've had their share of nature play.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2012)

There is a small clearing next to Big A’s school where the girls play every.single.day after school. Just playing with sticks, twigs, climbing the trees and building nest and caves surely make them two happy little girls. I have noticed that they are better behaved and willing to listen once we get home if they have had their share of nature play. After having good fun there, we just had to drag a branch which was lying on the ground  Once the branch was propped up against our swing set, the inevitable happened.  The branch became a tree and out came her birds. Stuffed animals and backyard dirt don't really go together. However, kids thought out activities are really special to us. Anyway, a branch became a tree with happy birds singing about. A pretty long pretend play session happenedwith the girls feeding the birds, settling bird fights and fighting off mean birds. After lunch which was completed in record speed, we were out with the tree again. Big A requested for “those foam leaves we bought from Target” so that she can make a “fall tree”. I was excited because that was exactly what I had in mind. Pretty sweet when those things happen. Here it is, our second fall activity for the season Foam leaves
Fall colors construction paper
Tape
Scissors
Marker/pencil for tracing This activity is good for pre schooler and above Since we didn’t have that many foam leaves, we traced leaf patterns on construction sheets using a foam leaf.

 Quick reminder : Don’t forget to arrange as many colored sheets one on top o the other as possible while cutting. With one go, you can have atleast 5 leaves. We gathered all our leaves (foam and paper leaves) and headed out to decorate our fall tree.

 After this it is pretty much talking the kids into NOT TAKING yards of sticky tape for a tiny leaf. Since it was a mildly windy day, it made it a little hard for the leaves to stay put. The tree was behaving true to its name! Ha! To keep sticking frustration-free for the kids remind them to tape around the twig for additional support. If you find a better way to stick the leaves, good for you. We just stuck to tape ( no pun)

 Here is tree with a gigantic spider protecting all the birds.



The fun did not stop there. The kids had a picnic under the tree which transformed into a restaurant where Big A would start each sentence with a “Would you like to have a….” for the next 1 hour.



 Please note that if the tree branch is just propped up against the wall, it might occasionally topple over with the excited kids leaning over, running behind it, running through it. We tied it against the swing set and moved it to the wall just for better pictures.

Thanks for reading

Happy Sharing

Please take a moment to comment We have had more fun with nature in the past

- [Painted leaves with puffy paint and did fall art](https://www.funlittles.com/puffy-paint-fall-art/)
- [Painted trees and built nests](https://www.funlittles.com/paint-a-tree/)
- [Made mud soup](https://www.funlittles.com/mud-soup-on-the-lawn/)
- [Made bugs out of propeller seeds](https://www.funlittles.com/propeller-seeds-bugs/)