Leaf Man book by Lois Ehlert

Crunch, crunch.. leaves.  Sweet, spicy cinnamon.  Crisp, tart, cool, sweet apples.  Ah.... fall! 

I love the book Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert. Available from Amazon here.  

Wonderful text and beautiful illustrations.  I have used it many ways, including a simple lesson using "Rustle of Spring" by Sinding.  The music is here. 
I was browsing around today and what to my wondering eyes did appear but another beautiful lesson using this book by the fabulous Marjie Van Gunten!  It is available here from Teaching With Orff blog.  Go!! Seriously.. wonderful lesson!!!! Oh. wait.. more..
I have used the book with this lesson:

*Idea can be found at: http://mrskingrocks.blogspot.com/2013/10/leaf-man.html  Original idea by Daniel Fee

 

Process:

·        Read book, discuss

·        Assign small groups of students parts in the book (there are 12 parts, divide accordingly):  Chickens, ducks and geese, pumpkins and winter squash, turkey, cabbages, meadows, cows, breeze, river, butterflies going south, birds.

·        Give each student a small handful of fall colored square pieces of construction paper (or faux leaves from Dollar Tree). Demonstrate how they will throw them in the air on their special part (cabbage, chickens, etc.).  Once their pieces are on the floor, they create a shape that shows how leaves look.  Spiky, curled at the edges, in a line, curve, etc.

·        Play “Rustle of Spring” by Sinding while reading and dramatizing

 

Happy Fall, y'all!