Easy Autumn Leaf Clay Bowls for EYFS
Looking for a simple EYFS autumn art activity using leaves and clay?
Leaf clay tiles are an easy, hands-on way for Nursery and Reception children to explore pattern, texture, shape and natural materials.
Children press autumn leaves into flattened clay, gently peel them away and investigate the detailed veins, edges and shapes left behind.
It is low-prep, creative and ideal for an autumn outdoor learning session or continuous provision. Explore more with the Early Years Outdoor Play Hub.
New to Outdoor Learning? Start Here
You do not need lots of specialist equipment for outdoor art.
Start with:
Clay + a basket of autumn leaves.
You will need:
- air-drying clay or natural clay
- a selection of autumn leaves
- wooden boards or trays
- rolling pins or hands for flattening
- sticks or clay tools
- string or ribbon if you want to hang the finished tiles
Take the activity outdoors and allow children to collect some of their own leaves first.
Try to gather leaves with different:
- shapes
- sizes
- edges
- veins
- textures
The aim is to explore what happens when natural materials meet clay.
Discover more in the Early Years Outdoors Expressive Arts Guide.
What Are Children Learning?
Expressive Arts and Design
Children investigate how natural materials can be used to create marks, patterns and textures.
They can explore:
- imprinting
- shape
- pattern
- surface
- texture
- composition
Physical Development
Clay provides lots of opportunities for children to:
- squeeze
- roll
- press
- pinch
- flatten
- peel
- manipulate
These actions help develop hand strength and fine motor control.
Communication and Language
Encourage children to describe what they notice.
Useful vocabulary might include:
leaf, vein, edge, smooth, rough, bumpy, pattern, print, press, roll, shape, texture, autumn.
Ask:
What can you see?
How does your leaf feel?
What happened when you pressed it into the clay?
Can you see all the veins?
Understanding the World
Before making the tiles, spend time looking closely at the leaves.
Children might notice that leaves are:
- different sizes
- different shapes
- different colours
- smooth or rough
- pointed or rounded
- beginning to dry or curl
You could compare leaves from different trees and encourage children to look for similarities and differences.
This turns a simple art activity into an opportunity for close observation.
Mathematics Through Leaf Clay Tiles
There are plenty of simple mathematical opportunities within the activity too.
Children can:
- sort leaves by size
- compare long and short leaves
- find the biggest and smallest
- count the points around a leaf
- compare shapes
- make repeated leaf-print patterns
Ask:
Which leaf is bigger?
Which has more points?
Can you find two leaves that look similar?
Can you make a repeating pattern?
Make It More Child-Led
Instead of preparing identical tiles for every child, place the clay beside a basket of leaves and allow children to decide how they want to use them.
Some children might:
- make one large leaf print
- overlap several leaves
- create repeating patterns
- cover the whole tile
- use tiny leaves
- press stems into the clay
- combine leaves with bark, grasses or seed heads
There does not need to be one finished outcome.
The interesting part is the children’s investigation.
Create an Autumn Clay Printing Station
This activity can easily become part of your continuous provision.
Set out:
Clay
Small lumps or slabs ready for children to manipulate.
Autumn leaves
A range of shapes, sizes and textures.
Extra natural printing materials
Try:
- bark
- acorn cups
- grasses
- pinecones
- seed heads
- twigs
- conkers
Simple tools
Add:
- rolling pins
- sticks
- blunt clay tools
- wooden boards
Then allow children to experiment independently with the marks each material makes.
Take the Learning Further
Compare Different Leaves
Make several tiles using different leaves.
Once complete, ask:
Which print has the clearest veins?
Which leaf made the biggest print?
Which has the most interesting edge?
Make an Autumn Pattern Tile
Press several small leaves into one clay tile in a repeating or symmetrical arrangement.
Create a Class Autumn Gallery
Each child creates one tile.
Display them together to create a collaborative autumn art installation.
Add Natural Textures
Once children understand leaf printing, introduce:
- bark
- acorn cups
- pinecones
- grasses
- seed heads
Compare the marks each one creates.
Make Hanging Decorations
Before the clay dries, add a hole near the top.
Once dry, add string or ribbon and display the tiles indoors or outside in a sheltered area.
More EYFS Autumn Art Ideas
If your children enjoy making leaf clay tiles, try:
Clay Pumpkins
Roll clay into balls, add grooves with sticks and use twigs for stalks.
Conker Creatures
Use clay as a joining material between conkers, sticks, acorns and leaves.
Autumn Texture Boards
Press a mixture of bark, conkers, acorn cups, grasses and pinecones into clay.
Clay Hedgehogs
Shape a simple clay body and add short sticks or seed heads for spikes.
Clay Leaf Bowls
Press clay over or around a large leaf to create a shallow textured bowl.
Autumn Clay Weaving
Make holes around the edge of a clay slab and weave grasses, wool or other natural fibres through once suitable.
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EYFS Leaf Clay Tiles FAQs
How do you make leaf prints in clay?
Flatten a piece of clay, place a leaf onto the surface, press it firmly into the clay and then gently peel it away. The veins, edges and shape of the leaf should leave an impression behind.
What leaves work best for clay printing?
Leaves with clear veins and interesting shapes tend to create strong prints. Try collecting a variety so children can compare the different results.
What autumn art activities are suitable for EYFS?
Simple activities using clay and natural materials work particularly well, including leaf tiles, clay pumpkins, clay hedgehogs, conker creatures, texture boards and leaf bowls.
What does clay modelling support in EYFS?
Clay can support fine motor development, creativity, communication, observation, sensory exploration and children’s understanding of shape, texture and form.
How can I make leaf printing more child-led?
Provide clay and a varied basket of natural materials without giving children a fixed finished model to copy. Allow them to choose which items to press, how many to use and how they want their tile to look.
Can I use other natural materials with the clay?
Yes. Bark, pinecones, twigs, seed heads, acorn cups and grasses can all be explored for the different marks and textures they create.
Can this activity be done outdoors?
Yes. It works especially well outdoors because children can collect and investigate their own leaves before using them to create their prints.
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