Autumn is one of the most inspiring seasons for art—and now you can bring that beauty directly into your classroom or homeschool with this Autumn Falling Leaves Art Project that includes Writing Prompts, Reading Comprehension & extra drawing activities. Designed for Grades 1–4, this art lesson plan is packed with drawing and painting opportunities, literacy connections, and reflection activities that make it a truly interdisciplinary art resource.

If you’ve ever wished you had an art lesson that’s not only beautiful but also easy to teach and aligned to standards, this is the one. With step-by-step drawing and painting instructions, cross-curricular literacy integration, and engaging activities like gallery walks and artist statements, your students will explore autumn in a meaningful and memorable way. This isn’t just another “cute fall craft”—it’s an artwork lesson plan designed to build creative confidence, critical thinking, and connections across subjects.

Whether you’re teaching in the classroom, from a cart, or at the kitchen table, this art resource is flexible enough to meet your needs. Students can use a variety of mediums (wax crayon, oil pastel, marker, colored pencil, watercolor, or tempera paint), making it adaptable to whatever supplies you have on hand. It’s also the perfect solution for teachers who want to hit both art and literacy standards without doubling their workload.

What This Art Resource Includes (Non-Editable):

This Autumn Falling Leaves Art Project is bursting with value:

• Full Lesson Plan – A complete teacher’s guide with step-by-step instructions.
• Lesson Hook (Puzzle Activity) – A cut-apart picture puzzle that engages students right away.
• Mediums & Materials Suggestions – Flexible options: wax crayon, oil pastel, marker, or colored pencil for drawing; watercolor paints, tempera cakes, or watered-down tempera for painting.
• Step-by-Step Drawing & Painting Tutorial (PowerPoint & PDF Versions)– Illustrated directions with visuals and text so students can follow along with ease.
• Poster Sample – A color example of the finished artwork to display as your lesson hook.
• Teacher Demonstration Guide – Built-in strategies for modeling drawing and painting.
• KWL Chart – To activate prior knowledge about leaves, autumn, and seasonal change.
• Reading Passages – Two leveled readings: About Autumn and the Leaf Cycle and Autumn and the Leaf Cycle with details about photosynthesis, chlorophyll, and decomposition.
• Reading Comprehension Questions – Differentiated questions with a provided answer key.
• Sight Word List & Activities – High-frequency word practice for early readers.
• Word Bank of Tricky Words – Vocabulary support (photosynthesis, chlorophyll, nutrients, cycle, decompose).
• Writing Prompts – Opinion writing (Is autumn the best season?), narrative writing (Imagine you are a leaf), and interdisciplinary journal opportunities.
• Compare & Contrast Activity – T-Chart comparing summer and autumn (with answer key).
• Creative Extensions –
  
  • Shapes & Forms activity using geometric and organic design.
  • Line exploration using intricate patterns in a leaf drawing.
  • Artwork Postcard activity inspired by student creations.

• Reflection Worksheets – Multiple options to assess understanding and encourage personal expression:
  
  • Artist’s Statement (with example)
  • 3 Stars and a Wish
  • The Message (what the artwork communicates)
  • Artwork Reflection (learning goals and creative thinking)
  • Questions & Wonders log
  • SEASONS Magazine creative process cover page

• Assessment Rubric – Covers creativity, craftsmanship, and responsibility with a 4-point scale.
• Bulletin Board Display Sign – Ready-to-print for showcasing student work with artist statements.
• Gallery Walk Guide – Structured reflection and sharing activity for concluding the lesson.

This resource is a complete mini-unit that weaves together art, literacy, science, and reflection.