Nature Prints
In 1890, 14-year-old Lily Paine collected flowers and leaves and pressed them between the pages of her diary to preserve them forever. The following activity is also form of preserving and studying plants from that time.
“Bring leaves and blossoms from the woods or dooryard, and half an hour may be delightfully spent in printing “impressions” which will teach a lesson in botany.”
Materials:
Leaves and flowers, paint, construction paper, wax paper, newspaper, sponges and small dishes.
Set up:
Cover a table or other surface with newspapers to keep it clean. Choose your construction paper. Put 2 or 3 colors of paint in small dishes. Cut the sponge into about 2-inch squares.
The Activity:
Place a leaf on the newspaper with the underside facing up. (Veins are more pronounced on the underside.)
Gently dab the sponge first into the paint, and then onto the leaf.
Carefully pick up the leaf, turn it over, and place it on the construction paper with the ink-side down.
Place the wax paper on top of the leaf, and then gently press the leaf onto the construction paper.
Carefully remove the leaf and wax paper to see the impression.
