Bring the season to life in your classroom with the Autumn Echidna Leaf Activity. A nature-based activity designed to strengthen fine motor skills and encourage creativity using nature. This hands-on project is ideal for Foundation and early primary students, offering two flexible crafting options to suit different learning styles and timeframes.    

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Strengthen fine motor skills including finger strength and bilateral coordination
• ✅ Practise hand-eye coordination through cutting, gluing, and arranging leaves
• ✅ Develop spatial awareness by layering natural materials with purpose
• ✅ Engage in creative expression using seasonal, real-world materials

 

What’s Included:

• Two echidna craft template options (ready-to-use and cut-and-paste)
• Optional backing template
• Printable banner for class display
• Optional writing template for extension work
• Teacher instructions with photo example

 

Materials Needed:

• Printed templates
• Dried autumn leaves (collected from home or school)
• Craft glue and scissors
• Optional: coloured card or paint for background display

 

How to Use:

• • Have students collect fallen autumn leaves in a variety of shapes and colours
• • Choose between the ready-to-use or cut-and-paste version
• • Students arrange and glue the leaves onto the echidna’s back, layering from back to front
• • Let the craft dry before displaying with the included banner

 

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during your autumn unit as a fine motor and nature-based craft
• 💡 Display finished echidnas on a bulletin board with the seasonal banner
• 💡 Create a writing link by having students label or describe their echidna

 

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Enlarge the template to A3 for younger students who need more space to work
• 💛 Trim leaves to make layering easier and enhance the finished product
• 💛 Use coloured card or painted backgrounds for a vibrant classroom display

  The Autumn Echidna: Fine Motor Craft is a powerful and flexible way to bring nature into your classroom while developing key early years skills. Choose the format that suits your learners and start crafting today!