Cinnamon Dough Leaves

What You Need:

• 1 cup of flour
• ½ cup of salt
• 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• Glass measuring cup
• Approx. 2 tablespoons of red tempera paint
• Boiling water (just under ¾ cup)
• Mixing bowl
• Spoon
• Hand mixer
• Computer with internet access

What You Do:

1. Help your child measure the first 5 ingredients into the mixing bowl. Let them stir things together while you prepare the water.
2. An adult is needed for this step. Have your child squirt red tempera paint into a glass measuring cup. Two generous squirts will do. Add boiling water to the measuring cup until the water and paint measure ¾ of a cup. Pour it into the mixing bowl with the other ingredients. Although your child may want to use the hand mixer, get the dough started yourself so they don't splash themselves with the hot water.
3. Once the hot water is mixed in but the dough is not yet smooth, your child can help with mixer.
4. It will take the dough approximately 10 minutes to cool. Look at a variety of leaves. How are they shaped? Some are shaped like a mitten, some like a football and others like a hand. If you need to see some more leaves, search online for a leaf guide. You might want to find one that corresponds with your local leaves.
5. Help your child roll or pat out the dough. Working with their hands and a plastic knife, challenge them to make as many different leaves as possible. Can they shape an elm leaf? A tulip tree leaf? A sassafras leaf?

Expand on this activity by making it into an orange and yellow dough and adding allspice or cloves for an extra scent. Decorate the table with a collection of spice-scented autumn leaves.