Leaf People and the Power of Early Engineering
“Look! My leaf looks like a person—just like in the book!”
Five-year-old Talia beams, pointing proudly to her leafy creation. Around her, small hands sort, stack, and arrange leaves, acorns, and twigs. The outdoor classroom hums with excitement as children transform their collections into people, animals, and mini leaf worlds.
This spark came from Lois Ehlert’s classic story, Leaf Man. After reading it together, our young engineers buzzed with ideas. Inspired by the drifting leaf creature, the children set out to gather their own materials—sorting leaves by color and shape, comparing textures, and filling baskets with loose parts. Some noticed how curled leaves made perfect boats. Others held up seed pods and asked, “Can this be a nose?” The possibilities seemed endless.
In the midst of this creative flurry, something deeper was unfolding: the beginnings of engineering design. As children selected, combined, and placed their loose parts in just the right place, they were engaging in problem-solving, visual planning, and early prototyping.
What began as a simple story connection quickly grew into rich, hands-on exploration filled with math, science, and creativity. When a book spills into play and conversation, children bridge imagination and real-world understanding in the most natural way. As they joyfully make choices about placement, layering, symmetry, and balance, they’re laying the early roots of engineering.
At this age, most children still create in two dimensions—arranging materials flat on the ground or on paper—but their thinking is full of imagination and intention. They decide what goes where, how to make things fit, and how to ensure their “leaf people” look just right.
“I need a skinny stick for the legs!”
“This one’s too pokey—it won't workil!”
“Let’s put the yellow ones on top—it’s the sun!”
When children arrange leaves into people, animals, and patterns, they’re engaging in the very heart of engineering. Choosing which leaves to layer, where to place a twig “just right,” or how to keep a “leaf person” from blowing away—these are design challenges that require planning, testing, and revising.
“Wait! My guy needs arms!”
“Try these acorn lids with the stem!”
“Oh yeah! Now he has arms and hands!”
These short exchanges are exactly where the learning begins—where imagination meets experimentation, and where mistakes turn into discoveries. This is the kind of natural engineering we too often overlook—built from play, wonder, and a desire to make something work.
Through this kind of open-ended play, children aren’t simply making art—they’re exploring cause and effect, experimenting with design, and developing confidence to try, revise, and try again. These early engineering experiences, rooted in joy and curiosity, become the foundation for critical thinking and innovation later on.
When learning grows from genuine curiosity, children stay engaged. They take risks and make their own discoveries. Whether they’re exploring nature, patterns, or stories, every bit of their play becomes a chance to wonder, test ideas, and make sense of their world.
Suddenly, the wind picks up and leaves are flying everywhere! “Oh no! Quick, get rocks!” someone shouts. Everyone scatters, finding “leaf holders” to keep their creations in place. What looked like play became a powerful moment of teamwork and problem-solving. The children were experiencing science in action: the force of wind moving objects, the need for weight to add stability, and the challenge of designing structures that can withstand the wind
This is engineering at its most authentic—testing designs against real-world conditions.These experiences—choosing, testing, building, and fixing—help children develop focus, persistence, and confidence. In these playful back-and-forth moments, real learning happens. Children use language to share ideas, practice patience as they work, and discover that every “mistake” is simply another chance to try something new.
When we plant the seeds of curiosity, play becomes the soil. With gentle guidance and intentional materials, we nurture growth in every direction. It’s not rushed or forced—it unfolds naturally, full of joy, collaboration, and wonder. And within it all, a quiet truth emerges: our youngest learners are already engineers—testing, building, and solving through play.
