Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to observe and describe the changes in autumn leaves and understand why they change color.
Materials and Prep
- Freshly fallen autumn leaves
- Magnifying glass
- White paper
- Pencil or crayons
Before starting the lesson, make sure you have collected a variety of freshly fallen autumn leaves. It would be helpful to have some white paper and coloring materials ready as well.
Activities
- Leaf Observation
- Leaf Rubbings
- Leaf Color Experiment
Take a few leaves and examine them using a magnifying glass. Observe the different colors, shapes, and textures of the leaves. Discuss what you notice with your teacher or parent.
Place a leaf on a flat surface and put a piece of white paper on top of it. Use a pencil or crayon to gently rub over the paper, revealing the shape and texture of the leaf. Try this with different leaves and compare the rubbings.
Choose a few leaves of different colors. Place them on a white paper and leave them in a sunny spot for a few days. Observe how the colors change over time. Discuss the results with your teacher or parent.
Kindergarten Grade Talking Points
- "Leaves change color in the autumn because of a special pigment called chlorophyll. This pigment helps plants make food from sunlight."
- "When the days get shorter and colder, the trees stop making food and the chlorophyll breaks down. This allows other pigments, like carotenoids and anthocyanins, to show their colors."
- "Carotenoids make leaves turn yellow, orange, and brown. Anthocyanins make leaves turn red, purple, and sometimes blue."
- "Leaves fall off the trees in the autumn because the tree doesn't need them anymore. The tree seals off the place where the leaf was attached, and a new leaf will grow in its place next spring."