Introduction

You are a botanist who is interested in exploring the seasonal changes of leaves and trees. You will be working in class and at home. You will be using books and the internet to help you find your information. Your biggest source of information will be nature itself.

Get ready to go explore nature and learn about leaves and trees.

We will start by focusing on fall and then move through winter and spring to explore the following:

• life needs and functional parts of plants;
• characteristics of plants including edible or nonedible, flowering or nonflowering, evergreen or deciduous(trees that lose their leaves in winter);
• needs of a plant;
• plants are a natural resource and that they are important to all life.

Leaf Arrangements:

We will explore this link in class.

Leaves, Leaves, Leaves

At Home Activity 1

Take a nature hike. You are looking for branches with leaves that are still attached. After you find your branch go home and click on the above link. Compare the arrangements. Write about your arrangement and bring it in to share. Is your arrangement opposite, alternate, whorled or basal?

Leaf Shapes:

At Home Activity 2

Put on your hiking shoes and go back out to find leaves. Collect 4 different leaves. When you get home, click onto the above link and find out which shapes you found. There are 13 different shapes so look carefully to find yours. Write down which shapes you found and bring them in to share.

At Home Activity 3

Autumn Leaf Scapbook

Click on the above link and explore all the different types of leaves. Collect leaves and make a scrapbook using this site to label your leaves. Bring your scrapbook in to share.

The Meaning of Fall:

At Home Activity 4

Why Do Leaves Change Color?

Click on the above link and read about why leaves change color in the fall with your parents. While you are reading, see if you can answer the following questions. Please write down your answers and bring them in to share.

1. What is the green color in a leaf called?

2. Why do leaves change colors?

Trees:

Be a botanist at home with your parents. Use the following link to explore trees and do projects at home.

What Color are Leaves in the Fall?

Tree Art

Washington Edison Elementary School, Texas

Crafts

We will be working on leaf and tree activities through October and November. The "At Home" activities will be collected as homework. We will be using this page in class also. As always, remember to do your best work.

You have just begun your work as a botanist, so keep on using our page for fun and exploration.

Watch for new activities as the seasons change!

Credits & References

Images from Altavista Images.

Background from Barry's Clip Art. 

**Special Thanks to Paula Messer and Martha Short for all of your help.