Investigate Leaves Lesson Plan

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What We Are Learning
 

Science Focus:

leaves


Theme Vocabulary:
investigate, ginkgo, elm, oak, maple, veins, float, crunch, evergreen

 

Skills We’re Practicing:
group discussion, critical thinking, vocabulary, counting, visual discrimination

  • We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger is an adorable story with a familiar refrain. Students will enjoy learning about different types of leaves—like birch, maple, and hickory—as they go hunting for leaves with the children in the story. As you read, encourage students to say the names of each leaf and what they notice about it.

Look at a Leaf

Materials: Look at a Leaf printable; leaves; crayons

  • Let children get hands-on with nature by looking at leaves!
  • Go on an autumn nature walk with your class after leaves have fallen from the trees.
  • Ask children to collect four or five leaves that look special to them. Encourage them to use words to describe the leaves, noting the color, shape, and size of each leaf.
  • Bring the leaf collections back to the classroom. Ask students to choose one leaf to investigate. Remind them that investigating the leaf means ooking at it closely to learn more about it.
  • Give each student a leaf skill sheet and some crayons. Demonstrate how to do a leaf rubbing. Students can also draw their leaf.
  • Once each student has documented their leaf, gather everyone into the meeting area to take turns sharing the findings of their leaf investigation. observation/fine-motor skills

Materials: scissors; large paper plates; leaves; liquid glue; paintbrushes; large tray; nontoxic spray adhesive; ribbon or yarn; hole punch; tote bag or basket

  • Use found leaves to make this seasonal craft!
  • In advance, cut out the circular centers of paper plates, leaving just the outer border. Cut enough so each child gets one.
  • Go on a nature walk with your students. Have children gather a variety of colorful leaves. (It’s helpful to bring a tote bag to carry the leaves.)
  • When you return to the class, tell children they will make wreaths with the leaves they collected!
  • Put the leaves in a tray at a table, and give each student a border. Have children use a paintbrush to cover their border with glue. Then have them stick leaves to the border. Guide children as they work, making sure the leaves are close together.
  • When children are done, use spray adhesive to hold the leaves in place and preserve their color. Let the wreaths dry overnight.
  • Finally, use a hole punch to make a hole at the top of each wreath, and guide children as they thread ribbon through the hole and tie it off. fine-motor skills