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Tags: Class Ideas, Fall, Leaves, Outdoor, Indoor, Pre-k, Kinder, 1st Grade, Anytime,

Time : 45 mins 

Author: Vicki DeBusk

Greeting and ReviewMeet in your regular spot.
Ask “What do you notice about all trees and plants? What do you know about leaves? Today we will investigate different leaves.
Main Lesson Leaf Investigation 
Activity 1Examine leaves
Materials Needed: various sized, shaped and colored leaves – enough for each student to have one (you can find beforehand or have students look for them in the garden – you might have more variety if you bring from different places, pencils, crayons, hand lens, leaf investigation sheet (see below)
Activity 2 Leaf rubbings
Materials Needed: various leaves, crayons, white paper
Spanish VocabularyHoja- leaf
Cleanup Put all supplies away.
GoodbyeHave the students name a part of a leaf.

It is a good idea to split the class into smaller groups and rotate activities.  

ACTIVITY 1: Leaf examination

  1. At each table have students pick a leaf.  Have them compare leaves with others at their table. Look closely at their leaves with a hand lens.  What do all the leaves have in common?  
  2. Explain the different parts of the leaf – the stem, blade, and veins. Explain the purpose of a leaf is help make food for the plant (tree) through a process called photosynthesis. The veins in the leaves work like straws and soak up water all the way from the roots to the very tip of the leaf.
  3. Have each student fill in their investigation sheet –

Leaf investigation (Spanish)

Leaf investigation Sheet

Encourage students to raise their hand and ask questions if they are unsure about something.

ACTIVITY 2 : Leaf Rubbings

  1. At each table,  have various leaves of size and shape, white paper, crayons and pencil.
  2. Demonstrate how to rub a leaf by placing a leaf under a sheet of paper and then gently rubbing of the leaf with a crayon (I found it is easier if the crayon is used horizontally with the paper label removed)
  3. Optional  – have the students label their rubbing with stem, blade and veins

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES 

  • Read: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves

By Lucille Colandro

  • Make a leaf graph with all the different types of leaves collected.
  • Leaf symmetry – Have students cut their leaf in half and draw the other half.

CLEANUP & GOODBYE  – put away all crayons and pencils and clear off tables.

As students line up, have them name a part of the leaf.

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