LEAF PEEPERS

Take advantage of the science lab on your playground with these leaf activities.

Leaf Hunt
Give each child a lunch sack and let them collect 2 or 3 leaves from the ground. Bring these back in the classroom and sort by shape, color, etc. You could also graph the leaves by shape. (Whenever you collect items outside emphasize the importance of taking things from the ground. Return the objects to where you found them after exploring with them in the classroom.)

Science Center
Let children investigate leaves in the science center with a magnifying glass or microscope. Ask children to draw the enlarged leaf.

Hint! You can also take a photo of a leaf with your phone and enlarge it to show the veins and details.

Research
Check out a leaf identification book from the library. Can children match up their leaves with those in the book to identify which tree they came from?

Leaf Rubbings
Lay a sheet of paper on top of a leaf. Remove the paper from an old crayon and rub the side over the leaf to make a print.Hint! Use rubber cement to glue the leaf to the table. It will be easier for the children to make a rubbing, and you can just rub off the rubber cement after the activity.

Leaf Book
Let each child find a "favorite" leaf. To preserve, place the leaf in a sheet of newspaper and put a book on top overnight. Place the leaf in a zip baggie. Encourage children to dictate or write a sentence about their leaf. 

*Put several baggies together to make a book.

I Wonder Why?
Brainstorm why leaves turn colors and fall off trees in the fall. Have children go home and do a little research with their parents and report results in class the following day.

Deciduous Trees (Sandra Kelley)
Tune: "Do Your Ears Hang Low?"
Do your leaves fall down?
Do they tumble to the ground?
Do you lose your leaves in the fall?
Then you are deciduous that we know
because in the fall your leaves all go!

*What's the difference between deciduous trees and evergreen trees? Take a nature walk and ask children to identify both types of trees.

SCIENCE CENTER

WHY?

In the science center children are able to explore, observe, solve problems, make decisions, develop concepts about science and nature, improve language, interact socially, and develop sensory skills. Children’s curiosity about the world and their interest in nature will also be extended.

Materials:

Shelves, tables

Lab coats, safety goggles

Magnifying glass

Magnets

Plants

Prism

Aquarium

Balance scale

Science books, magazines

Pictures and posters

Thermometer

Flashlight

Feely box

Terrarium

Sensory materials

Models (dinosaurs, insects)

Mirror

Seeds, leaves, flowers, feathers

Exhibits (nature collections of rocks, shells, bones, insects, etc.)

Field guide books

Clipboard, paper, pencils

Planting area to grow sprouts, flowers, herbs, etc.


Nature Center
Take a plastic tub and fill it with objects from a natural area in your community. It's as simple as that! Invite the children to bring in other interesting items that they find in nature to add to your center.



magnifying glass
clipboard, pencils, paper
ruler
field guide book (leaves, rocks, shells, etc.)