Comparing Leaves

Core Learning Experience + Supplies and Equipment

  • ​Go for a walk in the yard or neighborhood. Take a plastic bag to collect different kinds of leaves and a digital camera. Ask questions: What do you notice about the trees? What do you notice about the leaves? Do all the trees have the same kind of leaves? Besides leaves, what other parts of a tree can you see?
  • Take the collection inside, and press the leaves on the sticky side of a piece of Contact paper.

Possible/Expected Discoveries

  •  Leaves are very important parts of plants, including trees. Leaves make food for the plants, so the plants can live. The plants need sunlight, water, and nutrients (food). 
  • Do all the leaves look the same? How are the leaves different? Are there any features that all the leaves have in common? How many 'points' do the leaves have?
  • Some have needles, some are broadleaf, some are long and thin, some are wide, some have one part, and others have lots of little parts.
  • Compare lengths of the leaves against other things e.g. this one is longer than my shoe; this one is smaller/shorter than my hand etc. 
  • Vocabulary: veins, stem, deciduous, evergreen, bud, spores, chlorophyll, photosynthesis 

Extended Learning and Other Curriculum Areas

  • Create a wall display of taped leaves labeled with tree name, or shape, or color, or season. Take a photo to remember them before they dry out
  • Choose one leaf and describe it for us. Leaf crayon rubbing Paint leaves and print with them
  • Leaf hat: cut hole in paper plate, glue or tape leaves around the outer circle.
  • Count leaves, hide leaves, make a leaf graph.
  • This topic could lead to studies of other parts of a plant; trees; a discussion about leaves in different seasons; photosynthesis; we eat plants.

Activity Packs and Printables

Fall Leaves 1- theme pack for preschool and pre-K
Fall Leaves 1- theme pack for preschool and pre-K. 39 pgs. $3.75
Fall Leaves 2 - theme pack for preschool and pre-K
Fall Leaves 2 - theme pack for preschool and pre-K. 42 pgs. $3.75
Match leaf silhouettes 3 different ways.
Match leaf silhouettes 3 different ways.
Leaves chant - counting backwards from 10 or 5.
Leaves chant - counting backwards from 10 or 5.
Creative coloring - different shapes of leaves.
Creative coloring - different shapes of leaves.

Websites

​http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees1/index2.html  (super resource about trees)
http://theseedsite.co.uk/leafshapes.html
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html
http://www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/leaves/leaves.htm
Leaves theme activities and printables for preschool
Arbor Day - Trees Activities for Preschool
Vegetables theme activities for preschool

Books

​Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
Why Do Leaves Change Color? By Betsy Maestro