Why Do Leaves Change? Script

Warm-Up: Autumn Observations (5 minutes)

"Good morning, everyone! Look around outside these days. What do you notice happening with the trees and their leaves?"

(Allow students to share observations. Guide them towards colors.)

"That’s right! We see so many beautiful colors. What colors are you seeing on the leaves? Do you remember if they were these colors all summer long?"

(Encourage discussion about the change from green to other colors.)

"Today, we're going to become leaf detectives and figure out a big mystery: Why do leaves change colors in the fall? Let's dive in!"

Introduction to Leaf Colors (Slide Deck & Script) (10 minutes)

(Display Why Do Leaves Change? Slide Deck - Slide 1)

"Here's our big question for today! We see all these amazing colors, but how does it happen?"

(Display Why Do Leaves Change? Slide Deck - Slide 2)

"Let's start with what leaves do. Leaves are super important! They are like the tree's kitchen, making all the food the tree needs to grow big and strong. They use sunlight, water, and air to cook up this food. And the special ingredient that makes it all happen, and gives leaves their green color, is called chlorophyll. Can you say 'chloro-phyll'?"

(Display Why Do Leaves Change? Slide Deck - Slide 3)

"So, all summer long, when the sun is bright and warm, chlorophyll is very busy, making tons of food for the tree. That's why leaves are usually so green in summer!"

(Display Why Do Leaves Change? Slide Deck - Slide 4)

"But what happens when fall comes? The days start to get shorter, and the air gets colder. This is the tree's signal that winter is coming, and it's time to get ready for a long nap! When this happens, the tree stops making as much chlorophyll, and the chlorophyll that's already there starts to break down and disappear."

(Display Why Do Leaves Change? Slide Deck - Slide 5)

"Now for the exciting part! When the green chlorophyll fades away, it reveals other colors that were hiding in the leaves all along! Think of it like magic, but it's actually science! What colors do you think might be hiding?"

(Allow students to guess.)

"Many leaves have yellow and orange colors hiding inside them! And sometimes, when the weather is just right, trees can even make brand new red and purple colors in their leaves! Isn't that incredible?"

(Display Why Do Leaves Change? Slide Deck - Slide 6)

"So, to put it all together: In the summer, chlorophyll is in charge, making leaves green and food for the tree. But in the fall, chlorophyll takes a break, and the amazing hidden colors, and sometimes new ones, get to shine! This is how trees prepare for winter. They shed their leaves, saving energy until spring."

Reading & Discussion: Leaf Colors (10 minutes)

"Now we're going to read a short passage that tells us even more about why leaves change colors. I'm handing out the Leaf Color Reading. You can follow along as I read, or read quietly to yourselves."

(Distribute Leaf Color Reading and allow time for reading.)

"Okay, let's talk about what we just read. What is chlorophyll, and what does it do for the tree?"

"What were some of the colors that were already in the leaves but got to show themselves in the fall?"

"Where do the bright red and purple colors come from?"

Activity: Leaf Rubbing (15 minutes)

"You've been doing a fantastic job learning about leaf colors! Now, you get to be artists and scientists! I'm going to give you a worksheet for our Leaf Rubbing Activity and some real autumn leaves that I collected. You'll also get some crayons."

"Your job is to place a leaf underneath your paper and gently rub the side of your crayon over the paper. You'll see the shape and texture of the leaf appear, and if you choose a colorful leaf, you might even pick up some of its hidden colors!"

"As you work, think about what we learned. Which colors are you revealing? Which colors do you think were hidden before? Take your time and make some beautiful leaf art!"

(Circulate and assist students. Ask guiding questions.)

Cool Down: Seasonal Tree (5 minutes)

"Amazing leaf rubbings, everyone! To finish up our lesson, I'm going to give you one last worksheet called Seasonal Tree Cool Down."

"On this paper, I want you to draw a tree. Then, color its leaves using the fall colors we talked about today. Make sure to choose colors that show what you've learned. You also need to label one part of your tree or leaf that helps explain why leaves change color. Think about that special green ingredient we discussed!"

"When you're done, you can turn it in. Great work today, leaf detectives!"

The Story of Changing Leaves

Have you ever wondered why leaves change from green to beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows in the fall? It's a special story about what's inside the leaves!

The Green Machine: Chlorophyll

All summer long, leaves are busy making food for the tree. They use sunshine, water, and air. The special ingredient that helps them do this is called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is what makes leaves green. It's like the main chef in the leaf's kitchen, working hard all summer.

Hiding Colors

But guess what? Hidden inside those green leaves, there are other colors too! There are yellow and orange colors, but we usually can't see them because the strong green of the chlorophyll covers them up. It's like they are hiding behind a green curtain!

Autumn Arrives

When autumn comes, the days get shorter and the weather gets colder. This is a sign to the trees that winter is coming, and it's time to rest. The trees start to get ready for their long winter nap.

Because the tree is getting ready for winter, it doesn't need to make as much food. So, the green chlorophyll starts to break down and disappear. It's like the green curtain is slowly being pulled away!

The Colors Shine!

As the chlorophyll disappears, the hidden yellow and orange colors can finally shine through! That's why we see so many bright yellow and orange leaves in the fall.

Some trees even make brand new colors in the fall! When the weather is just right, and there's still some sunshine, trees can make beautiful red and purple colors too. These colors are like a special autumn treat!

So, the next time you see a tree with colorful leaves, remember the amazing science happening inside them!

Leaf Rubbing Activity

Materials:

• Paper
• Crayons (peeled of paper for rubbing)
• Autumn leaves (collected from outside)

Instructions:

1. Choose a leaf you want to rub. Look at its shape and feel its texture.
2. Place the leaf underneath your paper. Make sure the side with the bumps (the veins) is facing up towards your paper.
3. Hold your paper and leaf very still with one hand.
4. Take a crayon (without its paper wrapper) and gently rub the side of the crayon over the paper where the leaf is underneath.
5. Watch as the shape and details of your leaf appear on the paper!
6. Try different leaves and different colored crayons to see what designs and colors you can create.

Think and Share:

• What colors are you seeing appear on your paper?
• Which colors do you think were hidden in the leaf before fall?
• What do these rubbings tell us about the leaves?

My Seasonal Tree

Draw a tree in the box below. Color its leaves with the beautiful fall colors you learned about today. Make sure your tree shows what happens to leaves in the autumn!

Then, label one part of your tree or leaf that helps explain why leaves change color.

What do leaves need to change color?
The trees begin to prepare for winter. They stop making food and the chlorophyll begins to break down. What colors begin to show through when the green disappears?

Chlorophyll: This is the green stuff inside leaves that helps them make food from sunlight. It's like the leaf's food factory.

Pigments: These are natural colors found in leaves. Chlorophyll is one type of pigment, but there are also yellow, orange, and even red pigments hiding in there!

Why Do Leaves Change Color?

During summer, leaves are packed with green chlorophyll, working hard to make food for the tree. But when autumn comes, the days get shorter and colder. This tells the tree that winter is coming.

The tree starts to slow down and gets ready for a long rest. It stops making chlorophyll, and the green chlorophyll that's already there begins to disappear. As the green fades away, the other colors, like yellow and orange pigments, that were always hiding in the leaves, finally get to show themselves!

Sometimes, trees can even make new red and purple pigments in the fall, especially when the days are sunny and the nights are cool. It's like a grand finale before the leaves fall off for winter.

So, the changing colors of leaves are all about the tree getting ready for winter and revealing the beautiful colors that were there all along, or making new ones!