My Leaf Pigment Journal

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Part 1: Observe and Draw

Find a leaf (real or from a picture provided by your teacher). Look closely at its colors.

Draw your leaf below. Try to show all the different colors you see, even if they are just small parts!

Part 2: Label the Pigments!

Now, let's think about the hidden and shining colors!

Use your crayons or colored pencils to label where you think each of these pigments would be in your leaf, or what part of the leaf shows their color.

• Chlorophyll (Green Maker)
• Carotenoids (Yellow/Orange Hiders)
• Anthocyanins (Red/Purple Makers - only in some leaves in fall!)

Part 3: Reflect

What is one new thing you learned about why leaves change color?

Leaf Color Scavenger Hunt!

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Instructions:

Your mission, Leaf Detective, is to find leaves of different colors! You can look outside (if your teacher says it's okay) or examine the leaves your teacher has provided.

For each leaf you find, draw it and then decide what color pigment you think is making it look that way. Remember our secret agents: Chlorophyll (green), Carotenoids (yellow/orange), and Anthocyanins (red/purple)!

Leaf 1

Color(s) I see: ____________________

What pigment do you think is making this color? ____________________

Draw your leaf here:

Leaf 2

Color(s) I see: ____________________

What pigment do you think is making this color? ____________________

Draw your leaf here:

Leaf 3

Color(s) I see: ____________________

What pigment do you think is making this color? ____________________

Draw your leaf here:

Leaf 4 (Bonus!)

Color(s) I see: ____________________

What pigment do you think is making this color? ____________________

Draw your leaf here:

Colors of Fall Cool Down

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

What did you learn today, Leaf Detective?

Write or draw one important thing you learned about why leaves change colors in the fall.

## Bonus Question:

If you were a tree, what color would you want your leaves to turn in the fall and why?

Dialogue for Difficult Conversations

Introduction (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone. Today, we're diving into a really important life skill: 'How Do You Navigate Tough Talks?' Think about it – disagreements are a part of life, whether it's with friends, family, or even future colleagues. Our goal today is to learn how to handle these moments respectfully and effectively."

Teacher: "To start, I want you to take a moment to reflect. What comes to mind when you hear the word 'conflict'? How do you usually react when you find yourself in a disagreement? Do you try to avoid it, confront it directly, or is there another way you approach it? You can think to yourself or jot down a quick note.


"

Teacher: "Now, turn to a partner and briefly share your thoughts. There's no right or wrong answer here; we all have different styles. We'll bring it back to the whole group in a couple of minutes."

(Allow 2-3 minutes for partner sharing. Circulate and listen to student responses.)

Teacher: "Alright, let's hear from a few pairs. What did you discuss? Were there any common themes or surprising insights?"

(Facilitate a brief whole-class discussion, linking responses to the idea that conflict is natural and how we react varies.)

Understanding Conflict in Professional Settings (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Great insights! Now, let's shift our focus a bit to professional settings. Imagine you're working on a team project, or you're in a job, and a disagreement comes up. Why is it particularly important to handle conflict well in those environments?"

(Display Slide 5: Why Professional Communication Matters from the slide deck.)

Teacher: "As you can see on the slide, constructive communication helps maintain relationships, achieve goals, and even build your reputation. It's not about avoiding conflict, but about facing it in a way that leads to positive outcomes."

Teacher: "So, what is conflict? It's not always a shouting match. It can be a simple difference of opinion, a misunderstanding, or a clash of ideas. And actually, conflict isn't always bad. Can anyone think of a time when a disagreement led to something positive?"

(Allow time for student responses, guiding them to see conflict as an opportunity for growth and better solutions.)

Key Strategies for Constructive Conflict (15 minutes)

Teacher: "Excellent points. Now, let's get into some specific strategies that can help us navigate these 'tough talks' more effectively."

(Display Slide 6: Strategy 1: Active Listening)

Teacher: "Our first strategy is Active Listening. This means more than just hearing words. It means truly trying to understand the other person's perspective. It involves paying full attention, asking clarifying questions, and even summarizing what you heard to make sure you got it right. Why do you think summarizing what someone said is so powerful?"

(Allow for student responses, emphasizing empathy and preventing misunderstandings.)

(Display Slide 7: Strategy 2: Use 'I' Statements)

Teacher: "Next, we have Using 'I' Statements. This is a game-changer. Instead of saying, 'You always interrupt me,' which sounds accusatory, we can say, 'I feel frustrated when I'm interrupted because I lose my train of thought.' This focuses on your feelings and the impact, not on blaming. Can someone give an example of an 'I' statement they might use?"

(Encourage students to practice formulating 'I' statements.)

(Display Slide 8: Strategy 3: Choose Your Moment)

Teacher: "Strategy three is about Choosing Your Moment. Trying to have a serious conversation when someone is rushed, stressed, or in a public place is usually not effective. It's important to find a private, neutral space and ensure both parties are calm and ready to talk. Setting a positive intention, like 'I want to understand and find a solution,' also helps."

(Display Slide 9: Strategy 4: Focus on Solutions)

Teacher: "Finally, Focus on Solutions. Once you've listened actively and expressed your feelings, the goal is to work together to find a solution. Brainstorm ideas, look for common ground, and be willing to compromise. It's not about 'winning' the argument, but finding a 'win-win' where everyone feels heard and respected."

Practice and Reflection (15 minutes)

Teacher: "Now let's put some of these ideas into practice. We're going to do a quick scenario activity. Imagine you're working on a group project, and one of your teammates isn't pulling their weight, making you worried about the deadline. How might you approach this 'tough talk' using the strategies we just discussed?"

(Divide students into small groups or pairs for a brief role-play. Provide them with the scenario and encourage them to use active listening and 'I' statements.)

Teacher: "Alright, let's bring it back together. What did you learn from that quick practice? Was it easy or challenging to use the 'I' statements or actively listen?"

(Facilitate a brief discussion on the challenges and successes of practicing the strategies.)

Teacher: "To help you continue reflecting on these important skills, I'm handing out a Conflict Resolution Reflection Prompts Journal. You can start on the first prompt now, and keep it to use whenever you encounter a situation where these skills might be helpful."

(Distribute the journal and allow 5-7 minutes for students to begin writing.)

Wrap-Up: Key Takeaways (5 minutes)

Teacher: "As we wrap up today, let's quickly review the core ideas. What are one or two key strategies you'll try to remember when you need to navigate a tough talk?"

(Display Slide 10: Recap: Navigating Tough Talks)

Teacher: "Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you consciously apply active listening, 'I' statements, choosing your moment, and focusing on solutions, the more natural and effective your professional communication will become. Keep using your Conflict Resolution Reflection Prompts Journal to reflect on your experiences."

Teacher: "Thank you for your active participation today! I hope you feel more equipped to handle tough talks with confidence and respect."