Teacher Script for Leaf Colors Lesson

Warm-Up: Nature's Mystery (5 minutes)

"Good morning, everyone! Let's start our day with a quick share. What's your favorite season, and why? Turn and talk to a partner for about 30 seconds."

Allow students to share briefly.

"Great sharing! I heard some wonderful reasons for loving different seasons. Today, we're going to dive into a mystery from one of my favorite seasons: autumn! Who here loves seeing all the beautiful, colorful leaves in the fall?" Pause for responses.

"It's truly magical, isn't it? But have you ever stopped to wonder, Why do leaves change color? That's our big question for today! Let's take a look at some of these amazing leaves." Direct students' attention to the Why Do Leaves Change Color? Slide Deck - Slide 2.

Introduction to Photosynthesis & Chlorophyll (15 minutes)

"Before we unlock the secret of fall colors, we need to understand something super important that plants do all the time. It's called photosynthesis." Direct students' attention to the Why Do Leaves Change Color? Slide Deck - Slide 3.

"Can everyone say 'photo-synthesis' with me?" Wait for students to repeat. "Fantastic! Photosynthesis is how plants make their own food. Think of plants like tiny chefs, and their kitchen is their leaves! They use three main ingredients: sunlight from the sun, water from the soil, and air around us. With these ingredients, they cook up their food, which is a type of sugar, right inside their leaves."

"Now, for our next ingredient: chlorophyll." Direct students' attention to the Why Do Leaves Change Color? Slide Deck - Slide 4.

"Chlorophyll is a special green pigment, or a green color, that you find inside most leaves. It's like the plant's special tool for catching sunlight! Without chlorophyll, plants can't make their food. So, during spring and summer, when there's lots of sun, leaves are full of chlorophyll, and that's why they look so green!"

"Does anyone have questions about photosynthesis or chlorophyll?" Pause for questions, simplify explanations as needed.

The Science of Color Change (10 minutes)

"Now for the exciting part – the mystery of the changing colors!" Direct students' attention to the Why Do Leaves Change Color? Slide Deck - Slide 5.

"When autumn comes, a few things change. What do you notice about the days in fall? Are they longer or shorter? Is it warmer or colder?" Listen for responses: shorter days, colder temperatures.

"Exactly! As the days get shorter and colder, the plants get a signal that winter is coming. It's like they're getting ready for a long nap! And just like we might put away our summer clothes, the trees start to slow down. They stop making as much chlorophyll. Because there's less sunlight, they don't need to make as much food anymore."

Direct students' attention to the Why Do Leaves Change Color? Slide Deck - Slide 6.

"So, if the plant stops making chlorophyll, what happens to that green color? It starts to break down and disappear! And guess what? Hidden beneath all that green were other beautiful colors, just waiting for their turn to shine!"

Direct students' attention to the Why Do Leaves Change Color? Slide Deck - Slide 7.

"The yellows and oranges we see are often from pigments called carotenoids. These colors are actually in the leaf all year long, but the strong green of the chlorophyll usually covers them up. When the green fades, POOF! The yellows and oranges are revealed!"

Direct students' attention to the Why Do Leaves Change Color? Slide Deck - Slide 8.

"And what about those brilliant reds and purples? These colors come from pigments called anthocyanins. These are a bit different because they are actually made in the fall, especially when we have bright, sunny days and cool, crisp nights. The sugars trapped in the leaves help create these amazing reds and purples!"

Direct students' attention to the Why Do Leaves Change Color? Slide Deck - Slide 9.

"So, to recap, leaves change color in the fall because the green chlorophyll breaks down, revealing the yellow and orange pigments that were always there, and new red and purple pigments are made. It's nature's incredible autumn art show!"

Activity: Leaf Observation & Rubbing (10 minutes)

"Now that we know the science, let's become scientists ourselves! I have some leaves for us to observe." Distribute real or craft leaves and the Leaf Observation Worksheet.

"Each of you has a Leaf Observation Worksheet and a leaf. I want you to carefully look at your leaf. What colors do you see? What shape is it? Does it have smooth or bumpy edges? Write down or draw what you observe on your worksheet."

Allow a few minutes for observation.

"Now, let's try something fun! We're going to make leaf rubbings. This is a great way to see the veins and textures of your leaf." Direct students to the Leaf Rubbing Activity Guide or demonstrate the process.

"Place your leaf under your paper. Take a crayon, peel off the paper, and lay it on its side. Gently rub the crayon over the paper where your leaf is underneath. What do you see appearing?" Circulate and assist students.

"Look at all those amazing patterns! Compare your rubbing with a partner's. What similarities and differences do you notice?"

Cool-Down: Reflect & Share (5 minutes)

"Wow, you all did a fantastic job observing and creating! To wrap up our lesson, I want each of you to share one new thing you learned today about why leaves change color. It could be a new word, a new idea, or something that surprised you."

Call on a few students to share. Collect the Leaf Observation Worksheet.

"Excellent reflections! You are all becoming leaf experts! For some extra thinking at home, I have a special Autumn Leaf Journal Prompts sheet for you. You can write or draw your answers. Thank you for being such curious scientists today!"

Leaf Observation Worksheet

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Part 1: Observe Your Leaf

Look closely at your leaf. Use your eyes to see all the details!

1. What colors do you see on your leaf?
   
   
   

2. What shape is your leaf? (Draw its outline or describe it)
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Does your leaf have smooth edges or bumpy/jagged edges?
   
   
   

4. Do you see any lines or patterns on your leaf? What do they look like?
   
   
   

Part 2: Leaf Rubbing

Follow the instructions to create a leaf rubbing. What do you notice about the texture and veins of your leaf after the rubbing?

Part 3: Reflect and Connect

1. What is one new thing you learned about why leaves change color in the fall?
   
   
   

2. What colors do you think were

Autumn Leaf Journal Prompts

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Choose one or more prompts to write about in your journal. You can also draw pictures to go with your writing!

1. Imagine you are a tiny leaf. Describe your journey from being green in the summer to turning a beautiful color in the fall. What do you see and feel?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Think about the different colors of leaves we discussed (green, yellow, orange, red, purple). Which color is your favorite and why? What does that color remind you of?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. We learned about photosynthesis and chlorophyll. In your own words, explain how a leaf makes its food. Why is the green color so important during the summer?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Go outside and look at the leaves around your home or school. Do you see any leaves that have started to change color? Describe what you see. If not, what colors do you predict they will turn?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. If you could invent a new leaf color that only appeared in autumn, what color would it be? What would you call it, and what special qualities would it have?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Leaf Rubbing Activity Guide

Get ready to explore the textures of autumn leaves!

Materials You Will Need:

• A variety of real or craft leaves (the flatter the better!)
• Thin paper (copy paper works great)
• Crayons (peeled of their paper wrappers)

Instructions:

1. Choose Your Leaf: Pick a leaf that you find interesting. Feel its surface. Does it have bumps, smooth parts, or interesting veins?

2. Position Your Leaf: Place your leaf on a hard, flat surface (like your desk or a clipboard). Make sure the side with the most bumps and veins is facing up.

3. Cover Your Leaf: Carefully place a piece of paper over your leaf. Try not to let the leaf move underneath the paper.

4. Start Rubbing!

   • Take a crayon and remove its paper wrapper.
   • Lay the crayon flat on its side.
   • Gently and slowly rub the side of the crayon over the paper where your leaf is underneath. You should start to see the shape and texture of your leaf appear like magic!

5. Experiment with Colors: Try using different colored crayons for different leaves, or even use multiple colors on one leaf rubbing!

6. Observe and Compare: Once your rubbing is complete, carefully lift your leaf. Look at your rubbing. What details did it capture? How does your rubbing compare to your classmates' rubbings?

Challenge Question:

What do the