Leaves and Trees

Leaves and Trees

Unit: Trees and Leaves

Kindergarten

Big Idea: Fall color, leaves, food, size, compare, shape, structure, and seasons

Focus Questions: Why do the leaves fall when it gets cold? Why do leaves change colors? What shapes are leaves?

Hypothesis/Prediction:

            If leaves are different shapes then we can group them by color. If leaves are different shapes, we can group them by size. If leaves are different colors, we can group them by shape. If leaves are the same size, we can group them by their basic needs.

Materials:

-       Different types of leaves

-       Paper

Planning:

            We know trees make their own food using water and sunlight. First, we will go outside and observe what one tree looks like. We are going to ‘adopt’ the tree. We will draw the tree, observe the tree, and nurture the tree. Then we will collect leaves from six different trees and categorize them by size, shape, color, and basic needs.

Data:

Shape of leaf	Number of leaves
Heart
Oval
Rectangle
Triangle
Diamond

Claims/Evidence:

            We know that trees have roots, trunks, branches, and leaves. Some leaves change colors as the weather gets colder and the days get shorter/longer. Leaves are all shapes and colors, but they all need water and sunlight. Leaves are green when they are healthy and turn brown/yellow/orange/red when they die/fall off tree.

Conclusion/Reflection:

We know leaves make their own food and we know that leaves have different shapes. I wonder what a rectangular leaf would look like or if we have those? I wonder how long leaves stay on trees before they fall off.