FALL LEAVES

We started our group time with a question.  Why do leaves change color?

Margot: "Because it is Fall."
Beatrix: "It gets kind of cold. The tree doesn't need it any more.  The leaves fall off."
Grace: "The leaves fall from the trees."
Fang: "It gets a little bit warm and cold, and then the wind turns the leaves into colors."

and produced more questions

Ike: "Why do the leaves need to die?"
Luca: "How does the tree get rid of the leaves?"


One of the work choices was cutting out a leaf shape, choosing from ginkgo, birch, elm and oak.  We discussed the primary colors and how to create our leaf colors.  The children made beautiful shades of green, orange, purple and brown.










At the end of the morning we read a book called, Why do leaves change color?  By Betsy Maestro

The following is a brief description of what we discussed.

All of the colors that you see in the Fall are already in the leaves but are covered up by the green color, chlorophyll.

The leaves are no longer able to make food for the tree when the weather gets colder and there is less light during the day.

The tree uses up the remaining chlorophyll(green color) showing all the colors.  The tree goes dormant or rests during the winter.

The colors in the leaves will be really bright if Fall is dry and cold.

QUESTIONS
What are the three primary colors that you used for making your leaf colors?
What is chlorophyll?
What colors did you create on your leaf?

REMINDER
Wednesday and Thursday are Conference days, No school for the children Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
FIield Trip: October 21st we go to the Farm, there is still spaces available if you want to sign up.