Investigating Leaves: October Leaf Collection
Summary
In this activity, students use observational skills to compare and discuss the changes in leaves from September to October.
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Learning Goals
This activity is designed for students to learn observation skills to compare and discuss objects. Students will also gain experience in teamwork, and oral presentation. Students will learn to use and become familiar with hand lenses. This lesson will help students discover the vocabulary words same, different, bright and collection.
Context for Use
Grade Level: K
Class Size: Whole class instruction
School Forest-Field Exercise
Time: 30 minutes
Special Equipment: Adopted class tree, hand lenses, laminated leaves
Students should already be familiar with rules and expectations of the school forest. They should also have knowledge and practice with proper leaf collection. This activity would follow lessons on tree parts and be part of a year long unit on trees. If the school forest is unavailable the lesson would be adapted by using a tree in the school yard.
Class Size: Whole class instruction
School Forest-Field Exercise
Time: 30 minutes
Special Equipment: Adopted class tree, hand lenses, laminated leaves
Students should already be familiar with rules and expectations of the school forest. They should also have knowledge and practice with proper leaf collection. This activity would follow lessons on tree parts and be part of a year long unit on trees. If the school forest is unavailable the lesson would be adapted by using a tree in the school yard.
Description and Teaching Materials
Objective: Observe, compare and describe September's and October's leaves.
Materials:
Hand lenses
-Clipboards
-Pen/pencil
-Nature journals
-Clothespin
-Laminated samples of September's leaves
-Freshly collected October leaves.
Intro: Clothespin Game
This is a silent game to help students develop observation skills. Students will form a circle, close eyes. One adult will clip a clothespin onto one selected child's clothing. Students will then open their eyes and mingle around in a predetermined area trying to locate the clothespin. When located, students move to a specified area. One or two rounds of this game could easily be played. Discussion of observation strategies will follow the game.
Focus: Students will walk to the classroom's adopted tree and form a circle around it. Using strategies discussed after the clothespin game students will silently observe the tree for one minute. Discussion of observations will follow. Students will then be directed to collect their monthly leaf sample from the classrooms tree. Following leaf collections, students will be separated into two small groups. Each small group will be led by an adult to use their hand lens to observe their new leaf. After adequate time, the adult will then lead the students to compare the September leaf sample to the freshly collected October samples. Adult will list observations and choose volunteers to share findings with the other group. Students will again gather in a large group and share and discuss findings. Students bring their new sample to the classroom.
Conclusion: Upon return to the classroom students will tape collected leaves into nature journals.
Materials:
Hand lenses
-Clipboards
-Pen/pencil
-Nature journals
-Clothespin
-Laminated samples of September's leaves
-Freshly collected October leaves.
Intro: Clothespin Game
This is a silent game to help students develop observation skills. Students will form a circle, close eyes. One adult will clip a clothespin onto one selected child's clothing. Students will then open their eyes and mingle around in a predetermined area trying to locate the clothespin. When located, students move to a specified area. One or two rounds of this game could easily be played. Discussion of observation strategies will follow the game.
Focus: Students will walk to the classroom's adopted tree and form a circle around it. Using strategies discussed after the clothespin game students will silently observe the tree for one minute. Discussion of observations will follow. Students will then be directed to collect their monthly leaf sample from the classrooms tree. Following leaf collections, students will be separated into two small groups. Each small group will be led by an adult to use their hand lens to observe their new leaf. After adequate time, the adult will then lead the students to compare the September leaf sample to the freshly collected October samples. Adult will list observations and choose volunteers to share findings with the other group. Students will again gather in a large group and share and discuss findings. Students bring their new sample to the classroom.
Conclusion: Upon return to the classroom students will tape collected leaves into nature journals.
Teaching Notes and Tips
Be sure to visit your school forest prior to this activity to be aware of any safety issues such as poison ivy or downed trees. Teachers should also know their students and be aware of any allergies or medical issues. Students should be checked for proper clothing before going outside. In the past I have had each fourth grader adopt their own tree. This year with kindergarten I will adopt a class tree.
Assessment
Students will have nature journals that will be added to monthly and viewed monthly by staff.
Standards
N-12 Observation, N-13 working with team and sharing findings, N-12 using tools