Leaf Walk: Observing and Investigating Leaves

This activity is designed for students to learn observational skills in order to make accurate descriptions and compare observations with others regarding natural phenomenon. Other skills being learned are observing and identifying the external parts of a tree, specifically leaves. Students are also learning field techniques such as interacting appropriately with our natural world and observing and recording observations in scientific notebooks. Oral presentation skills are used to share observations and findings. Students will then use questioning and critical thinking skills to come up with an investigable question and perform an investigation.
Concepts: Leaves can be different shapes. Leaves can be different sizes.
Vocabulary Words: observe, compare, size, shape

This activity will be a field activity in the school forest followed up with an investigation within the classroom setting. The field investigation will be conducted during a thirty-minute period of time. Classroom time immediately following the field investigation to share observations and generate an investigable question should last no longer than twenty minutes. The follow up investigation will be performed within the next one to two days, depending on the investigation. Students should already be familiar with the science notebooks and appropriate behavior in the school forest from previous activities. The lesson could be adapted to a school without a school forest by finding near by trees in the school yard or having students bring different leaves from home to compare and explore.

This activity is a "leaf walk" through the school forest. Students have prior knowledge of the school forest and are aware of rules to be followed. Behavior expectations are reviewed before heading out to the forest and time is given for the students to get appropriate outdoor wear. Students will bring their individual science notebooks with them as well as a pencil. The students also have prior knowledge and experience with the notebooks. The teacher will bring along plastic baggies for each student and any medications students may need in case of emergency (inhaler, epipen). The students will be prepared for the activity by explaining that they will be observing leaves in the school forest and making drawings of their observations in their notebooks. They will be informed that they will also be collecting leaves that have fallen off of the trees. The teacher will then lead the students to a specified "class tree" in the forest. The students will be told to observe the leaves on the tree and draw their observations. The teacher may need to restate this to "draw a leaf that is on or below the tree". When it seems that most students have finished, students should be directed to find three different leaves either on other trees or on the ground to observe and draw. When students are beginning to complete their drawing, the teacher will gain the attention of the students and explain that they will be given baggies to collect six different leaves. When the leaf collection is finished, the teacher will direct the class back inside to the classroom. Students will get in a circle with their notebooks. The leaves will all be put into a tub by the teacher. The teacher will have large chart paper on an easel next to him/her. The students will then take turns sharing observations while the teacher writes these down. The teacher should try to ask questions that may direct students to notice the differences and similarities in the leaves they observed. The class will then come up with questions or state something that they "wonder" about leaves after having done observations. The teacher will generate a list and then pick one that is investigable. The investigation should take place the next day during set aside science time. The students will again get into a circle. The teacher will remind the student of the investigable question and then have them brainstorm how the question could be investigated and what tools may be needed. After some ideas are generated, the students will be put into groups of four around a table. They will be given the leaves that they collected the day before and their notebooks and a pencil. Other tools may need to be available depending on the investigation. When the investigation is completed at each table, the students should draw a picture in their science notebooks to represent their results. The class will then get back together in a circle and share their findings, observations and feelings about the investigation. The teacher will then ask if students have new questions now that the study has been completed. This activity is adapted from FOSS kit, kindergarten investigation 2, Leaves.

The classroom teacher should be aware of any allergies students may have and medications (inhaler, epipen) that students may need during the field investigation. The teacher should also be aware of adaptations needed for students with mobility issues (wheelchair or other physical limitations) and find alternative devices to travel to and through the forest (wagon, four wheeler). Other adaptations usually used in the classroom setting should also be considered during a field study such as specialized writing utensils and proximity to the teacher.
This activity is more inquiry based than what I have done in the past. Students are recording observations in a science notebook instead of only stating them orally. Also, the investigable question is student generated with some guidance, where in the past it was teacher generated.

Students will be assessed through student science notebooks, teacher observation of cooperation with peers and their ability to identify differences in leaves. Science notebooks will be looked at to see if observations of leaves have been drawn. Students orally present their observations as well and will state how leaves are different when sorting leaves.

0.1.1.2.1 Using and comparing observations
0.4.1.1.2 Identify external parts of plants and animals