Going on a leaf hunt!
Initial Publication Date: August 3, 2009
Summary
In the fall the kindergartners participate in a unit on trees. The students have already observed tress, labeled the parts of trees and drawn trees. Now it is time to take a closer look at the leaves on a tree. The class will go outside to the school property and collect leaves. The students will collect 2-3 leaves of different shapes or colors. Then bring them back to the classroom to sort into categories, and compare and contrast them to leaves that are non-native to Minnesota.
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Learning Goals
The students will learn the differences of the leaves on our school yard trees. They will sort them by likeness' and differences. They will use observational techniques to compare and contrast the leaves and determine the difference between MN native leaves and MN non-native leaves. The class as a whole group will fill out a Venn Diagram to showcase their understandings/observations. The vocabulary words of the lesson are : leaf, tree, truck, branches, roots, vines.
Context for Use
This activity would take place mid-unit of the Foss Science Kindergarten kit on Trees. You would need to have an area to collect leaves and somewhere to compare and contrast the leaves. This activity will take 30-45 minutes. This activity is geared toward kindergartners but could be done by students at any level. Knowledge of school yard trees and their leaves is important to all ages.
Description and Teaching Materials
This activity will be introduced by the teacher holding up 2 leaves and telling the students that one of them was from a tree not only in MN but also in our school yard and one of them was not from MN, or even something that grows in the USA naturally. The teacher will need to gather up leaves from elsewhere; the Como Zoo may provide you with leaves from their rainforest area. The students will not need materials for this activity. As for closure strategies, the students may choose to create a book or classroom collection of the different types of leaves, and I would challenge them to look at the leaves in their yard or by where they live and see if they are the same or different.
Teaching Notes and Tips
This is an exciting activity for the students. Have clear walking guidelines stated and be sure to go over expected behavior while outside. Also be certain the students have practiced handling leaves and know to be gentle with them while observations are taking place.
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Assessment
The teacher will make note of how the students group the leaves and input given while making the Venn Diagram but no formal assessment will take place for this activity.
Standards
2. Physical Science 1. Matter 1. Objects can be described in terms of the materials they are made of and their physical properties. 0.2.1.1.1 Sort objects in terms of color, size, shape, and texture, and communicate reasoning for the sorting system.