Leaves!
Objective: Students will be able to group leaves by their color and make a graph. Students
will also learn about veins in leaves.
Science Standards Addressed (From the Colorado Department of Education)
http://www.cde.state.co.us/scripts/allstandards/COStandards.asp?stid=7&stid2=0&glid2=0
Standard 1 - Physical Science
 Kindergarten: Outcome 2: Objects can be sorted by physical properties, which can be
observed and measured
Standard 2 – Life Science
 Kindergarten: Outcome 1: Organisms can be described and sorted by their physical
characteristics
 1st Grade: Outcome 2: An organism is a living thing that has physical characteristics to
help it survive
 2nd Grade: Outcome 2: Each plant or animal has different structures or behaviors that
serve different functions
Math Standards Addressed (From the Colorado Department of Education)
http://www2.cde.state.co.us/scripts/allstandards/COStandards.asp?stid=4&stid2=7&glid2=0
Standard 1 – Number Sense, Properties, and Operations
 Kindergarten: Outcome 1: Whole numbers can be used to name, count, represent, and
order quantity
 Kindergarten: Outcome 2: Composing and decomposing quantity forms the foundation
for addition and subtraction
Standard 3 – Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
 2nd Grade: Outcome 1: Visual displays of data can be constructed in a variety of
formats to solve problems
Standard 4 – Shape, Dimension, and Geometric Relationships
 Kindergarten: Outcome 2: Measurement is used to compare and order objects
Materials:
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Leaves of assort colors
Poster board with grid lines drawn on to make a graph
Colored paper
White paper
Crayons
Anticipatory Set/Hook
1. Discuss students what they know about fall, lead the discussion to leaves changing
color and that they fall.
2. Ask students what color leaves turn.
3. Show students pictures of forests where leaves have changed color.
Procedure/Guided Practice:
1. In groups of 5-6 students, hand out different colored construction paper that are the
color of leaves (red, orange, yellow, brown, green, purple).
2. Hand out bags of assorted leaves, have student sort leaves by color.
3. Hand out poster graph and have students make a graph by placing leafs in the columns,
making sure they count as they go.
4. Ask guiding questions such as, “How many red leaves are there?”, “How many more
yellow leaves are there than brown.” Etc.
5. Have students pick their favorite leaf and to feel both sides, one side is bumpy and one
side is smooth.
6. Ask what leafs are for? Explain the bumps are called veins and carry the food the leaf
make to the rest the plant and carries water from the roots all the way to the leaf.
7. Tell student to put the bumpy part of the leaf face up on the table and cover with a white
piece of paper.
8. Ask students if there a way we can see the leaf. Have students rub the paper with a
crayon.
Closure/Assessments:
1. Ask students what colors leafs turn.
2. What are the bumpy parts on a leaf called? What do they do?
Prepared By:
Nick Stambach
Developed with:
Sarah Palmer
References:
 https://creativetotsmason.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/fall-into-fun-with-leaf-activities/
 http://murray.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/530451/LeafRubbingsLessonPl
an.pdf
 http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2011/11/teaching-science-trees