Fall Leaves Fall! Science Lesson Plan

Grade Levels: PK-3rd

Lesson Sequence:

The Leaves on The Tree
Sung to: "The Wheels on The Bus"
Copyright © 2000 Barbara Pratt.  All rights reserved.

The leaves on the tree are falling down,
falling down, falling down.
The leaves on the tree are falling down,
Red, yellow, orange, and brown.

(Have the child/children pretend they are crunching leaves on the ground while singing this verse.)

The leaves on the ground go crunch, crunch, crunch
crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.
The leaves on the ground go crunch, crunch, crunch.
All through autumn (fall).

Repeat verse 1

Notes:
If you like, you can go outside and sing the song.

You can use the leaf patterns found at Bry-Back Manor - Lots of Leaves when you teach the song to the children and color them or you can make leaf rubbings ahead of time (use red, yellow, orange, and brown crayons) and cut them out.  Laminate them or use clear contact paper so they last longer.

Drop leaves from above your head as the color is mentioned in the song.

4.    Show some leaves to the child/children. What can you tell me about these leaves?  What is the same about these leaves?  What is different about some of these leaves? What colors are the leaves?  Today we are going to measure the leaf you gathered to see it up close.

5.    Look through the magnifying glass, what do you see? (veins, colors, size of the leaf seems to change)
6.    How can we measure this leaf? (Using a ruler.)  Can someone/you demostrate (show me) how to measure this leaf?  How long it is?  How wide it is?  (This leaf is __ inches/centimeters (cm) in length and __ in width.)
Note:  You need to decide if you are going to have them measure in inches or centimeters.
7.   Write the results on the piece of paper.(__ inches/centimeters (cm) long) (__ inches centimeters (cm) wide)
For pre-schoolers, have them round to the nearest whole number so they can record the results without being confused how to right more than that.
8.    Draw a picture of your leaf (Skip to the next step for pre-schoolers).
9.    Demonstrate how you make a leaf rubbing by placing your leaf under the piece of light colored construction paper or cardstock paper.  Color with a crayon on the paper.
10.  Make a rubbing of your leaf or borrow some from others.  (Tape it underneath for younger children.)
11.  Let the child/children make leaf rubbings using at least one red, yellow, orange, and brown.  Cut them out to have for the song and the words of the song when they take them home.

12.  Say the follow the children:
"Here is a list of things that you will need to do with your leaves."
(Go through the steps with them that is listed on a large piece of paper or on the chalkboard.)

Steps / Criteria:
1- Look at leaf without magnifying glass.
2- Measure
3- Record results
__ inches long)
4- Draw picture of what you leaf looked like under the magnifying glass.
5- Make a rubbing using a crayon on paper

Note: For non-readers or younger children, draw a pictures for these steps:
#1 Eyes and a leaf.
#2 Draw a ruler.
#3 __ inches/centimeters (cm) long, __ inches/centimeters (cm) wide
#4  A leaf and a magnifying glass.
#5 Make a leaf rubbing.

Note: Use the word "Steps" for younger students and "Criteria" for older students.

13.  What can you tell me about your leaf?  (Color, size, etc.)

Resources:
Leaves collected by students or those you collected
Rulers
Magnifying glasses
Pieces of paper for picture of leaf and measurements
Construction paper for leaf rubbings
Scissors
Steps listed above
Words of song for each child
Crayons (For leaf rubbing and recording the results.)

Center Ideas:

Label the centers by using a leaf pattern.

Science Center: For extra practice in measurement, put a small box of leaves at a center (the ones the children gathered).  Have the children measure the leaves and write the above steps (criteria) on a piece of paper.

Library Center:  Place a lot of leaf books at this center.  Have the children read a book, write a brief summary of what they read, and draw a picture (illustrate) of what they have written.  For younger children, have them draw a picture.

Poetry / Song Center:  Have the children read some poems about autumn, fall, or leaves.  Have the children write a poem or song about fall, autumn, or leaves.  (For children who can write.)

You can find different activities, books, songs, poems, centers, and more at The Leaves Are Falling Down @ KinderKorner.com.

Other Resources:

Activity Idea Place: Leaves
There are several songs at this site.
Fall - Autumn Activities | ChildFun Themes and Activities for Kid

Fall - Autumn Activities
Sing the song "The Leaves Are Falling Down".

BrainPOP - Autumn Leaves (quiz & movie)