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Volume 3, Issue 20
October 27, 2005
Autumn
WELCOME! to Education World's Early Childhood Newsletter. Every other week, I'll share some
ideas on a familiar teaching theme. Hopefully you will find a new activity idea or two -- or a new
twist on one of your old favorites! Since I know you are very busy, I'll be short and sweet -- like
most of activities I suggest.
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 An
Autumn Rhyme
Let them flutter,
Each one falls down
Afloat in orange, red, and brown.
View them all, so wild and free,
Each one tumbling from its tree.
So we’ll grab our rakes… You see???
Whether they’re piled up to your knees or lightly sprinkled on lawns and fields, leaves are
a subject of fascination for young children. Use them in a science or math lesson; have fun with
them in a classroom art project. We’ve gathered a “pile” of activities for you
to try.
Happy Leafing!
Susan LaBella
Editor, Early Childhood Education Newsletter
LOOK AT LEAVES
Gather a variety of leaves and show them to children.
--- Ask children what is the same and different about the leaves.
--- Let children study leaves through a magnifying glass. Point out the leaves’ veins, colors,
and how the leaves’ size changes when viewed through a magnifying glass.
--- Using same-sized pieces of string, let children measure the length and width of leaves.
--- Invite children to draw pictures of their leaves.
FOLLOW A CYCLE
Cut out separate pictures of a tree during each season of the year and paper strips -- each one
with a word written on it: spring, summer, fall, winter. Let children practice arranging the pictures
in order (start with any season) and then placing the correct label above each tree.
Resources:
An
Apple Tree Through the Seasons of the Year
One Tree Through
the Seasons
LARGER OR SMALLER?
Mount separate leaves in various sizes onto index cards. Invite children to place the leaves in
order from smallest to largest or largest to smallest. Children can also sort leaves by color, shape,
or size.
MATCH IT
Cut out leaf shapes from one color of construction paper. (Cut half as many shapes as you have children.
Example: If you have 20 children cut 10 leaf shapes.) Next, cut each leaf shape in half using a
puzzle-type cut. On ten leaf halves write a number from 1 to 10. On the other 10 halves draw dots
numbering from 1 to 10. Distribute all leaf halves to children and invite them to find their matching
halves.
SING IT
(Sing to tune of Frere Jacques)
Leaves are falling,
Leaves are falling,
‘Round my town,
Red and brown.
See them hit the sidewalk,
Hear them as they plop, drop
On the street,
On the street.
M-MMMMM!
With children, roll out packaged sugar cookie dough. Let children use leaf-shaped cookie cutters
to cut the dough. Follow package instructions for baking. Then let children frost the cookies with
yellow, orange, red, or brown frosting.
LEAFY MOBILES
Cut a one-inch strip of cardboard for each child. Help children tape the ends of the strip together
to form a circle. Punch six holes in each strip. Next invite children to collect six colorful leaves.
Use a slightly warm iron to press children’s leaves between pieces of wax paper. Punch a hole
in the wax paper and tie each with a different length of onto a hole in the circular strip.
Check out the following Web sites for more background and activities.
The Great Plant Escape
Get some good basic science info on leaves.
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case1/c1facts2c.html
Why Do Leaves
Change Color in the Fall?
Here’s photosynthesis -- simply put.
http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/education/colorchange.html
How Plants Prepare for
Winter
Try this very simple experiment to see how light affects the color of leaves.
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html#PROJECTS
Leaf Terms
Choose some basic leaf shapes and positions to show children.
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/temp/lftypes2.htm
Pressed Leaves Placemat
Let children help make a placemat to take home.
http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/placemat5.html
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