Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Graphing Fall Leaves
Students use leaf classifications they created to graph the properties of leaves they collected on their playground.
Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden: Biology of Plants: Plant Parts
Learn about the basic parts of a plant and their jobs.
Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden: Autumn Leaf Scrapbook
Learn how to examine a deciduous tree and how to identify the various leaves by their shape and color. There is a guide to leaf terminology with helpful accompanying diagrams.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: What Is Chromatography?
Find out why leaves change color in the fall, and learn how to do paper chromatography to separate the pigments found in a leaf. [4:24]
Other
Anatomy of a Leaf
This thorough site provides a wealth of leaf information which includes, leaf functions, origin of the leaf, meristem structure, and anatomy of a leaf (contains a drawing of a typical leaf cross section).
Other
Biology 101: Leaves: Structure Promotes Function
Discusses leaf anatomy and relates this discussion to the photosynthesis function of the leaf.
Other
Elm Care: How Trees Work
How do trees drink, how do trees breath, what is the structure of a tree? Answer these questions and more.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Season Mandala
In this lesson, Have You Seen Trees?, a book written by Joanne Oppenheim, and The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree, a book written by Gail Gibbons, are used as mentor texts. As a post-reading activity, students will record facts about the...
Other
Dcnr: Common Trees of Pennsylvania [Pdf]
A list of common trees in Pennsylvania, as well as specific information on each tree.
Biology 4 kids
Biology4 Kids: A General Plant Structure
Read about the basic structure of plants in this short, informational reference piece.
Biology 4 kids
Biology4 Kids: Different Parts = Different Advantages
A concise reference highlighting the specialized parts of plants and the jobs they do.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Learning Lab: Prehistoric Climate Change and Why It Matters Today
A slideshow will introduce the process of climate change that the earth has experienced since the beginning of time. Discover "leaf margin analysis" which scientists use while studying fossils to determine the temperatures they were...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: Leaves
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses different types of leaves and seasonal changes in leaves.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: Photosynthesis
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes the role of leaves in photosynthesis.
Can Teach
Can Teach: Songs and Poems
This site features an extensive list of poems and songs for every event during the school year. Explore the seasons, colors, holidays, and more.
Other
Backyard Nature: Leaves
Why do plants have leaves? Are there leafless plants? Why do leaves fall in the Fall? Discover the answers to these questions and many more as you peruse this site.
Read Works
Read Works: Parts of a Tree
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about how leaves, branches, bark, and roots make up the parts of a tree. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Other
Suny E Sf: The Splendor of Autumn
This brief site describes the changes that take place within leaves and the environment which result in the colors we observe in Autumn.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Statistics: Stem and Leaf Plots Grade 8
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Create and interpret data through stem-and-leaf plots.
US Department of Agriculture
The Science of Color in Autumn Leaves
Coupled with a beautiful photo gallery, the National Arboretum sets out to explain the science behind why leaves of deciduous trees change their color in the autumn months. While temperature effects the colors, learn here what happens in...
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Wisconsin Dept. Of Natural Res.: Leaves Changing Color
Scroll below the Fall Color Report on this site for information from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that easily explains why and how leaves change color and why they fall. There are colorful illustrations and appropriate...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Illinois Natural History Survey: The Tallgrass Prairie
This site from the Illinois Natural History Survey provides a large list of grassland plants of the Illinois Tallgrass Prairie - some 851 species. You can find out the common name, scientific name, habitat, flowering period, fruits, and...
Science Made Simple
Science Made Simple: Why Leaves Change Color
This is a site that offers answers to some often hard to answer questions such as why do leaves change colors. Provides an easy to understand answer to the question along with a section that students can read on their own, a puzzle,...
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Thanksgiving Crafts, Decorations, and Printouts
Enchanted Learning provides a wealth of Thanksgiving-related ideas for crafts, decorations, and activity worksheets. Make a turkey from handprints and footprints, create a thankful leaf wreath or a easy-to-make scarecrow, or follow the...