There is something about fall leaves that instantly gets children curious!
Why are leaves green in the summer? Why do they change color in autumn? What happens after they fall from the tree?
Those simple questions can lead to so much meaningful learning, which is why I recently updated my All About Leaves resource to turn it into a two-day cross-curricular learning experience.
Rather than teaching science, reading comprehension, vocabulary, math, and writing as separate activities, the lessons connect them around two big questions:
🍁 Day 1: Why Do Leaves Change Color?
🍃 Day 2: What Happens During a Leaf’s Journey?
By the end of the two days, students begin to see the story of a leaf from beginning to end!
🍁 Day 1: Why Do Leaves Change Color?
Day 1 begins by turning students into leaf scientists!
The morning opener gets children thinking about what they already know about leaves. They consider what makes leaves green, identify when leaves change color, think about the colors they might see in fall, and even preview the stages of a leaf’s journey.
Then it’s time to introduce an important new vocabulary word:
chlorophyll!
Students learn that chlorophyll is the green pigment in leaves. In spring and summer, leaves make chlorophyll, which makes them look green. As autumn brings shorter days and cooler weather, leaves make less chlorophyll and those beautiful fall colors begin to show.
I love that this gives students a real scientific explanation for something they see happening around them every fall!
📚 Suggested Literature: Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
A wonderful read-aloud for Day 1 is Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert.
This book helps children see that a leaf is part of a much bigger story—the life and growth of a tree.
As you read, encourage students to notice how the maple tree changes.
Afterward, ask:
“Why do you think the leaves that were once green became red and yellow?”
Don’t give them the answer just yet! Record a few predictions and then revisit those ideas after students learn about chlorophyll.
This gives children a reason to wonder and discover rather than simply being told a science fact.
The included response activities also extend the literacy learning through sequencing, identifying the narrator, recalling details, discussing feelings, and making connections between the story and science.
📖 Read & Learn About Leaves
The Leaves informational mini-reader takes students deeper into the science.
Students learn about the important job leaves have and what they need to make food for a tree.
As you read together, ask:
“What job does a leaf have?”
“What does a leaf need to make food?”
“What makes a leaf look green?”
Students can highlight important vocabulary and details and then return to the mini-reader later when completing comprehension and writing activities.
I especially like this because children begin learning an important reading habit:
Good readers go back to the text to find information!
✏️ Turn Science Learning into Writing
Once students understand why leaves change color, they can use what they’ve learned to explain it.
Before writing, students choose two important details from the anchor chart, mini-reader, or class discussion.
Then they use those details to answer the big question:
Why do leaves change color?
Keeping the anchor chart and mini-reader available gives young writers the support they need. Instead of trying to remember everything, they can return to the text to find facts and vocabulary.
Science has now naturally become informational reading, comprehension AND writing!
🍃 Day 2: A Leaf’s Journey
Day 2 begins where Day 1 leaves off.
Now students discover that changing color is only one part of a leaf’s story.
They follow six stages:
A Bud Forms → The Leaf Grows → Colors Change → The Leaf Falls → The Leaf Becomes Part of the Earth → The Cycle Continues
Students connect each stage to the seasons and learn that fallen leaves eventually break down, add nutrients to the soil, and help support new growth.
Simple hand motions can even help young learners remember and retell the stages!
📚 Suggested Literature: Leaves
For Day 2, I love Leaves by David Ezra Stein.
Students experience the changing seasons through Bear’s eyes. He notices the leaves falling and wonders about what is happening around him.
After reading, ask:
“Bear saw the leaves fall, but was that the end of the leaves’ journey?”
What a perfect question to lead into the science lesson!
Students discover that the answer is NO!
The fallen leaf still has an important role. It slowly breaks down, adds nutrients to the soil, and helps support new growth.
The story also gives students opportunities to discuss what Bear notices, how he feels about the falling leaves, and what happens when spring returns.
Again, literature isn’t an extra activity—it becomes the bridge into the science learning.
🔎 Become a Leaf Detective!
Of course, if you’re learning about leaves, you need some REAL leaves!
Take students outside for a leaf hunt or ask them to bring an interesting leaf back to the classroom.
Then turn those leaves into a hands-on science investigation!
During Become a Leaf Detective, students observe their leaf’s:
color • shape • size • edges • texture
They can compare their leaves with classmates and look for similarities and differences.
Then bring the investigation back to the big idea:
“Where do you think your leaf is in its journey?”
Now students aren’t simply describing a leaf—they’re applying what they’ve learned about the leaf’s life cycle to something they can actually hold in their hands.
📊 From a Leaf Hunt to Math!
Even the leaf hunt can lead naturally into math.
Students answer the fun question:
Would you rather rake leaves OR go on a leaf hunt?
The class votes with sticky notes and discusses which choice received more and which received fewer votes. But don’t throw that poll away!
Later, students return to the same information during math to collect, record, compare, and interpret real class data.
Differentiated data-collection options make it easy to adjust the activity for Kindergarten, first grade, or second grade.
🍂 Sequence, Retell & Create
After exploring the science, students complete an A Leaf’s Journey sequencing activity.
Partners can check each other’s sequence and then point to the pictures as they orally retell the journey.
Older students can even explain their thinking:
“I know this comes next because…”
And, of course, I always love ending learning with a little creativity!
The Rake & Leaves craft makes a fun culmination to the leaf study and gives you a colorful fall display for the classroom, hallway, or bulletin board.
🍁 Bringing It All Together
What I love most about this updated resource is that the activities aren’t simply a collection of cute leaf pages.
Over two days, students:
wonder about leaves • read literature • learn science • build vocabulary • read informational text • find important details • explain their thinking • sequence events • collect data • investigate real leaves • retell their learning • and create
The closing brings students back to the two big questions they explored:
Why do leaves change color?
and
What happens during a leaf’s journey?
Students begin to see those two lessons as one complete story of a leaf.
🍂 So grab a great book, head outside for a leaf hunt, collect a few colorful leaves, and turn one of autumn’s simplest treasures into two days of meaningful learning!
T
No Comments