Autumn 's Collage of Color
A Unit on Leaves
For Grades 4 and 5
By: Felecity Pierre
 

Topic:

An intro to the study of leaves and how they originate, their size and how they chang color.

Grade Level:

This lesson is structured so that it can be used for grades 2-4.

Curriculum Area:

Science and Language Arts

Lesson Description:

This unit is entended to extend the knowledge students may already have acquired concerning leaves and thier origin.  The unit is intended to give students an awareness of the contributions leaves give to the tree in which they originate.  It is also intended to help students to gain knowledge concerning when and why leaves beautify nature in the fall months.  It is suggested that this lesson be done in the autumn months.  Through the use of this unit and the help of technology tools and internet resources students will be able to develop a better understanding of the leaf and they will be able to create a presentation that the entire class can enjoy!
 
 
 
 

 

Lesson 1

Objectives:
 

• Students will be able to observe and identify various colors and shapes of leaves
• Students will be able to communicate and work effectively in cooperative learning groups of 2-3.
• Students will become familiar with using a digital camera
• Students will become familiar with using Microsoft Power Point to do a group presentation.

Standards/Benchmarks:
 

Science Standard: Students will develop an understanding of the characteristics and interrelationships of matter and energy in the physical world.

PS-E-A1 oserving, describing, and classifying objectsby properties (size,weight, shape,color,texture, and temperature); (4)

PS-E-A4 describing the properties of the differentstates of matter and identifying the conditions that cause matterto change states; (2,3)

Language Arts Standard: Students write competently for a variety  of purposes and audiences.

ELA-2-E3 creating written texts using the written process; (1,4)

Language Arts Standard: Students locate, select, and synthesize information from a variety of texts media, references, and technological sources to acquire and communicate knowledge.

ELA-5-E1 recognizing and using organizational features of printed text, other media, and electronic information (e.g., parts of a text, alphabetizing, captions, legends, pull-down menus, keyword searches, icons, passwords, entry menu features); (1,3,4)

ELA-5-E4 using available technology to produce, revise, and publish a variety of works; (1,3,4)
 

ResourcesNeeded:  Below are 4 suggested websites where you may find information on leaves (where they come from, how they change color, what effects they have on the environment,etc.).

Ask Jeeves
http://www.askjeeves.com

Great Plant Escape

Autumn Leaves-Why do Leaves change color in the Fall

Why do leaves change color
 

Supporting Materials:

Power Point Tip Sheet
Presswriter Tip Sheet
Digital Camerera
Paper
Pen
Computer
Construction Paper
Twine
Leaves

Time:

This unit will span for at least 5 one hour intervals.

Activities/Lessons:
 

Lesson 1 Observation and Discovery

Students will be allowed to venture outside of the classroom into the schoolyard to get at least 3 kinds/colors of leaves.  They will then be put into groups of 4 to compare and discuss their findings.  There will be a whole class discussion on the students thoughts on where the leaves came from, how they help the environment, and how the students think they change color.

Lesson 2 Gathering Data for Presentation

Students will return to their groups and use the websites given to gather further information on what was discussed in the previous lesson.  Using the websites students will write out important points about the leaves that particular group found which will be shared with the class at a later date.  The data gathered will then be transfered to the Presswriter Resource.  Every group should have a creative title for their report written in Presswriter.

Lesson 3 Power Point Presentation

Students will  use the digital camera to photograph they leaves that they found.  The picture will be transfered into the report that they would have already completed.  Each group will participate in a Power Point Presentation in which thier photograph and report will be shown.  Each individual group will present their portion of the Power Point.

Lesson 4 Leave Press

As a final activity students will take leaves found and use them to do a leaf press.  This will be done using the leaves,construction paper, twine(for binding).
 

Evaluation/Rubric
 

Students will be grades in three categories:
Gathering Data, Power Point Presentation, and Leaf Press.
The students will receive a points depending on the quality of their work.