Grade Level: 1st Grade

Topic: Noticing changes throughout each season: Observing color changes in leaves
Objectives:
1. Students will be able to describe the characteristics of the autumn season
2. Students will be able to identify the differences in the colors of leaves during autumn
3. Students will be able to classify leaves by color

NYS Standards:
Unit 3: Weather and Seasons: Changes in each season

PS 3.1f Objects and/or materials can be sorted or classified according to their properties.

PS 3. 1g: Some properties of an object are dependent on the conditions of the present
surroundings in which the object exists.

Lesson Length: 1-2 45 minute class periods

Materials:
Why Do Leaves Change Color? By Betsy Maestro.
Smart board
Handouts
Crayons
Different colored leaves (real leaves)
Recording chart

Motivation:
Students will listen to a read-aloud of the book Why Do Leaves Change Color? By Betsy
Maestro. Students will discuss the changes they noticed happened to leaves throughout the
seasons, what they learned about the shapes and colors of leaves. Students will then be asked to
draw a picture describing changes they have noticed in leaves during the autumn season.

Development of the lesson:

1. The lesson will begin with an introduction to new vocabulary that will be seen in the
book Why Do Leaves Change Color? By Betsy Maestro; autumn, pigment, chlorophyll,
carotene, anthocyanin, tannin.
2. Students will then listen to a read-aloud of the book Why Do Leaves Change Color? By
Betsy Maestro. Students will discuss the changes they noticed happened to leaves
throughout the seasons, what they learned about the shapes and colors of leaves, and the
reason why leaves change color. Students will then be asked to draw a picture describing
changes they have noticed in leaves during the autumn season.
3. Volunteers will share their drawing and discuss what changes they have noticed.
 4. Students will briefly discuss their experiences noticing the changes in leaves during the
autumn season.
5. After the discussion the teacher will begin to discuss the reason why changes happen to
leaves, their color and texture. Students will also be introduced to new vocabulary:
Autumn: The third season of the year, also known as fall. During this season crops and
fruits are gathered and leaves change color.
Pigment: Color
Chlorophyll: Green pigment
Carotene: Orange and yellow pigments
Anthocyanin: Red pigment
Tannin: Brown pigment
6. Students will then be separated into pairs, they will be given a recording sheet, either a
pictograph or a bar graph, crayons and small pile of leaves that were collected from
outside
7. Before beginning the activity, students will discuss the characteristics and colors of the
leaves.
8. Students will work with their partners to record the differences in they find amongst the
leaves, they will classify the leaves by color - orange, brown, green, red or yellow.
9. Each group will present to the class the data they gathered from their own pile of leaves.

Differentiation:
Students who need additional support will be given a modified recording sheet on which the
colors will already be stated for them. Students will be working in groups of two to provide
support to each other; the teacher will provide additional support to students that may need it.

Summary and Assessment:

Students understanding of the terms and topic will be assessed during their discussions and
throughout the graphing activity.

Homework:
As a homework assignment, students will go on their own leaf hunt at home. They will record
their findings and the characteristics of the leaves on a recording sheet they will be given.

Lesson Plan was adapted from:

http://www.education.com/activity/article/Leaves_Change_fifth/
http://www.holdenarb.org/resources/documents/teachertreesourceswhyleaveschangecolor.pdf