The Leaves Are Changing - I Wonder Why? Copy

Engaging Questions

• What are the possible causes of the differences in the dates leaves change color?

• Students will graph their combined data to identify trends in leaf color changes.

• Students will reflect on their data and hypothesize why trees change color.

Teacher Goals

• Students will observe trees as they change colors and record related data, such as date, temperature, precipitation, etc.
• Students will graph their combined data to identify trends in leaf color changes.
• Students will reflect on their data and hypothesize why trees change color.

Required Resources

• Why Leaves Change Color

  This site is by the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Division. Use the information at this site to gain an understanding of fall foliage color changes.

  • Why Leaves Change Color

• National Forest Fall Foliage Hotspots

  This site is also by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Division. Use it to find photographs of fall foliage and to gather data on leaf color change in various regions.

  • National Forest Fall Foliage Hotspots

• This form is used in the activity called The Leaves are Changing - I Wonder Why? 

  You will observe when tree leaves begin to change to their fall colors, record related information, and hypothesize why leaves change colors. This information can be compared to data collected in other cities in order to see if location affects when leaves change. If you wish to map locations of the color changes in leaves, try the I Wonder Where the Leaves Are Changing? Aurora activity.

  • Leaf Color Data

Steps

1. Tree Identification

   Identify elm, oak, maple, cottonwood, aspen, and/or willow trees that can be observed safely in your neighborhood or community.

2. Making basic observations

   Download the Leaf Change Table in either Microsoft Word or HTML form, attached below, and use it to record the class data on leaf color change

   Do the following:

   1. observe the selected trees in your neighborhood, or at school, once a week and note the colors of the leaves. Look for color changes in the leaves (yellows, reds, oranges) and record these in the data table.
   2. record the weather data (see the next instruction).
   3. record the number of students reporting color changes for each type of tree.

   • Leaf Change Table (html version)
   • Leaf Change Table.doc

3. Additional data

   In addition to the data to be gathered as instructed in the preceding step, also record the following:

   1. temperature
   2. rainfall amounts
   3. hours of daylight
   4. any additional factors that you think may be involved in leaf color change

4. Graph data

   Graph the class data on the numbers of students that record leaf color changes for each type of tree versus the week of the month.

5. Analysis and hypothesis

   Analyze the data and develop a hypothesis as to why leaves change colors.

6. Conclusion

   Write a conclusion identifying trends in leaf color changes, the variables that may have caused the change, and possible sources of error.

Teacher Notes

• This activity is designed to have students wonder about the reasons leaves change color in the fall. Students will be introduced to the scientific method and classification. Students can be encouraged to develop their own column headings for their journals (data tables). The activity can be extended by gathering data from other locations for comparisons, looking for similar days leaves change colors. Maps could be generated to depict time zones as leaves begin to change across the state.

Learner Notes

• Observe the same trees each time you collect data. If you are not sure the leaves are actually changing colors, bring a few back to the classroom so your classmates can help decide. It may be helpful to measure the air temperature when you collect the data.

Mentor Notes

• Please encourage your daughter or son to notice the color changes of leaves around your neighborhood. Have him or her compare the leaf color changes of different kinds of trees in the neighborhood to color changes occuring at the school.