Title of lesson: Fall Leaves 
by: Nichole MacClellan 
Grade Level: Early Childhood (pre-K)

Goal: to demonstrate the similarities and differences of autumn leaves collected during a nature walk.  

Learning Objectives: Students will:
classify the leaves into groups according to color, size, shape, and style.
observe the differences between the leaves 
create a leaf wreath

NJ Science Standards: All students will benefit through discovery and investigation.  Each will have an understanding of leaves and their different characteristics.  Under the standard 5.7-.2, the students will develop a simple classification scheme for grouping organisms and under the standard 5.7-.1, the students will recognize the diversity of plants and animals on earth.

Materials: To become familiar with the background information on autumn colors the teacher should review the following sites:

http://www.accuweather.com/iwxpage/paws/fallfaq.htm

http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/education/colorchange.html

A variety of leaves must be collected and distributed to three different groups, approximately ten to fifteen leaves per group. Also, the middle of the paper plates must be cut out and strings attached for the follow up activity. 

Procedure:
Introduction:
I will sit the students down in a circle and tell the students a personal story about fall and leaves to spark their interest.  I will then ask the students what they know about leaves, how they are different and how they are alike.  We will have a class discussion of prior knowledge of leaves and our experiences.  I will also ask the students if they would like to go for a nature walk and collect leaves to be used for a science and art project. During the walk, I will ask questions such as, What is special about this leaf?  How is this leaf different from this leaf?  Are all leaves the same size?  After the nature walk, all the students will put their leaves into one pile and sit down at their learning stations. 

Exploration:

The students will then be asked to separate the leaves into two different groups according to similarities. (They will not be given specific groups to sort them into.)

The teacher will then walk around to each learning group and ask the group to describe and explain the differences between their two groups of leaves.  The teacher will also list the differences on the board for the visual learners.  After the discussion, the students will then be asked to group the leaves into two more different groups then previously done.  This time the teacher will give some more ideas such as size, shape, color, and ridges.  Once again, the students will discuss the differences while the teacher writes and illustrates them on the board.  The teacher will then discuss why leaves are different and why they change during the different seasons. 

Student Product:
The students will then be asked to pick out leaves from the pile of leaves collected from the nature walk and make a wreath.  The wreaths will be made from the precut plates, glue, and leaves.  The students will then glue the leaves onto the plate to construct the wreath. 

Application: The student will then be asked to say one thing they learned about leaves, and the teacher will write it on an index card to be placed on the back of the wreath. Also, in separate learning centers located around the classroom, books about leaves and fall will be available and a matching games involving leaves of different size, shape, and color.

Assessment:  The lesson will be deemed successful if students can successfully name some differences between the leaves collected.

Reflection: The children were very excited to go outside on a nature walk. It was difficult to keep all eighteen of them under control while outside but I had plenty of help.  While on our nature walk my cooperating teacher and the classroom aide went to help with the children. I enjoyed every minute while outside with the children because it was Fall there were tons of leaves on the ground. I’ll never forget the look on the faces of the children when they found each leaf. They were so excited, and they felt like they had found something terrific!

After out nature walk I taught my lesson at the learning centers instead of the carpet where I usually teach my lessons.  I noticed a change in the students immediately. They were very quiet and all sat in their seats ready to learn. While doing the class poster, every student raised his or her hand to help me paste the examples on. I feel that each student did understand what we learned that day and was eager to demonstrate that.