Embrace the gorgeous colour of fall this year by conducting a science experiment that shows the colours leaves turn in the fall and explore the science behind this gorgeous transformation that occurs every autumn. We love a simple science experiment and this Leaf Lab is perfect for fall as we explore the big question: Why do leaves change color? Kids from preschool to high school will enjoy this easy and fun Fall science experiment!
Fall Science Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?
What you will discover in this article!
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I have a love-hate relationship with fall. I love the gorgeous colours and the crispness of the air. And don’t forget all the amazing freshly harvested fruits and vegetables.
But there is also the dread that means winter is coming, and when you live in a place with brutally cold temperatures and snow up to 8 months of the year, it makes the signs of it’s arrival, a little panic inducing.
It’s like a warning sign… GET OUTSIDE NOW!
That’s what makes this Fall Science Experiment so perfect. Not only do you get to learn something fascinating about nature, like exploring how leaves change color, but you also get to spend some time outside!
I highly recommend doing this experiment just as the leaves start changing, while some are still green, and others are at various stages of changing colours.
LEARNING EXTENSIONS EXPLORE MORE FALL STEM ACTIVITIES
Leaf Science Chromatography Experiment
When I first looked into this activity, I came across some sites claiming that this activity would reveal what colours the leaves turn in the fall. After doing a few tests we knew that claim was not accurate. Instead, what this activity does is separate out the active colours in the leaves. By active, we mean the colours need to be at least a little bit visible in the leaf. That means for the best results, try picking handfuls of leaves from the same tree but that are at different stages of changing colours. We have a Mountain Ash that gave us leaves in 4 different colour groupings.
Or you can pick different leaves, from different trees, but don’t expect colours to magically appear that are not visible already in the leaf with this simple science approach.
For a more advanced type of Leaf Chromatography experiment for your middle school and high school students, check out this Leaf Lab . We haven’t done this technique but it looks like it might provide a slightly different result from this more simple science, Leaf Chromatography experiment. And may reveal more of the hidden colour pigments in the leaves.
Our Experimental Method
With this experiment we started by doing the steps with leaves from different trees on our property. These are trees we know very well. Beloved trees we have watched move for the seasons for at least a decade. So we are very familiar with their fall colours.
That’s how we discovered that this experiment doesn’t show what colour the leaves will turn in the fall, and therefore doesn’t really answer our big question: Why do leaves change color? Our tree that we know turns a gorgeous red in the fall, did not show any red at all in the chromatography.
But interestingly, our purple leaf tree, that starts in the spring with green leaves, that turn purple in summer, then orange/yellow in fall, gave us the most dynamic chromatography. We even made a cool heart chromatography!
So our next step in the study we went to our Mountain Ash tree. A HUGE very loved, majestic part of our yard. It also possesses the most amazing array of colours as it enters fall. Right now it has green, yellow-green, purple-green and a gorgeous bright berry red. So many beautiful leaf colours in one massive tree!
Then we redid the experiment. If it was true that the experiment would reveal what colours would appear in the fall, then all the chromatography should have revealed the same colours since the leaves were all from the same tree, picked at the same time, just at different stages of turning to the fall colours.
It turns out that wasn’t the case at all. It was only the active colours that were revealed. Which was a great finding! Which turned this Leaf Lab into an amazing journey of discovery and the scientific method .
To do this fall leaf experiment you will need:
Leaves ! See tips above for the best leaf selection Jars with lids (or plastic wrap will work if you don’t have lids) Rubbing Alcohol Butter knife (or other item that can “mash leaves”) Large bowl or dish that fits the jars Hot water Coffee filters Plates Scissors
Time needed: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Reveal the secret colours of leaves with this science experiment.
Start by heading outside and collecting leaves. I used small bags to keep my leaves organized. In total we did 6 different types of leaves. You want to gather 4 to 6 leaves of each type. Try and get leaves that are at different stages of turning colour for the best results.
Set out one jar for each type of leaf you collected. Into each jar start ripping up one type of leaf. You want to tear the leaves up nice and small. Really tear it up!
Add just enough rubbing alcohol to cover the leaves, then using a knife or other utensil mash up the leaves into the alcohol even more. You should start to see the rubbing alcohol turning a bit green.
Set the jars in a large dish or bowls. Add hot water to the bowl or dish and cover the jars with lids or plastic wrap.
Now let them sit for approximately one hour. Give the jars a little swish every once in a while to help release the chlorophyll. Your alcohol should be turning a nice green. You can also refresh the hot water if it cools too much.
Cut a coffee filter into quarters and place on a plate. Using a teaspoon or dropper add a couple of drops of the liquid to the tip of the filter.
Wait approximately 30 min to one hour to see how the colours move up the filter paper and separate. Pretty cool!
What happens if you leave it in the solution even longer? Maybe overnight? The colours will become more bold and larger, making the colours easier to see.
The Science Of Leaf Color Changes In Fall
Let’s dig into the big question: Why do leaves change color?
Why are Leaves Green?
Leaves, like all green plants, contain Chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the molecule that traps the energy of the sun and is called a photoreceptor. It is found in the chloroplasts of green plants, and is what makes green plants, green. It is also a key part of photosynthesis which is what allows plant to get energy from sunlight.
Leaf Coloring
Leaves are actually more colours than just green but Chlorophyll is so dominant most of the summer that its green colour covers up all the other natural colours in the leaves. We can separate the colours of a leaf by doing this leaf chromatography science experiment.
We have done chromatography experiments before, check out our gorgeous Circuit Chromatography Flowers that light up!
In this science experiment we used rubbing alcohol and two types of energy to separate the colours. We used mechanical energy by ripping up the leaves and mashing them, plus heat energy from the hot water.
Look closely at the rubbing alcohol, do you see any other colours in there?
Most commonly you will see green, but depending on the type of leaf you may also see purple, red, yellow, or orange.
What about Purple Leaves?
First a bit of science behind purple leaves. Some plants have a lot of compounds called anthrocyanins which can be red or purple in color. If a plant has enough anthrocyanins, the purple will block out the green color even though the chlorophyll is still there. With this particular type of tree we see that in action because the leaves are green in the spring and turn purple for the summer.
During our walk about collecting leaves we came upon a tree with purple leaves. These trees are quite common around here and we were excited to see how it performed in this experiment.
It was interesting to note that the rubbing alcohol turned green initially, then became purple over time.
Another cool fact about purple leaves, the purple colour protects the leaves from sun damage. It’s like tree sunscreen! So cool!
Leaf Coloring Vocabulary Words
Yellow leaves have pigments called xanthophyll .
Carotenoids are the pigment in orange leaves.
And, as we just learned, anthocyanins , give leaves intense red and purple colouring.
Plus of course we have chlorophyll which gives leaves their green colour.
When looking at your chromatography, each colour in your papers is created by those molecules.
What Makes Leaves Change Color?
OK, time for the big question… what makes leaves change colour ? As we know, Chlorophyll gives leaves their green colour and is so dominant that it hides the other colours in the leaves during the spring and summer. But in the fall, chlorophyll in the leaves breaks down, finally allowing the it’s other natural colours to have their moment in the sun!
The beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges might be short lived before the leaves fall to the ground. This year, think about the amazing science behind those changing colours as the trees around you put on their colourful fall displays.
MORE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS
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Science Experiment: Why Do Leaves Change Color?
September 6, 2023 by Sarah 71 Comments
Science experiments for kids are big in our home. My kids love them—and so do I. While teaching Kindergarten, I made science experiments a priority. Kids are so naturally curious about the world around them, and science experiments bring this learning fully to life!
This is my ABSOLUTE favorite science experiment of all time—oh yes, I promise it is THAT GOOD!
I even included this science experiment in Kindergarten at Home , my curriculum for children ages 4 to 6. Kindergarten at Home consists of 18 units, each spanning two weeks. This science experiment is part of the unit all about leaves! Your little one will make leaf art, prepare a fresh salad with you in the kitchen, practice their literacy skills through some fun leaf activities, and so much more.
Take a peek inside! Check out Kindergarten at Home right here: https://shop.howweelearn.com/pages/kindergarten-at-home
Why Do Leaves Change Color?
When asked by my eldest daughter at age 3 (don’t ask me how many years ago that was!), “Why do leaves change color?” I had no answer.
I looked it up and found it too complicated for a 3-year-old, but I explained the best I could and let it be.
I was in Teacher’s College at the time, and wouldn’t you know, a few weeks later, we learned about—and did—a science experiment for kids about leaves changing color!
It made things so much clearer that I immediately did the experiment with Madeline. And my future Kindergarten classes. And my future children. Multiple times. Yep, it really is that good!
Before we get started, be sure to download your Free Printable with step-by-step instructions for this fascinating Why Do Leaves Change Color? Science Experiment:
Please keep in mind this is my (limited) understanding, having done the experiment and some research in that class. I’d love to share it with you. So…
The Science Experiment!
Leaves contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll makes the leaves green and is so dominant that it covers up all the other colors in the leaves. To figure out what color a leaf would be without the dominant chlorophyll color, we can separate the colors by doing this science experiment.
This experiment is very simple, and you likely already have everything you need!
- three leaves from the same tree
- rubbing alcohol
- plastic baggie or plastic wrap
- paper coffee filter
- small bowl or pan
- scissors (optional to cut the coffee filter)
- elastics (optional to hold the plastic wrap in place)
- tape (optional to hold coffee filter in place)
1. Have your child break the leaves into tiny pieces and put them in the jar. We decided to try leaves from two different trees to see how the results compare (being careful to keep each pile of leaves separate).
2. Pour rubbing alcohol over the leaves until they are just covered. A feline supervisor is optional, but highly encouraged.
3. Mash and stir the leaves into the rubbing alcohol until the alcohol turns slightly green. Really give it a good mashing—this is key. We used a plastic spoon so we could really mush and poke the leaves without worrying about accidentally breaking the jar.
4. Cover the jar with a baggie or plastic wrap. We used a rubber band to help hold it in place. Place the jar in a bowl and pour hot water into the bowl.
5. Leave the jar in the hot water for at least 30 minutes, occasionally swishing the jar to stir the leaves. The alcohol should be a dark green (leave longer if needed). If you can resist, wait 45 minutes or even an hour. We found the color difference in the rubbing alcohol at this stage interesting! Is the chlorophyll perhaps stronger in the leaves on the right?
6. Cut a strip from the coffee filter so it can reach the rubbing alcohol. Place it in the jar, and secure it with a small piece of tape at the top edge if needed.
7. The liquid will travel up the coffee filter, and the colors will separate as the alcohol evaporates off the coffee filter. Let this happen for about an hour for the full effect.
There was definitely a difference between the two types of leaves we chose! While it was difficult to capture in the photo, we could see a lot of orange-red tones in the coffee filter strip on the left, and more yellow tones in the one on the right. We also noticed that the size of the orange-red tinge in the strip on the left was larger than the yellow tinge in the strip on the right.
And sure enough, the leaves on the left turn an orange-red shade in the fall, and the leaves on the right turn yellow!
So… Why Do Leaves Change Color?
In this science experiment, we used rubbing alcohol and energy (hot water) to separate the colors. You likely saw green and, depending on your leaf type, maybe red, yellow, or orange.
As we know, chlorophyll gives leaves their green color and is so dominant it hides the other colors in the leaves. But in the fall, chlorophyll in the leaves breaks down, allowing the other colors to finally shine through and show their beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges.
I hope you and your little ones enjoyed this experiment! Science is everywhere, and science experiments for kids are such a wonderful way to build on our children’s natural curiosity about the world.
If you’re ready for an entire year of Kindergarten activities planned for you–easy peasy and full of fun and wonder—check out Kindergarten at Home!
Your Complete 36-Week Curriculum for 4-6 Year Olds
https://shop.howweelearn.com/pages/kindergarten-at-home
Thank you so much for reading, my friend,
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September 8, 2013 at 8:02 pm
This is a great experiment. Not even just for the kids – I find it fascinating too! lol. Pinned it!
September 8, 2013 at 11:38 pm
I think so too! I love activities that are as exciting for me as they are for my wee ones! Thank you for pinning 🙂
October 4, 2018 at 10:27 am
my class is doing this experiment today.
September 15, 2013 at 7:02 am
Ooooh what a great experiment. I’ve struggled to explain this too.
Thanks for linking to The Sunday Showcase. I’ve pinned to our board.
September 15, 2013 at 11:03 am
Yes – The leaves changing can be tricky to explain! Hopefully this experiment helps it to make a bit of sense – and if your wee one is too young to grasp it, it makes for a cool magic trick all the same! Thank you for pinning
September 25, 2013 at 1:01 pm
What an awesome investigation. I saw this experiment in several other posts with comments that it didn’t quite work. I think they didn’t “stew” the solution like you did. I asked my second grader about color change and got the lecture on chlorophyll back, but I know she will enjoy this experiment and seeing this color separation on her own. Thank you so much for sharing it – I will be featuring this post in the next edition of Afterschool! And, by the way, we just did a fun experiment of our own – http://learningwithmouse.blogspot.com/2013/09/mystery-substanceself-led-discovery.html
September 25, 2013 at 1:28 pm
Thanks Natalie! Yes, I have done this experiment many times – worked every one! It is important to really mash the leaves and be patient. I hope it works well for you – please come back to let us know! I will definitely head over to check out your experiment – we are always up for Science ideas!
September 27, 2013 at 6:35 pm
Thanks so much for sharing this great Science experiment over at After School!
September 27, 2013 at 7:27 pm
My pleasure – thank you for hosting!
September 30, 2013 at 1:03 am
Very cool! I think my kids would love doing this project. Thanks for sharing at the After School Party
September 30, 2013 at 1:05 am
Thank you Kelly. Yes, I think it is a super cool experiment too – for grown ups as well 🙂
September 30, 2013 at 3:31 am
This is awesome! I’m adding this to my must-do list. My son would LOVE it! Thanks for sharing this at the After School Linky Party. I’m featuring it this week. Stop by tomorrow and share more of your phenomenal ideas!
October 1, 2013 at 1:13 am
What a compliment – thank you! I would love to stop by 🙂 Hope you enjoy with your son … Gotta love Science!!
October 2, 2013 at 6:26 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this, Sarah! We went on a nature hike when the leaves were starting to change colour and I have been thinking that I needed to find something to explain to the kids why the leaves change colour. This is perfect!
I found your post through the Mom’s Library Link-up.
October 8, 2013 at 1:12 am
What a neat experiment! My daughter loves science so I will have to do this with her:) I am featuring you on my blog for the “Hearts for Home Blog Hop”. The link will be posted on Thursday:)
October 8, 2013 at 1:46 am
Thank you so much for the feature Erika! I love Science too.
November 8, 2019 at 1:00 pm
Thanks my class of children are 2….they don’t understand but they LOVE my science experiments……and I have fun doing it with them
October 20, 2013 at 2:41 pm
It’s really interesting that rubbing alcohol will make the colors in leaves separate. We will have to try that. I would love to have you visit and link up with my Entertaining and Educational Friday blog hop. – http://highhillhomeschool.blogspot.com
October 20, 2013 at 7:28 pm
It is interesting Julie. Rubbing Alcohol breaks down the chlorophyll, imitating what happens in the cold weather. I find Science so fascinating too! I would love to link up to your blog hop on Friday – I will try to stop by this week! Thanks for the invite,
November 2, 2013 at 10:18 pm
What a cool experiment! I am bookmarking this one for when the twins are a little older- they will love it (and so will I)! Thanks for linking up to Discover & Explore this week!
November 4, 2013 at 9:40 pm
It really is cool. Glad you think so too! Thanks for having me over to link.
November 8, 2013 at 7:42 am
This is such an interesting experiment! I had no idea you could do that. I’m featuring you today in a collection of weather experiments for kids. Thanks for linking up to Discover & Explore!
November 8, 2013 at 7:10 pm
Thanks Shaunna! Yes, it is a really neat experiment – I am eager to check out the others in your round up! Thank you for the feature 🙂
November 22, 2014 at 5:36 pm
Wow! Can hardly wai to try!
December 1, 2014 at 8:43 pm
Oh I hope you do give it a try Barb! It is one we do every year … very, very cool!
September 3, 2015 at 6:09 pm
If I remember correctly, I think rubbing alcohol will also separate out the colors from a permanent marker (e.g. a Sharpie pen). Wonder if the color from chlorophyll is somehow similar? Might be amusing to do as a side by side experiment. 🙂
September 3, 2015 at 7:21 pm
Fascinating – I don’t know about this one, but I certainly want to find out! Thank you for taking the time to mention it Gwen!
September 25, 2015 at 8:16 am
I came across your blog earlier this week because my oldest asked why leaves changed colors. So, we did this experiment. They had so much fun! We ended up using the colored alcohol as a form of watercolor paint. Well we tried to, it didn’t work very well haha.
September 30, 2015 at 10:58 pm
So happy you found me here Chelsey! Glad your little ones liked the experiment. What a cool idea about the watercolour paint from the alcohol!
September 30, 2015 at 3:23 pm
wow. i love this science project. next week we are doing leaves for the theme of the week. can’t wait to do this with the children. they are going to love it.
September 30, 2015 at 10:54 pm
I bet you they will love it! And I am glad you sound so eager about it too – that will make them love it even more! It’s awesome – and so are you! Thank you for commenting!
October 14, 2015 at 5:12 pm
Something went wrong with our experiment. We don’t have any color on our coffee filter. I stewed it like you said. Should we take the coffee filter out of our jar and let it dry?
October 14, 2015 at 7:48 pm
Hmmm – rats! Sorry to hear! I don’t think taking it out and letting it dry will make a difference (however you might as well give it a try, perhaps you will e able to see a faint line) . Perhaps try again with more leaves, really really mashed. I promise it really does work! Sorry it didn’t for you – very disappointing!
October 15, 2015 at 10:39 pm
Thanks for your help! I think there is a VERY faint line of yellow. It’s hard to tell. I probably didn’t mash it enough. That’s okay. It was a learning experience for my son to figure out what to do when something doesn’t turn out right.
October 25, 2015 at 8:10 pm
Well I certainly love your positive attitude! I bet it will work for you next time – just mash like crazy!!!
October 19, 2015 at 12:14 pm
Oh I love this so much! I can’t wait to try it with my little girls, thank you for posting! 🙂
October 25, 2015 at 8:07 pm
So glad you are excited! Hope you and your little one have fun!
November 18, 2015 at 5:49 am
Hello. I would really like to do this experiment with some children, the only problem is that in my country we don’t have white coffe filtres. Can you recommend me something else to use instead?
December 1, 2015 at 7:43 pm
Hi Myriam – great question. I am afraid I do not know of an alternate, but perhaps somebody else will – anyone?
February 25, 2016 at 2:19 am
It’s good
September 13, 2018 at 11:15 am
How about paper towels?
October 5, 2018 at 8:20 pm
I’m not sure if this would work as effectively – but if you give it a try, please let me know!!
September 8, 2019 at 4:42 am
IF you know a a science teacher, (high school, college, middle school), you might be able to get lab filter paper, or the real deal, chromatography paper. If your alcohol isn’t dark green, let it sit on the leaves overnight, in the dark, and most all of the pigments will be extracted. Yellow are carotenoids, red would be anthocyanins. Which makes me wonder if you could grate carrots and see those pigments.
April 18, 2016 at 5:54 pm
You should also play with purple cabbage juice. It’s a great pH indicator and you can test loads of household items: baking soda, lemon juice, soda… 🙂
April 18, 2016 at 10:34 pm
Thanks for the suggestion! Very much appreciated!
October 16, 2016 at 8:46 pm
We are doing this for my daughter’s 6th grade science fair project. We tried 3 different leaves from our yard. But only 1 gave us a faint yellowish line. I’m not sure if we didn’t mash it well enough. We tried it again using 2 different types of leaves and only one gave us good results. I don’t know if it’s the type of leaves we used. We live in Central Florida and don’t see leaves cancer by much. We will keep on trying till we get better results. It’s too late to change project ideas. ?
October 19, 2016 at 8:24 pm
Oh No! I hope it works for you. A few tips would be to super, duper mash the leaves, leave the filter as long as possible in the mixture, and use really, really hot water. We are in Canada and get a whole plethora of colours in the Autumn. I am not sure if it makes a difference – I hope it works for you!
October 7, 2020 at 5:18 pm
I’m not sure if the use of the metal lid to the canning jar made a difference but I did not get the results I expected. I plan to try again later tonight with plactic wrap. Any ideas for how to make the colors pop?
July 12, 2017 at 12:14 am
Have you tried this experiment with a leaf already changing color? If it’d work, it’d be neat to compare the filter strip of the green leaf to the changing leaf months later.
July 17, 2017 at 10:14 pm
That’s a neat idea!
August 31, 2017 at 2:23 pm
Thank you for sharing this simple science idea. To be honest I had forgotten why leaves turn color, so it was a nice little reminder and education for me as well. -makeitmindful
October 19, 2017 at 10:41 am
Glad you enjoyed it!
September 23, 2017 at 9:31 am
Just tried this and made some modifications that worked really well, so thought I would share. I let the leaves sit for several hours in the alcohol (about 4 hours). Then I poured the liquid into a clear glass cup and added an equal volume of water. It was cool to see what the liquid looked like in the clear cup (it was brightly pigmented at this point)! For the filter paper strips – after sitting for one hour there were some faint bands, but nothing impressive. I let the filter paper strips sit overnight, and WOW – there were vibrant bands in the morning! I tried hydrangea leaves (green – turn yellow in the fall), and red maple leaves. The red maple leaves were especially beautiful – there was a thick band of purple pigment at the top of the evaporation line and lower band of green pigment. Hope this is helpful! Thanks for posting this fun experiment!
October 18, 2017 at 3:02 pm
Thank you so much for taking the time to add your modifications Abbi!
November 2, 2019 at 5:25 pm
Why did you dilute the leaf-alcohol solution with water? Wouldn’t that dilute the pigments as well?
October 7, 2018 at 12:27 pm
That is wonderful example for Extraction and color chromatography.Thank you very much.
October 14, 2018 at 8:59 pm
So glad you liked the post – thank you for taking the time to let me know!
October 28, 2018 at 12:53 am
Instead of rubbing alcohol can I use spirit or nail polish remover.
October 28, 2018 at 9:32 pm
I’m afraid I am not sure the answer to this question Sonali. Hopefully someone else will and will reply to your message. If you give it a try please let me know if it works. Thank you!
June 6, 2019 at 12:15 pm
Tried this yesterday with 3 kindergarten classes. It didn’t really work, even hours later at the end of the day. I even tried mashing the leaves in a food processor. But then I checked today and there was faint colour lines!! Maybe because I used 50% rubbing alcohol? Anyway, cool experiment.
August 9, 2019 at 9:05 pm
Oh Shucks! I have found that really, really mashing the leaves is key – but clearly you did that with the food processor. Maybe it was the lower concentration of alcohol. Sorry it didn’t work! That is so disappointing.
October 21, 2019 at 10:23 am
Does this experiment make the leaves themselves actually change color? Do the leaves turn yellow or red? Or just the paper gets color on it?
November 16, 2019 at 4:28 pm
Hi Amanda, great question. It just makes the PAPER change colour.
November 4, 2020 at 11:48 am
Hey Sarah! I’ve done this experiment before and loved it. But this year my kiddos have taken us into a leaves and tree study now and all the leaves have already fallen off of trees. Will this experiment work with a dead leaf (one I get from the ground)?? Let me know. Thanks!
November 11, 2020 at 9:59 pm
What an interesting question! I don’t believe it will work with a dead leaf, as the process is complete. But I could be incorrect!
July 12, 2021 at 3:36 pm
What do you recommend I use if I don’t have coffee filters?
July 15, 2021 at 8:06 am
Hmmm … great question. I wonder if just paper towel would work? I am not sure! Perhaps someone else in this community will have insight!
September 29, 2021 at 5:48 pm
The kids loved this experiment!! We got great results! Thanks for sharing!!!
October 25, 2021 at 12:37 pm
So awesome!!!!! Thank you for sharing! xo
[…] A science experiment about why leaves change colour would be a great extension for older preschoolers. And an art extension making a fall tree would […]
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25+ Leaf Science Experiments Activities and Sensory Ideas
Here you will find over 25 fun leaf science experiments and activities for kids . Everything from why leaf color change happens and the life cycle of trees and seasonal leaf changes. You’ll also see leaf STEM projects, sensory ideas, and even full leaf unit studies.
Leaf Science Projects
Leaf science experiments, activities, and sensory ideas.
So, if you’re looking for new and exciting ways to keep your little ones entertained and engaged in learning, look no further than these leaf science experiments, leaf activities , and leaf sensory ideas !
These hands-on projects are filled with educational benefits. As kids explore the world around them through leaf-themed activities, they’ll develop crucial skills like observation, analysis, and problem-solving.
So grab some leaves from your nature walk or visit a local park and get ready for some science fun!
Leaf Science Ideas
1. Leaf Rubbings – You only need a few sheets of paper, colored crayons, and various leaves. Place a leaf under the paper and rub the crayon over its surface to reveal the leaf’s veins. Experiment with different kinds of leaves to see the different patterns that emerge. This activity helps build fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and it’s excellent for looking at the details in the leaves.
2. Leaf Sorting – Gather leaves in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Encourage your children to sort them into categories based on their shared characteristics. For example, they could group leaves by color, shape, or texture. This activity is excellent for your child’s observation skills, cognitive flexibility, and classification abilities.
3. Leaf Printing – Coat one side of a leaf with a layer of paint or ink and press it onto a paper to create a stunning print. Experiment with different colors and paint thicknesses to see what kinds of unique patterns and textures show up. This project fosters creativity, experimentation, and artistic expression.
4. Leaf Sensory Bin – Fill a large bin with leaves and let your child explore them with their senses. Encourage them to look, touch, and even smell them. This sensory activity can help encourage a child’s sensory integration, improve gross motor skills, and spark curiosity about nature.
5. Leaf Chromatography – Cut off the stem and place your desired leaf in the bottom of a tall glass filled with rubbing alcohol. Wait an hour or so for the leaf to release its pigments into the alcohol. After that time, remove the leaf and check the color of the alcohol. It should contain the pigments that the leaf produces and uses to capture light energy during photosynthesis.
This activity teaches children about scientific inquiry, the scientific method, and chemical analysis.
Leaf Activities for Kids
Have fun exploring leaves this fall with these gorgeous autumn crafts , experiments, and ideas.
Sorting Leaves & Seeds from Inspiration Laboratories
Autumn Leaf Chromatography from Life with Moore Babies
Leaves Shapes Botany 3-part Cards Free PDF from Wise Owl Factory
Leaf Matching Activity from School Time Snippets
Fall Loose Parts Sensory Invitation from My Storytime Corner
Fall Leaf Auditory Processing Activities from Sugar Aunts
Felt Fall Tree Play Set Inspired by The Little Yellow Leaf from Buggy and Buddy
Saving Fall Leaves from Mama Smiles
Leaf Chromatography STEM Activity from Schooling a Monkey
Leaf Identification Set from Look We’re Learning
Parts of a Leaf from Twisty Noodle
affiliate links can be found on this blog at no cost to you.
Leaf Experiments for Preschoolers and Kindergarten
Tree and Leaf Nomenclature Cards from Tired, Need Sleep
Autumn Leaves 3-Part Cards from Imagine Our Life
Leaf Science Research from Mrs. Jones Creation Station
Science Behind Why Leaves Change Colors from Edventures
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf Sensory Bin from Stir the Wonder
Autumn Discovery Bottle from Play and Learn Every Day
Hands-on Tree Identification Activity from Edventures
Nature Tray Sorting and Counting from Living Montessori Now
Swimming in Leaves from Fireflies and Mudpies
Leaf Sensory Bag from Kids Craft Room
There are so many creative ways to explore the natural world with children, and leaf science experiments and activities are a great place to start during the fall season.
Whether you’re looking to foster your child’s artistic expression, build their scientific skills and knowledge, or have some fun, these hands-on projects are sure to delight children of all ages.
So grab some leaves and try one (or all!) of these fun leaf activities today!
Fall Themes
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Easy Fall Leaf Science Experiment: Exploring Colors & Chlorophyll with Kids
After exploring and Learning About the Parts of Leaves we decided to learn about leaf color and chlorophyll with an easy science experiment. I found…
After exploring and Learning About the Parts of Leaves we decided to learn about leaf color and chlorophyll with an easy science experiment. I found the idea to extract chlorophyll from leaves on Home Science Tools . I thought that it sounded simple enough we could give it a try with a few modifications. I am so glad we did because the results are beautiful and it helped my kids see and better understand the role chlorophyll plays with changing leaf colors.
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You will also enjoy our Leaf Chromatography Experiment. If you have leftover leaves you should try this cool how to preserve leaves project and print out this FREE Parts of a Leaf learning worksheet.
Before you start this activity the first thing is to go and enjoy the outdoors and gather up some fall leaves. The kids and I feel so lucky to live close to mountains that are ablaze with beautiful fall colors–one of my favorite times of the year! We went on a little hike, gathered leaves, and other nature treasures, and headed home to be scientists.
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Fall Leaf Science Experiment
3. Observe what color the alcohol is. Come back throughout the day and check to see if the alcohol has changed color. We let our experiment sit overnight and in the morning the colors were even darker but the second night resulted in no change.
4. Discuss experiment and compare differences between the containers. We recently continued our learning with a STEAM Coffee Filter Art Activity to make Fall Leaves that would be a perfect addition to this activity.
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See More: Science Activities Here
See more: fall activities here.
Leaf Chromatography Experiment
STEAM Leaf Art
Fall Tree Crafts
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13 comments
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I love this, when I was a young mom I worked so much just as both my kids do now but finding activities such as this are wonderful. I love these hands on experiments to share with my grandkids. I am a young grandma but It gives me an idea to maybe take the kids to share these experiences with the elderly, they love company.
Great activity for my class! I love science and so does my preschoolers!
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This looks really cool. My son is only 3 so may do this multiple time as he gets older but I know the color changing aspect of the experiment will be most appreciated by him.
Hi Kristen, Thanks so much! I totally agree, it’s great for any age!
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What a great idea! I can't wait for the leaves to start turning here. 🙂 Thank you so much for linking up at the Learn & Play Link Up. Your post is featured this week on Christian Montessori Network!
This is a great idea. I have a high-schooler doing Biology dealing with plants, and I have a fourth grader who watches the Biology videos with his sister. This would be great to do along with what we are already doing now! Thanks for the idea!
This is such a great way to learn about leaves. If I can find some containers, we may just have to do this, even though we finished our leaf unit already. I will be sharing your post with my My Fat'er'hs World Kindergarten group on Facebook , because I am sure there are some moms there that still have to do the leaf unit., and would love to do this. Thank you for stopping by and sharing with Littles Learning Link Up. I hope you can stop by again this week. Have a great day!
What a fun idea! I love the hands-on way of exploring the color of fall leaves! #ThoughtfulSpot
Hi Emma, Thanks so much! My kiddos definitely thought watching the experiment magically change during the day was fun.
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Why Leaves Change Color: Leaf Chromatography
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Ever wonder why leaves change color? Try the Leaf Chromatography Science experiment to learn more! This is an awesome autumn science activity for your lesson plan. September, October and November are the perfect months to learn about fall leaves!
We did some fun autumn nature study to go along with this lovely book Linnea’s Almanac this month. Since we are in the midst of beautiful autumn weather, what better than a study on leaves?? We learned about leaves changing color with a fun experiment and made some beautiful autumn leaf crowns!
First, about the book: Linnea’s Almanac by Christina Bjork… I LOVE this sweet little book. Linnea is a little girl who loves learning all about gardens and nature. She learned from her neighbor friends who are expert gardeners.
She goes through each month of the year and shares some fun things about what is happening in nature and creative activities that you can do with nature. We love to look through it for ideas to learn and play in nature each month. October’s entry gives some great ideas for the fall season. It teaches how to make a leaf crown and talks about why leaves change color. This was just perfect for our autumn nature studies!
Autumn Nature Science: Why Leaves Change Color?
So do you know what leaves change color? Here is some basic leaf science for you. Leaves are green because of the chlorophyll in them. Leaves actually have lots of color in them, but during the warmer months of the year, all that is seen is this brighter green.
When it gets colder, the chlorophyll breaks down and moves into the lower parts of the tree to nourish it during the winter. After the tree takes what it needs from the leaves, the color is different, then they loosen and fall off.
The book, Why Do Leaves Change Colors? by Betsy Maestro is such a fun one to go along with this hands-on fall science experiment, too!
We did an experiment to see what colors are in a the leaves. You can see the different pigments by breaking them down and separating them with chromatography. Chromatography is the separation of mixtures into individual components using energy (heat) and alcohol.
Leaf Chromatography Experiment:
This fall science experiment can be done at home or in a classroom.
We went on a leaf-hunting adventure and collected 4 different types and colors of fall leaves to test for this project. We ripped the leaves into little pieces and put them into small jars. Then cover the leaves with a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Let the chemical reactions begin!
Place the jars into a pan of HOT water. Shake them around every few minutes to help release the pigment. I kept refreshing the hot water to keep it hot. We left it for about an hour- until you can see the alcohol changing color.
Then, use strips of coffee filter paper and place them into the liquid with the end in the alcohol and the other end taped to the edge of the jar to keep it in place. Let it sit for an hour or two for the color to be absorbed up into the paper strips. The colors will separate and it will show the varying shared of color in the leaves. It’s pretty cool to see what happens!
Autumn Nature Craft:
Want a craft to go along with your fall science activities? Try making leaf crowns, too! We also had tons of fun with our leaf crowns. My kids loved making these! It is very easy to do and they are so cute!
To make leaf crowns, you need 15-20 leaves deepening on the size of the leaves and your child. You want leaves that are still soft and flexible, not dried yet. You know the big thick end on the leaves? You need to start by cutting that large end off, but leave the stems as long as possible.
Fold the first leaf in half. Take the second one and poke it through both layers of the first leaf and wrap it around the first one. Keep going in the same way until you have enough leaves to wrap around your child’s (or your) head. Connect the last leaf to the first leaf in the same way. Then use one more stem or small stick to secure it a little more tightly.
I hope you are enjoying this beautiful season as much as we are!
More Autumn science and hands-on activities to keep you busy this season:
Comparing Squash Acorn Color Matching Autumn Tree Weaving Craft Apple Science Experiment: What keeps apples from turning brown Edible Witches Brew Slime for Halloween Halloween Science: Shrunken Apple Heads Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Printables – use an orange to create an edible one, too! Pine Cone Sensory Bottle
Former school teacher turned homeschool mom of 4 kids. Loves creating awesome hands-on creative learning ideas to make learning engaging and memorable for all kids!
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Cute crowns! We did chromotography last year and had a great time with it!
The crowns are super cute! My little ones would enjoy making those.
What sweet idea, the crown is super cute for kids… I love Fall.
I love this science experiment Karyn! I just wish I lived in a place where the leaves change color so I could do it with my girls. I’ve pinned it to my Botany Science board.
What fun!! I love their precious leaf crowns and the leaf science experiment sure looks exciting 🙂
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Science Projects > Life Science Projects > Leaf Experiments
Leaf Experiments
Explore the science of fall with these leaf experiments for elementary students up through high school!
Leaf cells have a special feature: pigment-containing chloroplasts in certain cells that enable them to produce energy and their own food through photosynthesis.
What does that mean? Well, the chloroplasts within a cell contain different pigments, which are what gives a leaf its color.
Green chlorophyll is the most common type of pigment, but there are also xanthophylls (yellow), cartenoids (yellow, orange), and anthocyanins (red).
The chlorophylls usually hide the other pigments, except when autumn comes along and chlorophyll begins to break down. This is why leaves turn different colors in the fall.
Leaf Experiment with Photosynthesis
What is photosynthesis ? Simply put, it’s the capture of light energy to produce food. Light energy from the sun is transmitted through a leaf’s cells to chloroplasts, where chlorophyll and other absorbing pigments serve as receptors to collect the energy. In the process of photosynthesis, carbon dioxide from the air is converted into energy-rich carbon compounds called carbohydrates. As this happens, oxygen is given off into the air, providing the oxygen that we breathe.
You can test the importance of light energy in plant growth by doing a simple leaf experiment.
Use 2-3 small plants. (Bean plants are a good choice, as they sprout quickly.)
You’ll need one to be the control, with normal growing conditions, either outside in sunlight or inside by a bright window. See how light effects growth by covering the other test plants with a paper bag or small box during part of the day.
Try covering one for four hours during the morning, and another for the whole day.
Observe changes to the plants over the course of a week. Which grows the best? What is the result of light-deprivation? What might happen to a leaf with reduced photosynthesis?
Leaf Science Experiment with Color
To find out more about leaf pigments , do this next experiment. First, you’ll need to extract pigments from leaves. Collect several green leaves from different trees, a few from each one. Maples and others that have dramatic color changes in the fall will work best, but you can use any deciduous leaves (from trees that lose their leaves in the winter). Tear each set of different leaves into several pieces and place them in a glass beaker or small drinking glass, then add just enough rubbing alcohol to cover them. (You can cover the containers with foil or plastic wrap to keep the alcohol from evaporating into the air.) Put the containers in a dish of hot tap water for about 30 minutes, until the alcohol turns green as the pigments from the leaves are absorbed into it.
Next, test to find out what colors are really present in a leaf . You’ll need coffee filters, filter paper , or chromatography paper for this part of the experiment. Cut a strip out of the middle of a coffee filter, about one inch wide, for each of the leaf sets that you want to test. Tape one end of the paper to a pencil or stick, and suspend it across the container with the other end just touching the alcohol and pigment mixture. A bit of the mixture will travel slowly up the paper. After about 30-90 minutes you should be able to see the ‘green’ color break up into several different colors as the different pigments begin to separate. You’ll see different shades of green, and perhaps other colors as well.
Which type of leaf had the most colorful pigments? Based on your experiment, which trees’ leaves do you think will turn the brightest and least brightest colors this fall? Try the experiment again with evergreen leaves or needles to compare the results.
Leaf Experiments with a Microscope
Taking a closer look at plant cells.
Learn even more about plants by studying different sections of real leaves. You can make your own microscope slide of a leaf section and view it under high power with a compound microscope to see cell detail. All you need is a fresh leaf specimen (use one without many holes or blemishes), a plain glass microscope slide , slide coverslip , sharp knife, and water.
Before you begin, make sure the leaf is clean and dry. Lay it out flat on your working surface and slice about a 1” section crosswise out of the center using the knife. The cells surrounding the central vein of the leaf are what you will want to look at; so make sure you slice across a section of the vein. Then, starting at one of the short ends of the strip (the edges that you did not cut), tightly roll the leaf section. Carefully make several very thin slices off one end of the roll with a razor blade or knife. This is a ‘cross section’ of the leaf.
Make a wet mount on a plain slide with the inner part of the leaf section facing up (so the inner cells are visible). You can do this by adding a drop or two of water over the leaf section and then covering it with the coverslip. Look at the slide with your microscope’s 10x objective to see the general structure, and higher power to see cell detail. Record your observations on a copy of our free Microscope worksheets.
Click here to download the Microscope Observation worksheet (pdf)
Click here to download the Stereo Microscope Observation worksheet (pdf)
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Leaf Color Experiment
With fall around the corner, we've been seeing the leaves in our neighborhood slowly start to change. My kids have had so much fun discovering the new pops of color in our yard. This is absolutely one of our favorite fall science experiments! Simple and quick, this experiment teaches kids about color in leaves. If you are a parent of curious kids, be sure to give this experiment a try!
Ages: 3 - 6
30 minutes - 1 hour
A little messy
Grownup needed
Materials you'll need
- different color leaves
- bowl or pot
- rubbing alcohol
Step-by-step tutorial
Place four leaves in a pot of boiling water. Boil your leaves for 5 minutes. Make sure to have an adult supervise this step!
While you wait for your leaves to boil, fill up your test tubes (or tall glasses would work too) with rubbing alcohol. You'll need enough rubbing alcohol to submerge the leaves in.
Once leaves have boiled for 5 minutes, use your tongs to pick up the leaves and quickly place them in the rubbing alcohol.
Note the current color of the rubbing alcohol. Now wait about an hour and observe what happened to the leaves and alcohol. What do you see?Let your experiment sit overnight and come back to see if your alcohol color has turned darker. Can you guess what colors these leaves are?
What's going on?
Leaves are full of chlorophyll, which works to for convert the energy of the sun into food for the plant. Chlorophyll also makes leaves appear green. They have other colors in them as well, but as long as there's lots of chlorophyll, the green hides all the other colors. However, in the fall the chlorophyll in the leaves starts to break down. This allows other colors such as yellow, and orange to make their appearance!
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8 Brilliant Leaf Science Experiments for Elementary
Categories Science Experiments
If you are teaching elementary science, you’ll love this collection of leaf science experiments for elementary!
These fall science experiments cover everything from photosynthesis to a leaf’s life cycle and will show kids everything they need to know about fall leaves and the science behind them!
If you like these leaf science experiments, you’ll also like these pumpkin science experiments , creative STEM activities for kids , and our complete list of science experiments for kids.
NGSS Alignment
If you are following NGSS or some other state science standard, these are some of the catagories that these experiments align with:
- K.Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Animals, Plants, and Their Environment
- 2.Earth’s Systems: Processes that Shape the Earth
- 3.Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Traits
- 3.Weather and Climate
- 5.Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems
- 2.Structure and Properties of Matter
If you want more NGSS aligned experiments, check out our NGSS science series here.
Leaf Science Experiments for the Classroom
While most of the experiments on this list were first done at home, they can be used in a classroom setting as well.
If you do any of these experiments in the classroom, you’ll want to have supplies for groups of 4-5 students at a time.
Here are some of our favorite science kits!
Elementary Science Kits for Kids
Here are some of our favorite science kits to do in the classroom as a group in elementary!
STEM Kits for 1st Grade
How to Set Up a Leaf Science Experiment
Most of the experiments on this list take 2-3 sessions to complete.
Each kid needs some sort of science journal or worksheet to record their observations during the experiment.
Make sure you have all supplies for the experiments on hand and divide everything into groups before handing out to students.
If you’re doing the experiment at home, you can just set up everything ahead of time.
Go over science safety and the science behind the experiment before allowing kids to start. Once the lesson is completed, then you can hand out the supplies.
This will help eliminate waste, mess, and misuse of the equipment.
If you don’t want kids to use breakable materials, you can switch out most of the glass supplies for plastic equipment for these experiments as none of them have any material that has to be in a glass beaker.
And now, on to the leaf science experiments!
Brilliant Leaf Science Experiments for Elementary
These leaf science experiments will teach kids everything they need to know about leaves, why leaves change color, a leaf's life cycle, and more!
Leaf Chromatography Experiment
Chromatography is a really fascinating part of chemistry. CHromotography sheets are used to determine and prove what materials are in a substance based on how far that substance travels up the chromatography strip.
In this leaf chromatography experiment, kids can find out what colors are hiding inside of fall leaves, as the chromatography strips stratify the colors inside of each leaf.
Apple Tree Life Cycle Worksheet
The apple tree life cycle worksheet shows kids the process of leaf transformation and tree formation from seed to fruit. While this worksheet is aimed at younger elementary students, older kids can help use this worksheet to go deeper into photosynthesis and the life cycle of trees from a cellular level.
How Do Trees Make Oxygen?
Trees make oxygen through leaves through the process of photosynthesis. While learning about photosynthesis and the cell structure of leaves, kids can do this simple experiment to determine how much oxygen trees are producing and if different leaf varieties create different levels of oxygen.
If someone were wanting to plant trees to create more oxygen in an area, what would the best variety be?
Salt Crystal Leaves Science Experiment
Crystals are fascinating for kids, and salt crystal leaves are simply a fun leaf-themed way to explore crystals during the fall.
Salt crystals will always form in a square shape due to their ionic bonds and molecular bonding patterns. Kids can use this experiment to explore a variety of crystal science and leaf science at the same time.
Exploring How Water Travels Through Leaves
In this simple leaf science experiment, kids can explore how water gest to tree leaves from the roots. Colored water shows the path the water travels!
Leaves Shapes Botany
Learn about the types of leaf shapes and their scientific definitions. Both younger and older elementary students will learn a lot with this activity.
Exploring Colors & Chlorophyll with Kids
Using rubbing alcohol, kids can extract color from leaves and find out what chlorophyll is, and why it changes color during the seasons (and why sometimes it doesn't!)
Photosynthesis Project & Science Lesson
Get an in-depth lesson plan on photosynthesis that you can use to go along with any of the other leaf science experiments in this list.
What are your favorite leaf science experiments? If you try any from this list, let us know how your experiment went!
Use #steamsational to share photos and videos of your experiments on social media!
Share this project with a friend!
Leaf Color Experiment-Color Science for Kids
Secret leaf color experiment.
Have you ever wondered why leaves change color in the fall? Leaves contain pigments that give them their colors. Even though plants are green most of the time, their leaves contain pigments for different colors too! In the fall, some leaves stop making green pigments as they are getting ready to slow down for winter. Then the hidden colors begin to show!
You can do an easy science experiment to find out what pigments are in leaves. Find out what pigments make up the colors in markers using the same technique. You might be surprised at the results!
- Coffee filters
- Pencils, pens or dowels
- Paperclip or tape
- Measuring spoons
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Clear jars, glasses or beakers
First, go on a leaf hunt. Collect several different leaves. Fresh leaves are best, the dried out crunchy ones won’t work as well! Be sure to get some green ones and other colors if you like.
Get ready for your experiment by cutting a strip out of the coffee filter. To get the longest strip, you’ll want to cut it out of the middle. Roll one end around a pencil and secure it with tape or a paperclip. Let the other end of the strip hang down. Test the length by setting it down into the clear container. You want it to go almost to the bottom of the container, but not quite.
Now the fun part. Tear, crunch, squish and grind a leaf up and put it in one of the clear containers. You can use your fingers to tear, and the rounded side of a spoon works well to squish.
Once you have crushed your leaves, add 1 Tablespoon of water and 1 teaspoons of isopropyl alcohol to the container. If the leaves are not covered by the liquid, you can add more. Give the container a gentle swish and swirl. Set the pencil holding the strip of coffee filter down across the container. Let your experiment sit overnight.
To find out what pigments are in a marker, create another coffee filter strip on a pencil. About an inch up from the bottom of the strip, draw a thick line with the color marker you’ve chosen. Just like with the leaf, add 1 Tablespoon of water and 1 teaspoon of isopropyl alcohol to the container. Set the pencil holding the strip of coffee filter down across the container. Let your experiment sit overnight.
What did you find out? Can you see different colors? Some may be subtle, look closely!
Did you get the results you expected? Try this with other things that contain pigments, like fruits and vegetables, or colored paper.
Visit Sarah, our contributor for this post at Share it! Science for more creative science experiments for kids!
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Science Fun
Changing of the Leaves
- 3 green leaves from the same tree
- Rubbing alcohol
- 1 glass jar
- Plastic wrap
- Paper Strip from a coffee filter
- Small bowl with hot water in it
Instructions:
- Break the all the leaves into tiny pieces and put them in the jar.
- Pour rubbing alcohol over the leaves until they are just covered.
- Mash and stir the leaves into the rubbing alcohol until the rubbing alcohol turns slightly green.
- Cover the jar with plastic wrap.
- Put the jar in a bowl of hot water for 50 minutes. Gently swish the jar every 10 minutes to stir up the leaves.
- Take plastic wrap off and place paper coffee filter strip into rubbing alcohol. Make sure just one end of the strip is in the alcohol and the other end is near the top of the jar.
- Let the paper strip sit in jar for an hour. Then make your observations.
VIDEO COMING SOON BUT YOU CAN STILL ENJOY THESE AWESOME EXPERIMENTS!
How it Works:
In this science experiment we used the rubbing alcohol and energy (hot water) to separate the colours. You likely saw green, and depending on your leaf type, maybe red, yellow, or orange. Chlorophyll gives leaves their green colour and is so dominant it hides the other colours in the leaves. But in the fall, chlorophyll in the leaves breaks down allowing the other colours to finally shine through and show their beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges.
Extra Experiments:
- How do the results change if you leave the leaves in the rubbing alcohol for an hour and a half instead of 50 minutes?
- How do the results change if you start with leaves that no longer are green?
- How do the results change if you use needles from an evergreen tree?
EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!
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Early Learning. Happy Teaching.
15 Simple Leaf Science Activities for Preschoolers
August 24, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment
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As the air gets cooler and the days get shorter, it won’t be long before we start to see leaves fall off the trees in our neighborhood.
Down here int he South, it takes a little longer for us to see evidence of fall. But once it starts, it’s glorious.
Leaves are always one of my favorite early childhood themes. And they’re also wonderful opportunities to explore science with little ones.
Which is why I’m sharing this list of 15 simple leaf science activities for preschoolers !
These are simple (and engaging) leaf-themed science ideas for preschoolers and kindergartners.
And they also include sensory fun, math skills, and more!
See the full list below.
Be sure to check out our fun Fall Leaves Count and Match Game for more preschool learning inspiration!
As leaves fall off the trees, we get so many opportunities to explore science. We’re literally watching it happen right in front of us.
We can learn about leaf colors and how they change, compare types of leaves to learn about tree species, and much, much more.
Since preschoolers love to go outside, this is a wonderful time of year to explore nature with them.
So these simple leaf science ideas make learning about nature even easier!
If you decide to try any of these this year, I’d love to know which ones your students liked the most!
Simple Leaf Activities for Preschoolers
These simple leaf activities for preschoolers are a wonderful addition to a fall early learning unit!
There are hands-on ideas here for STEM construction, science experiments, observation activities, nature learning, and more!
Printable Leaf Identification Flashcards
Take these printable leaf identification flashcards out for a nature walk! Perfect for helping little ones learn the names of common leaf varieties!
Easy Fall Leaf Science Experiment: Exploring Colors & Chlorophyll with Kids -
Show preschoolers how chlorophyll affects the color of leaves with this simple experiment! This is also good for learning about colors.
Preschool Leaf Science Experiment
Explore textures and states of matter with this preschool leaf science experiment. Also includes ideas for sensory play!
Preschool Leaf Science and Math Exploration
Examine how leaf textures change over time with this leaf exploration activity. Use the suggestions to add a few math concepts as well!
Salt Crystal Leaves Science Experiment and Fall STEM Activity for Kids
Make actual leaf art through this crystallization science experiment! Easy enough for little learners!
Science for Kids: Exploring How Water Travels Through Leaves
Watch leaves "eat" in real time with this simple science activity. Good for teaching children about the importance of water too!
Best fall simple science for kids - why do leaves change colour?
Show preschoolers how leaves change color with the seasons! This is a beautiful and easy color experiment for little ones.
Observing Autumn Leaves Preschool Unit
Preserve leaves with preschoolers to see how leaves change after falling off trees. This is also good for exploring why leaves need tree roots to live.
Autumn STEAM: tracing the veins of a leaf – Go Science Kids
Add a few art activities into your fall science unit with this STEAM idea. Show kids the veins in each leaf and then use those as an art activity!
Science Experiment: The Hidden Colors in a Leaf
You only need a few basic supplies to try this chromatography experiment. It's great for showing preschoolers the hidden colors in fall leaves!
Easy Nature STEAM: Leaf Painting for Kids
Explore the patterns and textures of leaves with this simple leaf painting STEAM activity. Make prints and then examine how leaf vein patterns vary!
How to Preserve Leaves - Easy Fall Science For Kids
Collect lots of fall leaves, pinecones, and acorns and see how to keep for a memory book! This idea is perfect for a fall preschool table.
Autumn Leaves STEAM Absorption Art and Free Template -
Make gorgeous leaf art with this absorption activity! And teach preschoolers how water affects paper too!
Exploring Leaf Shapes - Nature Walk Activity
Show preschoolers how to make scientific observations with this leaf shapes examination activity! Little ones can collect leaves and compare them with others.
FALL STEM Challenge for Kids: Building Leaf Sculptures
Add some STEM learning into your fall leaves unit with this challenge. Preschoolers will love turning leaves into structures that stand up!
How to Make a Leaf Garland
One of our favorite leaf science activities is making a leaf garland.
It’s such a simple way to explore how fall leaves change over time and add a little fall decor to the home.
Plus, kids can try their hand at making art patterns and exploring colors as they work.
See how to make a simple DIY Fall Leaf Garland with little ones for yourself!
Looking for more preschool fall learning ideas? Try some of these!
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Leaves are actually more colours than just green but Chlorophyll is so dominant most of the summer that its green colour covers up all the other natural colours in the leaves. We can separate the colours of a leaf by doing this leaf chromatography science experiment. We have done chromatography experiments before, check out our gorgeous Circuit ...
What makes leaves change color. For a really WOW experiment, try using all green leaves, but seperate by the type (oak, birch, etc). Now see what colors they will be in the fall when the chlorophyll stops being produced. YOu will get green with yellow or green with red/mauve, etc. This is truly a WOW teachable moment!
Leave the jar in the hot water for at least 30 minutes, occasionally swishing the jar to stir the leaves. The alcohol should be a dark green (leave longer if needed). If you can resist, wait 45 minutes or even an hour. We found the color difference in the rubbing alcohol at this stage interesting!
Help answer the question, "Why do leaves change colors during fall?" with this simple science experiment that extracts chlorophyll from leaves. Don't forget ...
Go on a nice walk with an adult and collect some fresh leaves from different stages of color change during fall. It is best for all of your leaves to come from the same tree, so look for a tree with a variety of leaves at different stages. For the experiment, you ideally want to collect at least 20 leaves of each color.
Leaf Science Ideas. 1. Leaf Rubbings - You only need a few sheets of paper, colored crayons, and various leaves. Place a leaf under the paper and rub the crayon over its surface to reveal the leaf's veins. Experiment with different kinds of leaves to see the different patterns that emerge. This activity helps build fine motor skills, hand ...
Fall Leaf Science Experiment : You can watch our experiment here: Supplies: Pot of boiling water (adults only) ... My son is only 3 so may do this multiple time as he gets older but I know the color changing aspect of the experiment will be most appreciated by him. Reply. Katie says: at 1:32 am. Hi Kristen, Thanks so much! I totally agree, it ...
Leaves are green because of the chlorophyll in them. Leaves actually have lots of color in them, but during the warmer months of the year, all that is seen is this brighter green. When it gets colder, the chlorophyll breaks down and moves into the lower parts of the tree to nourish it during the winter. After the tree takes what it needs from ...
This is a 'cross section' of the leaf. Make a wet mount on a plain slide with the inner part of the leaf section facing up (so the inner cells are visible). You can do this by adding a drop or two of water over the leaf section and then covering it with the coverslip. Look at the slide with your microscope's 10x objective to see the ...
This experiment, Leaf Color Chromatography with Bite Sci-zed's Alex Dainis, is the perfect autumn weekend project to learn about chlorophyll, carotenoids, xanthophylls, and anthocyanins. Get some rubbing alcohol, white coffee filters, a few clear glasses, scissors, and a wooden spoon. Next, head outside to find leaves that are at different ...
This is absolutely one of our favorite fall science experiments! Simple and quick, this experiment teaches kids about color in leaves. If you are a parent of curious kids, be sure to give this experiment a try! Ages: 3 - 6. 30 minutes - 1 hour. A little messy.
2.Earth's Systems: Processes that Shape the Earth. 3.Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Traits. 3.Weather and Climate. 5.Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems. 2.Structure and Properties of Matter. If you want more NGSS aligned experiments, check out our NGSS science series here.
About an inch up from the bottom of the strip, draw a thick line with the color marker you've chosen. Just like with the leaf, add 1 Tablespoon of water and 1 teaspoon of isopropyl alcohol to the container. Set the pencil holding the strip of coffee filter down across the container. Let your experiment sit overnight.
Changing of the Leaves
Show preschoolers how leaves change color with the seasons! This is a beautiful and easy color experiment for little ones. Continue Reading Photo Credit: preschooltoolkit.com Observing Autumn Leaves Preschool Unit. Preserve leaves with preschoolers to see how leaves change after falling off trees. This is also good for exploring why leaves need ...
Photosynthesis, starch and leaf color [View Experiment] Color Change in Leaves. Autumn leaf color is a phenomenon that affects the normally green leaves of many deciduous trees and shrubs by which they take on, during a few weeks in the autumn season, one or many colors that range from red to yellow. The phenomenon is commonly called fall ...
Leaves change color during the autumn because the amounts of pigments change as the leaves prepare to fall from the trees. All leaves gradually lose chlorophyll during the growing season, and this loss accelerates before leaf fall. Under optimal conditions this process of chlorophyll loss is very orderly and allows the plants to resorb much of ...
4.9. (150) $6.00. PDF. This unit includes fall science common core based Informational texts to prepare students for the high-interest experiments, interactive notebook, and leaf observation journal. Students will be fascinated with why leaves change color in the fall during the close reading, vocabulary, 2 science experiments and more.
The science behind the color changing flowers experiment is the capillary action in plants. Capillary action enables plants to work against gravity and move water from the soil into the leaves and stems (the vascular system) of the plant. To understand capillary action, it's important to understand the properties of water.
The blistering summer of 2024 will soon be coming to an end, and that means fall leaf peeping can't be far behind. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, leaves can change their color from as ...
The fall foliage 2024 prediction map tracks color changes from September 2, but don't worry, you haven't missed anything yet: The map is nearly completely green, indicating that leaves haven ...
The main driver of leaves changing color is the decrease of daily sunlight. Photosynthesis, or the production of sugars that depend on sunlight, begins to slow down in response to shortening days. This leads to lower levels of chlorophyll, the pigment that supports photosynthesis and gives leaves their green color. When chlorophyll is reduced ...
Fall colors will begin to peek through during the week of Sept. 9, covering southern New England with minimal foliage. Patchy colors will start to develop in northern New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.
The Process of Leaf Color Change. What actually occurs in leaves during the autumn, to produce the color changes. Two examples, red oak and witch hazel, are highlighted. The Biological Significance of Color Change. The scientific explanations, involving physiology as well as interactions with animals, that have been proposed to account for the ...
2024 fall foliage prediction map, by county Click and drag on the button below to view the expected color change in leaves during the weeks ahead. Source: SmokyMountains.com
For a West Coast trip, Oregon promises radiant foliage mixed in with the state's Douglas firs. Travelers can expect to see a close-to-peak showing around Oct. 7 and full color around late October.
With mountains in the east and the river delta in the west, the timeframe for when leaves will change color in Tennessee varies across the state. Summer officially comes to an end on Saturday ...
Fall foliage is the scientific term that describes when the green leaves change their color to red, orange, or yellow. The phenomenon happens every year in certain areas across the United States ...
For leaf-peepers who want to see the change at its most vibrant, it's best to plan on going out when the forecast map shows a deep crimson in your area. That's when leaves are expected to be ...
By the week of Oct. 14, foliage in Vermont and most of New England will have passed its peak, the website predicts. At this point, leaves will start to grow duller and darker, with many falling ...