How are leaves alike and How are leaves alike and different?different?

Second Grade LessonSecond Grade Lesson

Donna KnottDonna Knott

ObjectivesObjectives

Collect and compare different types of leaves.Collect and compare different types of leaves.

Discuss how leaves how leaves are alike and Discuss how leaves how leaves are alike and different.different.

ProceduresProcedures

1) Collect different kinds of leaves and obtain a ruler.1) Collect different kinds of leaves and obtain a ruler.

2) Place the leaves on your desk and compare them.2) Place the leaves on your desk and compare them.What can you say about the shapes of the leaves?What can you say about the shapes of the leaves?How do they differ in size?How do they differ in size?

3) Place the leaves in groups according to properties, 3) Place the leaves in groups according to properties, such as color size, kind (maple, oak, etc.), number of such as color size, kind (maple, oak, etc.), number of points, and arrangement of veins.points, and arrangement of veins.How many groups did you get?How many groups did you get?

Procedures (continued)Procedures (continued)

4) Why do you think leaves vary in size, shape, 4) Why do you think leaves vary in size, shape, color, number of points, and other color, number of points, and other characteristics? characteristics?

5)Summarize how your leaves vary.5)Summarize how your leaves vary.

Press PlantsPress Plants

Invite students to collect parts of plants, such as Invite students to collect parts of plants, such as leaves and flowers. leaves and flowers.

CAUTION: Stress collecting fallen plant parts only. CAUTION: Stress collecting fallen plant parts only. Do not allow students to pick from living things. Do not allow students to pick from living things. Also, make sure students do not collect any parts Also, make sure students do not collect any parts from poisonous plants such as poison ivy. from poisonous plants such as poison ivy.

Have students press the plant parts between Have students press the plant parts between newspapers. Place some nooks or something heavy newspapers. Place some nooks or something heavy on the newspapers. on the newspapers.

After several days, remove the weights and After several days, remove the weights and newspapers. Discuss how drying helps to preserve the newspapers. Discuss how drying helps to preserve the plants. plants.

Splatter PicturesSplatter Pictures

Have students collect different types of leaves and Have students collect different types of leaves and bring them to class. bring them to class.

Tell students to place the leaves on colored paper. Tell students to place the leaves on colored paper. Then show students how the dip brushes in poster Then show students how the dip brushes in poster paint and splatter paint over the leaves to make a paint and splatter paint over the leaves to make a picturec outline. picturec outline.

Have students compare the different types of leaves Have students compare the different types of leaves and what methods they had to use to make good and what methods they had to use to make good splatter pictures. For example, ask how the thickness splatter pictures. For example, ask how the thickness of the paint affected the quality of the picture. of the paint affected the quality of the picture.