CDA Lesson Plan Form

Name: kwincie maynard Classroom Level: kindergarten

Theme: _____Science Date of Implementation___________
Why do leaves change color?
Initial Review Teachers Signature
______________________________________Date________________________
Final Approval Teachers Signature_____________________________________
Date________________________

Developmental Goals:

Learning about the environment, how/why things work

Iowa Early Learning Standards:

To deepen the conceptual understandings of the world around them, to

increase the comprehension of how science is practiced and to develop
their abilities to conduct scientific investigations.

Learning Objectives:
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.

Materials Needed:
leaves for the children to (from the same tree), rubbing alcohol, jar,
plastic baggie, paper coffee filter, small bowl or pan

Motivation/Introduction (what to say to them have you

guys.?)
Have you guys seen the trees outside? Have you noticed the color
change? Do you know why they change?

Procedures:

Modeling/Guided Practice: (show, follow me)?

ALL WHILE EXPLAINING WHAT YOURE DOING:
CDA Lesson Plan Form
 1. Have children break the leaves into tiny pieces and put in the jar. 2. Pour
rubbing alcohol over the leaves until they are just covered. 3. Mash and stir
the leaves (really good) until the alcohol turns slightly green. 4. Cover the jar
with the baggie or plastic wrap and place the jar in a small bowl and pour hot
water into the bowl. 5. Leave the jar in the water for 30 minutes, swishing
the jar occasionally to stir the leaves around. The alcohol should be a very
dark green (leave longer if needed). 6. Cut a strip in the coffee filter so the
strip can reach the rubbing alcohol. Place halfway into rubbing alcohol jar. 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. The leaves we used turn to a beautiful yellow in autumn.

Checking for Understanding (specific questions you will ask)?

Have children observe the color changes, and have them repeat back what
happened.
What made the color change? When does it happen?

Independent Work
In between time the children have them color trees, describe the color
changes, and talk about leaves. Maybe go leaf collecting and look at
trees.

Closure/Transition:
So Why Do Leaves Change Colour?

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. As we
know, 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.

CDA Lesson Plan Form