Signs of Fall

Materials:

Coffee filters

rubbing alcohol

jars

tape

scientific illustration hand out

Obj:

• Students will identify and describe the signs of fall they observe outside
• Students will understand why leaves of deciduous trees change color in the fall
• Students will illustrate their tree scientifically

1. Students go on a walk outside in groups of three. They will find as many signs as possible that indicate that colder weather is approaching. Even though, it is still early on in fall, remind them to look for ways in which they think summer is coming to an end.

2. Give students twenty minutes to find a tree or bush and to scientifically illustrate their drawing. Use the illustration hand out from the previous week.

Have each group pick one of the green leaves from their tree to bring it inside with them. Each person must have their own drawings of the tree/bush.

3. Take a picture of the tree/bush used because you will again use this tree/bush later again.

Upon returning to the classroom

1. Tear up the leaves into pieces. Place in a glass jar.

2. Add rubbing alcohol and coffee filter strip and pencil.

3. After an hour, remove the strips, lay to dry

Students will repeat this process once more to see how much change happened from one week to the next. Students will then record their data and answer the questions on this page.

Scientific Illustrations

Scientific Illustration Lesson

Why would scientists want to illustrate something rather than just take a picture?

Materials:

Four plants

Paper
Pencils
Colored Pencils

Objectives:

• Understand what scientific illustration is
• Identify parts of a plant
• Practice careful observation

Go over “Scientific Illustration” hand-out with students

• Look at plants and use their pencils to point to parts of the plant that you want them to draw
• Begin drawing--no talking. Stress concentration..seeing and recording details and working slowly and carefully.
• Remind students about the observation activity from last time (no talking, ignoring everything else but the sense you using)
• Students need to color their drawing and add details once they are finished drawing

Label the parts of the plant, draw straight lines (no arrows and use rulers). Labels should be located outside the formatted drawing.

Use the following sheet as a guide for labeling.