Nature Kids

Dec05, Jan-Feb06

 

Leafy science projects

 

In the fall, some tree leaves turn from green to yellow, orange, red or brown.  Here are some  crafts and experiments you can do with these leaves.

 

Leaf Rubbings

Materials:

                Fallen leaves – soft, not crunchy

                Crayons

                Paper

On a smooth hard surface (like a table or a clip board) place a leaf upside down, so the veins show. Lay a piece of paper over the leaf and rub with a crayon. You might try to make your rubbing the same color as the leaf itself.

 

Leaf Color Chromatography

A cool way to separate the colors in a leaf.

From www.sciencemadesimple.com

Materials:

Leaves – especially ones with fall colors                    Paper coffee filters or paper towels

Small jars – like baby food jars                                               Shallow baking pan

Lids or aluminum foil                                                    Hot tap water

Rubbing alcohol                                                              Plastic knife or spoon

Tape                                                                                      Pen

Clock or timer

 

Procedure:

  1. Collect several different kinds of leaves. Tear or chop each kind of leaf into very small pieces and put them in jars. Label the jars with the name of each leaf (if you know it).
  2. Add enough alcohol to each jar to cover the leaves.  (Alcohol can be dangerous if misused. Read and follow all warnings on bottle).
  3. Cover the jars loosely and place into shallow pan filled with one inch of hot tap water (about 125o F).
  4. Keep the jars in the hot water until the alcohol has become dark (at least 30 minutes). Swirl the alcohol/leaf mixture in each jar every five minutes or so. Replace the hot water if it cools off.
  5. Cut a long thin strip of coffee filter or towel for each jar and label it to match the jar label.
  6. Remove the jars from the water and uncover. Place one end of a filter strip in the alcohol in each jar.  Bend the other end over the top and tape it to the jar.
  7. Wait an hour or two (Play outside or make some leaf rubbings). The alcohol will travel up the leaf and the colors will travel with it. Each color travels a different distance so you should be able to see different shades of green, yellow orange and maybe even red.

 

Happy Fall!