Purpose

Plants are all around us and benefit us in many ways. In particular, leaves provide us with the oxygen that we breathe through the process of photosynthesis. Develop your science skills with this activity through observations, measurements, and sorting of tree leaves. Whether you are creating leaf rubbings, making leaf prints, or just enjoying nature, there are a number of ways to play, learn and craft with leaves!

Materials

• Pencil and paper to document date

• Leaf identification resources (book, online website, or phone app)

• Leaf collection bag (optional)

• Camera (optional)

• Ruler (optional)

• Treecology (optional reading)

Steps

Step 1: Locate an appropriate place for your “Leaf Walk” such as around your backyard, a nearby park, or even a local forest.

Step 2: Take a walk, you can explore an area for as long as you wish!

Step 3: Along your walk, collect leaves, by placing leaves in a bag, taking a photograph, or sketching each on paper as you find them. If you are sketching be sure to include defining features (shape, pointed or rounded edges, veins, stem, etc.). Also, please keep in mind to not pull leaves off trees, only pick up those that have fallen to the ground.

Step 4: After you finish your walk, find a space to sort your collection. Place the leaves (or pictures of leaves) that you collected on display. Examine each leaf and share your observations with your family or “Leaf Walk” buddy. Some ideas while examining your leaves: Do all the leaves look the same? How are they different? Are there any features that all the leaves have in common? How many 'points' do the leaves have?

Step 5: If wanted, please share your photos or drawing on social media. Use the hashtags: #SubaruLovesLearning #LeafWalk2020

To Learn or Do More:

• Adopt a Tree through the National Arbor Day Foundation

• Identify trees species from photos of your leaves using the Leafsnap App

• iNaturalist can help you identify plants. Share, record, and add your observations to their database

• Participate in Tracking Seasonal Plant Changes with Project BudBurst

• Read through the AAAS’ Science NetLinks Lesson: Treecology

• University of Illinois lessons: Trees Are Terrific – Travels with Pierre (K-2); The Secret Life of Trees (Grades 3-5); Dr. Arbor Talks Trees (Grades 6-10)

Inspired by AAAS/Subaru Science NetLink’s Lesson, “Look at Those Leaves!”

Photographs in order (starting with pine image) by: Sutton Living, Maria Apostolou, Mark Dock, Aimee Ray, Ed Bachta, and Theen Moy.