Every tree has its own leaf shape. An oak tree has lobed leaves with bumpy edges. A maple leaf looks like a little hand with fingers. Pine trees have needles instead of flat leaves.
Leaves also have veins. Veins carry water and food through the leaf. If you look at a leaf closely, you can see the veins like tiny roads. The main vein runs right down the middle.
Today we will collect leaves from outside. We will look at their shapes and veins. Then we will make leaf rubbings with crayons. A rubbing copies the texture of the leaf onto paper.
1. What shape are oak leaves?
2. What shape are maple leaves?
3. What do leaf veins carry?
4. How does a leaf rubbing work?
What you need: A bag to collect leaves, crayons, thin paper, a pencil
Step 1: Go outside and find 5 leaves that look different from each other.
Step 2: Pick leaves that are not broken or sick. Green is best.
Step 3: Put each leaf under a piece of paper and color gently with a crayon.
Step 4: Look at the rubbing. You should see the veins!
⚠️ Safety: Ask a grown-up to come with you outside. Do not touch leaves that feel slimy or smell bad. Wash your hands after collecting leaves.
Look at the leaves you collected. Sort them by shape.
| Round Leaves | Pointy Leaves | Long/Narrow Leaves |
|---|---|---|
Write the name of each tree next to its leaf shape:
| Leaf # | Tree Name | Shape | Color | Size (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 5 |
Glue your best leaf rubbing here or draw what you see:
| Question | Leaf 1 | Leaf 2 |
|---|---|---|
| What shape is it? | ||
| How long is it (cm)? | ||
| What colors do you see? | ||
| Are the edges smooth or bumpy? |
Think about the leaves you collected today. Answer these questions.
1. Which leaf was the biggest? How big was it?
2. Which leaf was the most interesting? Why?
3. Why do you think leaves come in different shapes?
Use your leaf rubbings to make a picture. You can arrange them into a butterfly, a tree, or anything you imagine!
Label what your pattern is:
Today I learned that leaves have different shapes because...
The most surprising thing I saw today was...