Fall is here! That means shorter days and cooler nights. Some of the trees will put on a colorful show before shedding their leaves for the winter. What a perfect time to learn about why this is happening. Did you know that a tree’s leaves are orange and yellow even in the summer? Actually, a leaf contains orange, yellow and green pigments all year, but in the summer, the green pigment, or chlorophyll, is stronger and covers up the other two colors. With the advance of Fall, a tree’s leaves produce less chlorophyll, and the other colors can show through.
Fall is a great time to teach about the process that gives life to trees, photosynthesis, which literally means “putting together with light”. Sunlight and water are the essential ingredients needed for photosynthesis to happen, so as winter nears and there is less sunlight and water, the process of photosynthesis will eventually shut down, and the tree will rest until spring.
There are many resources available on the web for you and your children to use for research and ideas for projects. I really like The Science Made Simple site because it has articles in two different levels- regular and easy reading. There are also projects to do and supplementary lesson suggestions. Click here to view the site.
Another wonderful resource is Photosynthesis Process Simplified for Kids for Easy Understanding. There are charts and diagrams that are colorful and easy to understand. It’s perfect for elementary-aged children. Click here to check it out.
One more resource to visit is The Cool Kid Facts about photosynthesis. The print is large and the text is easy to understand. There are pictures and even a little quiz at the end of the article.
Click here to see this great resource.
I know you and your children will enjoy learning about photosynthesis!
Do you have any favorite resources to share with our readers?
– Becky Lynn is a writer for EllisDownHome.com. She and her husband Bob enjoy spending time with their 8 grandchildren and traveling. Becky loves cranking up the music and heading to the kitchen to try out new recipes or cook for an upcoming party. She is passionate about continuing to be a life-long learner!
