Name of Activity: Leaf Predictions

Originating Idea: Looking at an object and how its environment can make a difference on its
appearance.

Curriculum Area
Highlight 1:
Approaches to learning
Social and emotional development
Physical development and health
Language, literacy, and communication
Mathematics
Creative arts
Science and technology
Social studies

KDIs
45. Observing: Children observe the materials and processes in their environment.
48. Predicting: Children predict what they expect will happen.
Materials:
 Leafs
 Water

Appropriate Age group: 4 to 5 years old

Beginning of Activity:
During outside time, I will get all the students together. “Today we are going to look for leaves that we can test
how they look in different environments. We will leave some outside, some inside, and some in a tub of water
to observe and see the differences the environment makes over a period. Go spread out and look for leaves
and come back by the classroom door when you are done.” Once the students return with their leaves, we will
leave a portion of them spread out outside in the sun and shade. “Now we will place the other portions of them
in our classroom and in a tub of water. With all three different environments our leaves are in, what do you
expect to see? How do you think they will look tomorrow? Do you think they will be different from each other or
the same?” After the students make their prediction, we will check back in on the groups of leaves the next day
to see if their predictions were correct. We will discuss the predictions we made and the findings we observed.

Middle of Activity
Children from different development levels may do well with making predictions while others may not
have prior knowledge or the observation skills to make appropriate predictions.

Early: Children will do well with finding leaves to bring over but may not be able to make a prediction before
the time period has passed.
Middle: They will be able to make predictions on what they believe the appearance of the leaves will look like.
Later: They will be able to make appropriate predictions with explanations as to why they believe the leaves
will look the way they believe in each environment.

End of Activity:
“We were able to find leaves outside in nature and predict how their appearance will change in different
environments. After making our predictions, we waited till the next morning to see if our predictions were right.
Predictions aren’t always correct, but it is good to still make predictions and be observant of factors that may
impact outcomes. We are now going to put our leaves back outside roughly in the areas we found them and
begin our first outside time for the day.”
Follow-up Ideas (2)
The leaves can be taken inside to create art with.
The sun and tub of water can be used as different environments to observe other objects in.