Warm and Cool Fall Leaves (and a little science lesson)

Although it is still super warm here in the desert, Fall has officially begun in the rest of the country. I love this time of year and (especially growing up in NY) love the colors that nature display for us as the days get shorter and cooler. It's a little different in the desert, but you can still feel that excitement that the summer is officially over and we are looking to promisingly cooler days!

In honor or Fall, 1st graders created a falling leaf portrait. But it was sooooooooo much more than that! :)

We began by talking about WHY leaves change color and fall from trees. We also talked a little bit about photosynthesis, and how the trees help us breath by providing oxygen (and how we help them by providing carbon dioxide when we breathe.) (To see our discussion, please click over to the Media page and scroll down to Why Do Leaves Change Color?

After our science discussion, we looked at all kinds of different leaves and noticed some things that were similar and some that were different. We used these comparisons to draw detailed renderings of leaves. We also talked about warm and cool colors, noticing that fall leaves were mostly warm colors, whereas summer leaves were mostly cool.

After our leaves were drawn and colored, we added texture to the background and liquid water color, being careful to choose colors that created contrast from our leaves so that they jumped out. (For example, if our leaves were all warm colors, then a background with cool colors would create contrast.)

These turned out so beautiful!!

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