Friday, October 17, 2014

Classifying Leafs, Incorporating Common Core ELA Standards Into Science and Interactive Notebook Ideas

Ready for a great fall activity?

  • That uses scientific practices 
  • Integrates Common Core ELA standards for Reading Informational Text
  • Integrates Common Core ELA standards for Writing Informational Text
  • Utilizes the Interactive Notebook

  • Note: I have tried several methods for putting fall leaves into the interactive notebook.  The best method seems to be clear packing tape, which seals out the oxygen and preserves the leaf.



Have students 
  • go outside and collect 6 different leaves each.

  • Put the combined leaves in the center of each group. As a group, students sort leaves however they want.  
  • See if you can look at the diagram of leaf parts and find those parts on your leaves.
  • Hand students a leaf classification guide and have them adjust their classifying.


Have students discuss as a small group:   Why do some leaves change color in the fall? Why do other leaves not change color?  Why do certain locations get more fall colors than others? 

Shared Writing:  Write a group answer to the first question:  Why do some leaves change color?

Each group shares their response. 

Read the informational text silently.  (Focused Reading)
 CSS-ELA-Literacy-RI

Put a
 ✓ next to things you know.
! next to things that are new.
? next to things that you have a question about. 








Come up with a group answer to the questions: Why do some leaves change color in the fall?  Why do other leaves not change color?  Why do certain locations get more fall colors than others? 



Lastly, I have them participate in a writing assignment.  Students must write a topic sentence, three details, and a concluding statement.  CSS-ELA-Literacy-W-2


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 I have written this whole lesson up with everything you need to teach it including a 3 page nonfiction article CLOSE Read Why Do Fall Leaves Change Color?  





Click Here for a set of FREE Science Station CARDS FREE Science Station Cards
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