I was marveling at the sea of yellow-green maple leaves in my yard. While beautiful, there are way too many to leave over the winter. I think I will collect quite a few for my compost bin. I can imagine how well my garden will do with all of that lovely compost next spring. Then, I will mulch the rest with my mower to nourish my yard. But I will leave the garden beds, which are also full of leaves, untouched to protect the plants. These will also make suitable homes for the many small organisms that inhabit the garden.
This is such a great time of year for leaf experiments and activities! But first, we need books about leaves. They are a great way to start a lesson. A book can build background and put the children “on the same page.” Check these out.
- The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming (author) and Nicola Slater (Illustrator). It’s a good book about animals adapting to change and seasons. Ages 3-5
- Fall Down: Learning about Leaves by Lisa Bullard (author) and Nadine Takvorian (Illustrator). Why leaves change color and yes, jump into that pile of leaves! Ages 5-6
- The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest by Heather Lang (author) and Jana Christy (Illustrator). The story of Meg Lowman, who first investigated the rainforest tree tops. Ages 7-10.
- Botany: Plants, Cells, and Photosynthesis (Super Smart Science) by April Chloe Terrazas. Learn WHY plants have leaves and more! Ages 7-9
