Leaf Sorting and Identifying

LESSON 3

Children will observe, sort, identify, play with, and create a colorful leaf mobile using wax-dipped leaves.

  • Wax dipped leaves from day 2

  • Mobile with strings

  • Mini clothespin clips

    Optional:

  • Colored paper or jars printable.

  • Books to help identify leaves. Here are some options- “Fall Walk,” by Virginia Snow, “Summer Green to Autumn Gold,” by Mia Posada, “Leaf Man,” by Lois Ehlert.

  • Leaf matching game

Materials

  • Gather materials

Preparations

  • Facilitate the sorting of wax-dipped leaves by color, providing guidance and assistance as needed.

  • Support children in their independent and collaborative sorting efforts, fostering a sense of autonomy.

  • Lead memory games and leaf-naming activities to reinforce leaf knowledge and language development.

  • Oversee and assist children as they create a colorful leaf mobile.

Objectives for Teachers

  • Children sort wax-dipped leaves by color.

  • Children explore alternative ways to sort leaves, such as by shape or size.

  • Children engage in hands-on sorting activities independently or with assistance.

  • Children practice identifying leaves using books, online resources, or matching game cards.

  • Children reinforce leaf knowledge through memory games and leaf-naming activities.

  • Children participate in creating a colorful leaf mobile using prepared materials.

Objectives for Children

Collect and Connect

  • Practice saying/singing the poem with the actions you came up with.

  • Song example.

Come, Little Leaves

“Come little leaves,” said the wind one day.

“Come over the meadow with me and play;

Put on your dresses of red and gold,

For summer is gone and the days grow cold.”

Soon as the leaves heard the wind’s loud call,

Down they came fluttering, one and all.

Over the brown fields they danced and flew,

Singing the sweet little songs, they knew.

Activity Flow

  1. Begin this lesson by observing your leaf color experiment. Observe how the water has changed colors.

  2. After observing your experiment, use the colored paper or jar printouts to sort the wax-dipped leaves by color. Depending on your child's age, they may be able to do this independently, or they may require some assistance. After sorting by color, encourage your child to brainstorm another way to categorize the leaves, such as sorting by shape or size. Work alongside your child, sorting the leaves in a variety of ways.

    Fun fact: Sorting objects offers numerous benefits to children, enhancing cognitive skills like categorization and problem-solving, laying the foundation for math concepts. Sorting also fosters language development, fine motor skills, and visual discrimination, encouraging patience, independence, and creativity. Socially, it teaches cooperation and teamwork, while introducing a sense of order that helps children manage tasks effectively. Overall, sorting is a versatile activity that supports holistic child development.

  3. Once the leaves are sorted, try to identify them using books or online resources. If you have purchased or printed a leaf matching game, you can use the cards for identification. To practice newly acquired knowledge, engage in a game of memory or take turns selecting leaves from a bag and naming them.

  4. After the game, use your leaves to craft a mobile. Attach the leaves to the string on the mobile you prepared on day one using small clothespins. Once all the leaves are in place, find a suitable spot to display your colorful leaf mobile.