Our recent exploration into leaves was sparked by Ruby’s thoughtful question during a neighbourhood walk: “Why do leaves change colour?” This question started a rich, ongoing investigation into seasonal change, observation, and creative expression. The children began by sharing their ideas and observations during a group gathering, describing the colourful trees around them. Caiden noted, “The leaves are like a rainbow now.” We watched a video explaining how leaves change colour in the fall, learning about chlorophyll and how cooler weather reveals the hidden yellows, oranges, and reds. Children connected this to their own experiences. “The rain makes the leaves fall,” said Liam, while Rowan added, “The snow makes the leaves fall too.” To build on this curiosity, we visited Millen Woods for a Big Leaf Hunt, searching for red, orange, yellow, and green leaves. Nicole had made some tree trunks out of paint chips: there was a red one, an orange one, a yellow one, and a green one. The children enthusiastically sorted the leaves they collecting and adding them to the trees. The children also used their gross motor skills as they stepped over logs and crouched to pick up natural materials. Along the way, the children excitedly shared their discoveries and enjoyed seeing trucks and buses, with Caiden exclaiming, “I can’t wait to tell my Mom and Dad about this.” Back in the classroom, we used the collected leaves and sticks in a creative experience to create unique artwork. Ruby wrote her name in glue, showing fine motor and literacy development, while Zachary made a rainbow with tiny leaves. Kairo happily hummed as he created, and Raelynn observed the dripping glue with delight, showcasing attention to detail. The following day, Nicole introduced large clear plastic leaves for group painting. Using fall-coloured paints, children worked collaboratively and practiced turn-taking and problem-solving. Later, during another walk to the forest, Liam remarked, “Ours was much bigger,” when comparing their painted leaves to real ones, a moment of reflective thinking. We then engaged in a leaf identification and sorting activity using cards and real leaves. Children matched leaves by colour and shape, developing classification and critical thinking skills. Ayoub counted his leaves, while Parker was curious about their names. Ashton observed the texture, saying, “The leaves are so crunchy,” and enjoyed crushing them with a mortar and pestle later. To wrap up, we used cotton balls for gentle leaf painting, inspired by Liam’s wish for a pink tree. Children explored colours and textures while learning how to handle delicate materials with care. Lauren asked, “Why are we using cotton balls?” Amanda took this opportunity to explain, “The leaves are very delicate, and if we use a paintbrush, they might tear. A cotton ball is soft and won’t hurt the leaf.” This moment offered a meaningful opportunity for understanding the properties of materials and how they interact.
