Learning about Leaves A WebQuest for 2 nd Grade Science Designed by Ann Marie Torres Based on a template from San Diego

1. Learning about Leaves A WebQuest for 2nd Grade Science Designed by Ann Marie Torres Based on a template from San Diego State University’s The WebQuest Page

2. Introduction Have you ever wanted to become a scientist and learn by exploring? This is your opportunity to show your scientific skills. You will begin this lesson by taking a nature walk, led by your teacher to study the leaves on the trees that are surrounding your school. You will then collect at least three different kinds of leaves from various trees. Once you have finished the nature walk, you will then return to your classroom to begin a mission with a partner to learn why leaves change colors. You and a partner will search the internet to come up with at least five facts that you have learned on this mission. You and a partner will then write five complete sentences about the five facts that you have discovered and present them to the class. You will also do a leaf rubbing from your favorite leaf that you collected.

3. The Task • For this web quest you will be playing the role of a “scientist”. You will be taking a nature walk in order to look for and collect leaves of different sizes and shapes. The leaves that you collect should be from many varieties of trees. • You will then go back to your laboratory, which will really be your classroom, and you and a partner will begin a search to find out why leaves change colors. • When you have finished the research on the internet, you will then write five facts in complete sentences that explain why leaves change colors. • You will then do a leaf rubbing by placing a plain white paper over the leaf of your choice and coloring over the shape of the leaf.

4. The Process Step One: You will begin by taking a nature walk, led by your teacher around the grounds of your school to collect leaves. Step Two: You and a partner will then set out on a mission to discover five facts as to why leaves change colors. Click the sites listed below to collect your facts. Why Leaves Change Colors The Colors of Leaves Simple Science Trees and Colors Autumn Leaves (teacher will log you on) Leaves Leaves and Colors Step Three: You and a partner will write five complete sentences that include the facts as to why leaves change colors.

5. Evaluation-Writing About Leaves

6. Conclusion Congratulations!!! You have just completed your work as a hands on “scientist” through Learning about Leaves. You and a partner have completed your journey to gather facts about why leaves change colors. You and a partner have written five facts in complete sentences explaining reasons why leaves do change colors. You have also completed a leaf rubbing that shows all the features of a leaf. Now that you have explored leaves through both the internet and your nature walk you should be able to describe different kinds of leaves and the characteristics that are unique to certain ones. You will also be able to tell how you do a leaf rubbing. You and a partner will present the five facts that you have uncovered about why leaves change colors.

7. Credits & References -Sky Tree: Seeing Science through Art. By Thomas Locker. 1995 Harper Collins Publisher, 32 pp. ISBN 0-06-024883-1 -Tell Me, Tree- All Trees for Kids. By Gail Gibbins. 2002 Time Warner Book Group. ISBN 0-316-30903-6 -Microsoft Office Clip Art and Sound Online The following websites were used: Simple Science Why Leaves Change Colors Trees and Colors Autumn Leaves Facts About Leaves Leaves Leaves and Colors Prepared by Ann Marie Torres. As of 12/01/05 these websites are current and the intended use is in conjunction with a web quest for student learning. For the latest version of the training materials and template click on The WebQuest Page.