Easy Fall Leaf Science: Exploring Colors & Chlorophyll with Kids

Kids can extract the colors from leaves with this EASY and INTRIGUING science experiment you can do at home or school with just a few supplies!

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After exploring and Learning About the Parts of Leaves we decided to learn about leaf color and chlorophyll with an easy fall leaf science experiment.  I found the idea to extract chlorophyll from leaves on Home Science Tools. It sounded simple enough that I thought we could give it a try with a few modifications.  I am so glad we did because the results are beautiful and it helped my kids see and better understand the role chlorophyll plays with changing leaf colors.

You will also enjoy our Leaf Chromatography Experiment. If you have leftover leaves you should try this cool how to preserve leaves project and print out this FREE Parts of a Leaf learning worksheet.

Before you start this activity the first thing is to go and enjoy the outdoors and gather up some fall leaves. The kids and I feel so lucky to live close to mountains that are ablaze with beautiful fall colors–one of my favorite times of the year! We went on a little hike, gathered leaves, and other nature treasures, and headed home to be scientists.

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Trees, Leaves & Bark (Take Along Guides)Goodbye Summer, Hello AutumnTrees, Leaves, Flowers and Seeds: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Plant Kingdom (Smithsonian)SUPLA Fall Tree of Thanks Craft Kit Felt Fall Tree Board with 52 pcs Detachable Autumn Leaf Ornaments Autumn Bulletin Board for Kids Classroom Craft Thanksgiving ActivityWooden leaf fall Lacing Toy Game set Learning toy Threading set

Fall Leaf Science Experiment

Supplies:

• Pot of boiling water (adults only)
• Rubbing alcohol
• Small containers with lids (I used a Test Tube Set like this)
• Different colored fall leaves  (We used a green, green & red, yellow, and brown leaves)
• Tongs (adults only)

How-To

Directions:

For your convenience, printable Directions are available at the end of this post.

1.  First, place leaves in a boiling pot of water for 5 minutes. While they are boiling, fill up small containers with rubbing alcohol.

2.  When the five minutes are up, then use the tongs to remove the leaves and place each one in the rubbing alcohol making sure to sort by color if you are using multiple leaves.

3.  Observe what color the alcohol is. Come back throughout the day and check to see if the alcohol has changed color. We let our fall leaf science experiment sit overnight and in the morning the colors were even darker but the second night resulted in no change.

4.  Discuss the experiment and compare the differences between the containers. We recently continued our learning with a STEAM Coffee Filter Art Activity to make Fall Leaves that would be a perfect addition to this activity.

Print the Directions:

Easy Fall Leaf Science Experiment: Exploring Colors & Chlorophyll with Kids

Kids can extract the colors from leaves with this EASY and INTRIGUING science experiment

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Equipment Method

Equipment

• Pot of boiling water (adults only)
• Rubbing alcohol
• Small containers with lids (I used a Test Tube Set like this)
• Different colored leaves  (We used a green, green & red, yellow, and brown leaves)
• Tongs (adults only)

Method

 

1. 1. Place leaves in a boiling pot of water for 5 minutes. While they are boiling, fill up small containers with rubbing alcohol.

   2.  When the five minutes are up, use the tongs to remove the leaves and place each one in the rubbing alcohol making sure to sort by color if you are using multiple leaves.

   3.  Observe what color the alcohol is. Come back throughout the day and check to see if the alcohol has changed color. We let our experiment sit overnight and in the morning the colors were even darker but the second night resulted in no change.

   4.  Discuss the experiment and compare differences between the containers.

See More: Science Activities Here

See More: Fall Activities Here

Leaf Chromatography Experiment

STEAM Leaf Art

Fall Tree Crafts

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