Leaf Drop Slides Mystery Science Companion
Level 1 & 2 Science
Mystery Science Leaf Drop
Why Do Trees Lose Their Leaves?
In the fall, leaves turn fiery red and gold — then drop to the ground! Why do trees do this?
Be a Leaf Detective! Mystery Science Leaf Drop
Mystery Clue
Look Closely!
Maple & Oak Trees
Their wide leaves turn bright yellow, orange, and red. Then, every leaf falls off!
🍂 Bare branches all winter!
Pine & Fir Trees
Pine trees stay bright green through snow and ice. They do not drop their needles!
🌲 Green needles all winter!
Turn to your partner: Why don't all trees do the same thing?
Video Investigation
Mystery Science
Watch and Listen For Clues!
1
The Green Cloak
What is the special green stuff inside leaves that makes food from sunlight?
2
Frozen Water
What happens to water in the ground when freezing winter arrives?
Link: mysteryscience.com/mini-lessons/trees-leaves
Secret #1: The Hidden Colors
Chlorophyll
In the Summer ☀️
Leaves are Green!
Leaves are filled with green chlorophyll . It catches sunshine like a solar panel to feed the tree!
In the Fall 🍁
Colors Surprise!
The green fades away. Yellow and orange were hiding inside all summer! Now you can see them!
✨ Say it together: CHLOR-O-PHYLL! (The green sun-catcher!)
Secret #2: Winter Sleep
Dormancy
Ground is Frozen!
In winter, water turns into ice. Tree roots cannot drink ice! Dropping leaves stops water from drying out.
Heavy Snow!
Heavy snow would pile on flat leaves and snap the branches. Bare branches let snow fall right through!
Trees take a long winter nap called DORMANCY until spring!
Leaf Detective Mission
Activity Time!
Ready for Your Leaf Investigation?
Get your crayons and pencils ready!
Color & Draw
Show how green leaves hide yellow and orange colors!
Sort the Trees
Spot which trees drop leaves and which keep their needles!
Good luck, Leaf Detectives! Mystery Science Leaf Drop
Level Two Leaf Worksheet Mystery Science Leaf Drop
Level 2 Science • Page 1
Name:
Date:
1
Draw the Secret Colors Inside Leaves
Summer Leaf ☀️ Chlorophyll
Draw and color a green leaf capturing sunlight to make food.
Autumn Leaf 🍂 Hidden Colors
Draw and color with yellow and orange pigments revealed in fall.
Word Bank: chlorophyll • sugar food • yellow and orange
1. In summer, leaves are green because of .
2. Leaves use sunlight to make plant .
3. When green fades, hidden colors appear!
2
Why Drop Leaves for Winter?
A. Frozen Water Problem:
Why can't tree roots drink when ground freezes into ice?
B. Heavy Snow Problem:
What would heavy wet snow do to wide leafy branches?
3
Autumn Scene Coloring Space
Use crayons or colored pencils!
Coloring Challenge: Draw and color an autumn scene below! Show a bare deciduous tree dropping red and orange leaves onto the ground, while an evergreen pine tree stays green:
Mystery Science Leaf Drop • Level 2 Page 1 of 2
Tree Match & Leaf Drawing Canvas • Page 2
Name:
4
Deciduous or Evergreen?
1. Wide, flat leaves that turn yellow and red
Deciduous Evergreen
2. Skinny needles covered with tough wax
Deciduous Evergreen
3. Oak trees and maple trees
Deciduous Evergreen
4. Pine trees and Christmas fir trees
Deciduous Evergreen
5
Mystery Science Check
A. What is the tree's winter "sleep" called?
A Evaporation
B Dormancy
C Germination
B. What turns fallen leaves into rich, healthy soil?
A Decomposers like worms
B Heavy snowstorms
C The cold wind blowing
6
Autumn Leaf Drawing or Rubbing
Use the entire blank space below to make a crayon leaf-rubbing of a real leaf, or draw and color your own autumn leaf:
Mystery Science Leaf Drop • Level 2 Page 2 of 2
Level Two Leaf Answer Key Teacher Reference
Mystery Science Leaf Drop • Level 2 Key
Total: 25 Points
1
Part 1: Leaf Pigments & Word Bank (7 pts)
7 Points
Summer Leaf (2 pts)
Leaf colored green with yellow sun rays. Shows understanding that chlorophyll captures sun energy.
Autumn Leaf (2 pts)
Leaf colored with yellow, orange, or red. Green is gone, revealing hidden pigments.
Word Bank Answers (3 pts):
1. In summer, leaves are green because of chlorophyll .
2. Leaves use sunlight to make plant sugar food .
3. When green fades, hidden yellow and orange colors appear!
2
Part 2: Winter Dangers (6 pts)
6 Points
A. Frozen Water Problem (3 pts):
Answer: Roots cannot drink frozen ice! Wide leaves lose water to dry air, so the tree would dry out and die without dropping them.
B. Heavy Snow Problem (3 pts):
Answer: Heavy wet snow would pile on flat leaves and snap the branches. Bare branches let snow fall right through safely!
3
Part 3: Autumn Scene Coloring (3 pts)
3 Points
Rubric: Award 3 points for coloring the bottom scene showing: (1) a bare/deciduous tree with branches, (2) red/yellow/orange falling or fallen leaves on the ground, and (3) an evergreen pine colored green.
Mystery Science Leaf Drop • Level 2 Key Page 1 of 2
Level 2 Leaf Answer Key • Page 2
Parts 4, 5, & 6
4
Part 4: Deciduous or Evergreen? (4 pts)
4 Points
1. Wide, flat leaves that turn yellow and red ✓ DECIDUOUS
2. Skinny needles covered with tough wax ✓ EVERGREEN
3. Oak trees and maple trees ✓ DECIDUOUS
4. Pine trees and Christmas fir trees ✓ EVERGREEN
5
Part 5: Mystery Science Check (2 pts)
2 Points
Question A:
Correct: (B) Dormancy
Trees rest to conserve energy and water until the spring thaw.
Question B:
Correct: (A) Decomposers like worms
Earthworms and microbes recycle leaf nutrients back to enrich soil.
6
Part 6: Leaf Drawing or Rubbing Space (3 pts)
3 Points
Rubric: Award 3 points for a large, detailed crayon leaf rubbing or colored leaf drawing created in the open blank canvas occupying the bottom half of the page. Check for distinct vein branching, leaf margins, and seasonal leaf colors.
Tree Secrets Teacher Guide Instructional Plan
Mystery Science Leaf Drop
Levels: Level 1 & Level 2
Time: 35–45 Minutes
Standard: NGSS 1-LS1-1, 2-LS4-1
Mystery Phenomenon
Why do trees drop their leaves in autumn instead of keeping them all winter? How does shedding leaves save the tree from thirst and heavy snow?
Differentiated Levels
Level 1: Use Level One Leaf Worksheet (drawing, word tracing, and yes/no matching).Level 2: Use Level Two Leaf Worksheet (written explanations, sorting, and sketch).
1
Lesson Flow & Pacing
Hook (5m)
Slides 1–2
Compare leafy maples to evergreen pines. Ask: "Why do leaves fall?"
Video (12m)
Slide 3 Video
Watch Mystery Science clip. Pause at key observation questions.
Debrief (8m)
Slides 4–5
Chant "Chlorophyll" ! Explain frozen water and tree winter dormancy.
Work (15m)
Worksheet
Distribute Level 1 or Level 2 worksheet. Complete drawings and rubbings.
2
Video Pause Points & Teacher Prompts
Pause 1
Leaf Food-Making: Ask, "What makes the leaf green?" Practice saying chlorophyll together. Explain it works like a sun-sponge making sweet food.
Pause 2
Frozen Ground: Ask, "Can tree roots drink ice through a straw?" Reinforce that leaves lose water into dry winter air. Dropping leaves saves moisture!
Pause 3
Heavy Snow Demo: Have students hold their hands flat like broad leaves, then make scissors/needles. Ask: "Which branch catches heavy snow?"
Level Guide
• Level 1 Focus: Identifying basic tree parts, tracing sight words (GREEN, LEAF, SUN), drawing green & fall leaves, and comparing deciduous vs. pine trees.
• Level 2 Focus: Writing complete responses on water loss and branch breakage, vocabulary application (chlorophyll, dormancy), and leaf vein sketching.
Common Misconceptions
• "Leaves die because they freeze": Clarify that the tree intentionally unplugs the leaves to protect itself.
Level One Leaf Worksheet 🍁
Mystery Science Leaf Drop
Level 1 Science • Student Report
Name:
Date:
1
Draw Your Autumn Mystery Leaves!
Summer Leaf ☀️ Chlorophyll
Draw a big GREEN leaf that catches sunlight for food!
Fall Leaf 🍂 Hidden Colors
Draw a leaf with YELLOW and ORANGE colors!
2
Trace the Science Words!
1. Plants are: G R E E N
2. Trees grow: L E A V E S
3. Food comes from: S U N
3
Why Do Leaves Fall? (Circle One)
Circle the reason trees drop leaves before winter:
❄️ To stay safe from cold snow and ice!
🍦 Because leaves want to eat ice cream!
Mystery Science Leaf Drop • Level 1 Page 1 of 2
🌲 Tree Match & Leaf Art • Page 2
Name:
4
Draw a Line to Match!
🍁
Maple Tree Big broad leaves
Drops leaves in the fall!
🌲
Pine Tree Skinny waxy needles
Stays green all winter!
5
Yes or No? (Circle One)
1. Can tree roots drink frozen ice?
YES NO
2. Do yellow colors hide inside green leaves?
YES NO
3. Will bare trees wake up with new leaves in spring?
YES NO
6
Big Leaf Rubbing or Drawing!
Rub over a real leaf with a crayon, or draw your favorite autumn leaf below:
My leaf color: Where I found it:
Mystery Science Leaf Drop • Level 1 Page 2 of 2
Level One Leaf Answer Key ✓
Teacher Key
Level 1 Leaf Answer Key
Total: 15 Points
1
Activity 1: Draw Your Mystery Leaves (4 pts)
4 Points
Summer Leaf Drawing (2 pts)
Check: Student drew a leaf shape and colored it primarily green . Award credit for drawing any recognizable leaf in green, showing that green chlorophyll is present.
Fall Leaf Drawing (2 pts)
Check: Student drew a leaf shape and colored it with yellow and orange (or red). Award credit for using warm autumn colors to show hidden pigments.
2
Activity 2: Trace Science Words (3 pts)
3 Points
1. Plants are: ✓ GREEN traced legibly (1 pt)
2. Trees grow: ✓ LEAVES traced legibly (1 pt)
3. Food comes from: ✓ SUN traced legibly (1 pt)
3
Activity 3: Why Do Leaves Fall? (2 pts)
2 Points
✓ Correct Choice: ❄️ To stay safe from cold snow and ice!
Teacher Note: Reinforce that bare branches prevent snow from snapping limbs and stop moisture loss when ground water freezes into ice.
Mystery Science Leaf Drop • Level 1 Key Page 1 of 2
✓ Level 1 Key • Page 2 Solutions
Activities 4, 5, & 6
4
Activity 4: Match the Trees (2 pts)
2 Points
🍁 Maple Tree (broad leaves) → Matches: "Drops leaves in the fall!"
🌲 Pine Tree (waxy needles) → Matches: "Stays green all winter!"
5
Activity 5: Yes or No? (3 pts)
3 Points
1. Can tree roots drink frozen ice? ✓ NO
2. Do yellow colors hide inside green leaves? ✓ YES
3. Will bare trees wake up with new leaves in spring? ✓ YES
6
Activity 6: Leaf Rubbing / Drawing (1 pt)
1 Point
1 Point: Award full credit for any completed crayon rubbing showing leaf texture or a colored drawing of a leaf in the spacious drawing frame, with at least one observation detail noted.
Mystery Science Leaf Drop • Level 1 Key Page 2 of 2
