Science with Mrs. Schutte
Grades 2 and 3
(Updated 10-26-09)
Next week: Field Trip to the arboretum!!
No regular PARADE classes!
Dear Parents,
Today we reviewed what we have learned about trees and leaves! We have learned a lot about leaves and the many characteristics scientists use to classify them. We used our pressed leaves sent in previously, as well as others collected outside. One fun activity involved trying to identify what tree the leaf was from using an online tree leaf identifier. The link to the site is at the bottom of the page. You might want to try this one at home!
We examined some broadleaf leaves today, noticing the type of leaf margin. Using the leaves we collected, we also looked line and shape through our "art eyes", creating some beautiful leaf collages in the process.
The main concepts we focused on today were:
· Leaf structure (blade shape, veins, margins, base)
· Leaf groupings (simple or compound)
· Leaf Margins (entire, toothed, lobed)
Tree Identification Using a Tree Leaf Key
These two websites are a great source of info on leaf identification. I encourage you to visit one of them and follow up on what we talked about in class. Spending a few minutes recalling the information at home will give you a chance to teach in a more individualized manner than I can here, and allow your child to cement and clarify whatever they picked up in class as a group.
Happy Fall,
Mrs. Schutte