Leaf Inquiry

Nothing says 'science' like an experiment. The young botanists were pumped. We did some preliminary reading about photosynthesis, but I've got to say, these kids impressed me with their background knowledge. 

We established the following:

- plants and trees make oxygen that we need to breathe

- humans and nature are dependent on one another 

- we have to use natural resources responsibly and sustainably (not cut down all the trees)

- plants make their own food using water, sunlight and carbon dioxide 

- plants contain chlorophyll which enables photosynthesis 

- it's colder in the fall and winter

- days are shorter in the fall and winter

We gathered all of the supplies needed for the experiment. 

Each table group was responsible for tearing up one variety of leaf into a plastic cup. Then I covered the leaves with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and mashed them up with a spoon. We placed a coffee filter in each cup and anxiously awaited to see what would happen. Students recorded their predictions. 

In the afternoon we examined the filters and made observations. We recorded our findings in drawings and notes and revisited our predictions. We decided to leave the filters in over night to see if that changed the results.