Identifying Fall Leaves

What kind of leaf do you have?
Steve Nix has created an interactive quiz that will lead you directly to the answer. Even the weird leaf we picked up at the library was no problem – it’s a birch. Very satisfying.

About.Com: Tree Leaf Key

More Activities for learning about Autumn:
Project Learning Tree has activities for signs of fall, looking at leaves, a tree life cycle, and more.
Author Beth Harpaz appreciates some of the events of Autumn in the article, Searching for Early Signs of Fall.

C Discovers Paper

Hey, Mom! I’m making paper!

Why doesn’t this thrill me? She’s in the bath tub and has been playing with the papery packet from her oatmeal bath powder. As it begins to disintegrate in the water, she comments, “Mom, we could use this to make paper!” There’s a pause while she considers this and feels the squishy, mushy paper. She adds, “Wait, this already is paper pulp.”

Mom (she continues), I don’t need to make paper. I’m going to make paper right now.

We’ve made paper at home a few times in the last year, and I feel like I should be thrilled that she’s carrying her observations over into a new setting. But it’s the end of a long day and her paper pulp discovery looks more like a gooey mess than brilliance.

Printables: Mini Books

Excerpt from The Hard Stuff: All About Bones, (Level R)

Each month Learning Page offers two printable mini-books from their sister site, Reading A-Z. These are accessible from the home page, and can only be downloaded that month. Two extra good ones this month – All about Bones and Animal Skeletons.  Most selections use guided reading levels as an indication of their grade level.  

Excerpt from Animal Skeletons (Level J)

Playdate: Sprinkly Mixing

On a recent playdate, Carolyn and her friends explore what compounds mix together while making pretend ice cream.