Why do Leaves Change Color?
By Betsy Maestro
Grades K-2; Genre - Non-fiction; GRL L; AR pts: 0.5
This book is full of interesting facts about why and how leaves change color during autumn time.
Comprehension Questions
- During what season do the leaves change color? Autumn p. 5
- What color do they change to? red, yellow, gold and brown p. 5
- What are some differences between the leaves? Sizes, colors, shapes, wide, rounded, pointed p. 6
- What helps the leaves absorb or hold sunlight? The green color in them p. 9
- What gives the leaves their green coloring? Chlorophyll p. 9
- What’s pigment? A natural coloring p. 9
- What food do the leaves make for the tree? Sugar p. 11
- What do the leaves do all summer long for the tree? Feed it p. 11
- What part of the tree uses the sugar? All of the tree- leaves, branches, roots, trunk p. 11
- What brings about the beautiful colors of fall? Changes in the weather, light, temperature p. 12
- How does the change in sunlight affect the tree? It tells the tree to get ready for winter p. 12
- What will the tree do during winter? Rest p. 12
- Why doesn’t the tree need the leaves as it begins to get ready for its winter rest? It needs very little food p. 13
- Why do the leaves absorb less water as the tree prepares for winter? They begin to separate from the tree p. 15
- What happens to the old chlorophyll? It begins to fade p. 15
- What does the green in the leaf begin to do as the old chlorophyll begins to fade? The green color begins to disappear p. 15
- What appears in the leaves as the green color disappears? other colors/ pigments p. 16
- Where did the other pigments in the leaves come from? They’d been there all along p. 16
- What happens to the extra sugar stored in the leaves? Creates new pigments p. 19
- What causes the stored sugar to change to pigment? Sunlight p. 19
- The more sugar there is, ____________________. The brighter the colors will be. p. 19
- What helps the leaves create the brightest, best colors? Lots of bright sunshine and crisp, clear nights p. 23
- What makes leaves produce dull colors? Too much rain p. 23
- What can kill the leaves too soon? Early frost p. 23
- What types of trees keep their leaves all year long? Evergreens like pine and spruces p. 23
- What helps the leaves fall to the ground when they are ready to leave the tree? Rain and wind p. 24
- How do rotting leaves on the ground help the tree? Enrich the soil with minerals the tree uses to stay healthy p. 24
- When does the tree form its leaf buds? During the winter p. 26
- When do the leaf buds open? In the spring p. 26
- Where can you find beautiful displays with many colors of fall? New England p. 27
- Why is New England so beautiful with autumn foliage? The weather conditions there are just right and there are many different kinds of trees p. 27
- What do you like to do after the leaves have fallen to the ground from your trees? Answers will vary