Why do leaves change color?

Why do leaves change color? We are doing a week of fall crafts and activities, so I thought this would be a fun experiment for Harry. Harry has been super interested in the leaves and how they have been changing. He always points out the new colors and gets very excited. Needless to say, he LOVED this experiment!!!! :) 

So, here is a little background information... Leaves are green because they contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the dominant color and hides the other colors in the leaves. In the fall, the leaves begin to shed the chlorophyll to get ready to rest in the wjnter. There isn't enough sunlight for trees to produce food for themselves in the winter. So, they get rid of their chlorophyll to live off of the food they had stored in the summer. This is why the leaves on your trees will change colors.

Here's additional information about it:

http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html

To find out what color the leaves on your tree will change before they actually change, you can perform this simple experiment! Even toddlers can do it!! :)

Here's what you need:

1 mason jar

Rubbing alcohol

Green leaves (5-8 depending on size)

Plastic freezer bag

coffee filter (#4)

What to do:

1. First, gather some leaves from outside that are still green. Break them up, and place them in a mason jar.  

2. Then fill the jar with about 3oz of rubbing alcohol or just enough to saturate the leaves. Stir the leaves in the rubbing alcohol until the water turns green. 

Harry loved this part!! He loved stirring the leaves.

3. Next, I asked Harry some basic questions:

What color are the leaves?

What color do you think the leaves will turn?

Harry guessed that the leaves will turn yellow, and he drew a picture of the green leaves. 

4. Now, microwave a small bowl of water for 1 minute, and place the jar in the water after. Then put a plastic bag over the jar.

5. Let the jar sit in the water for about 45 minutes to 1 hour while occasionally swirling it to mix it up. 

6. When the time is up, cut a strip in the middle of the coffee filter and dip it into the jar.

6. The alcohol travels up the strip revealing the color that the leaves will turn! These leaves are going to turn bright red! :) Harry was super excited about this. 

7. To conclude our experiment, I asked Harry some basic questions about it,  and we talked about the leaves changing colors. This really fascinated him.

What color did the leaves turn? 

Was your prediction correct? 

Harry drew a picture of the red leaf too. I am looking forward to when these leaves change colors! Harry will be so excited to see it. 

This was an excellent lesson for comprehension, colors, predictions, and fall! Toddlers can learn science too!!! :)