Leaves and Trees Science Center | Parts of a Tree & Seasons | Pre-K and Kindergarten

Want a science center your little learners can explore on their own? Leaves and Trees turns a small table or bookshelf into a hands-on nature station full of looking, sorting, measuring and wondering. Students learn the parts of a tree, watch how a tree changes through the four seasons, sort real (or printable) leaves, and record what they notice in their own science journal. A rhyming read-aloud book ties it all together at circle time. WHAT'S INCLUDED (46 pages) • Welcome page, teacher instruction strategies and science center set-up guide • Basket and bin labels, center sign and task cards • 16 tree and leaf vocabulary cards with pictures • Parts of a Tree: anchor chart, one-page poster and Label the Tree worksheet • A Tree for All Seasons: anchor chart, one-page poster and Which Season Is It? worksheet • Ways to Sort Leaves anchor chart and a Pointy or Round? sorting mat • Printable fall colored leaves (2 pages) • Hands-on activities: Measure the Leaves, Sort the Leaves, Weigh & Compare • Mini experiments: Sink or Float? and Leaf Color Walk • Nature Hunt recording page and suggested book list • Leaves and Trees! – a 10-page rhyming read-aloud book • Science journal: 2 cover choices plus I Notice / I Wonder, Draw & Label a Leaf, My Tree Observation, Leaf Rubbing, Compare Two Leaves and What Did You Discover? • Home-school connection note • Answer key SKILLS • Parts of a tree: leaves, branches, trunk and roots • How trees change in spring, summer, fall and winter • Sorting by color, size and shape • Measuring, comparing and predicting • Observing, drawing and recording like a scientist • Science vocabulary STANDARDS • NGSS K-LS1-1 (what plants need to survive); supports K-ESS2-1 (patterns over time) • CCSS K.MD.A.2 (compare objects by length and weight) and K.MD.B.3 (classify and count) HOW TO USE 1. Science center: set out leaves, acorns and magnifying glasses with the labels, and add 2-3 activity pages each week. 2. Circle time: introduce a few vocabulary cards and read Leaves and Trees! together. 3. Small groups: use the Parts of a Tree and Which Season Is It? worksheets to check understanding. 4. Nature walk: take the Nature Hunt page and Leaf Color Walk outside. 5. Home connection: send the home note so families can keep exploring. Print and go. No prep. Works in color or black and white.