Division 10 created  patterns using pictures of leaves.  We know that a pattern can have more than two elements and that patterns must repeat.  We can also translate our repeating patterns from picture representations into letters.

Ask me about my pattern.[metaslider id=2264]

On a beautiful fall afternoon, Division 10 went for a walk in the neighborhood.  We wanted to collect some of the leaves that had fallen on the ground. 

We learned that there are many different kinds of trees, and they each have their own special-shaped leaves.  We brought some leaves back to the classroom and used pictures to identify the names of the trees that grow around us.

Then we used the leaves for a lesson in math.  We sorted the leaves many ways and used their descriptive attributes to establish a sorting rule.  We sorted by color (yellow, brown, green and red), by shape (smooth and pointy) and by size (big and little).  [metaslider id=2258]

Division 10  wondered why leaves change color in the fall.

We learned that leaves have an important job! Leaves use light, water and air to make food for plants. 

Chlorophyll is what gives green leaves their color.  It also traps sunlight and uses that energy to turn the water and air into food.  In the fall, plants prepare to rest for the winter.  Plants no longer need food and the job of the leaves is finished  The chlorophyll fades away and the colors of the leaves are revealed – yellow, red. brown and orange.

We were inspired by the fall colors to create tissue paper leaves.  We also used descriptive words to write poems. [metaslider id=2216]