Autumn Leaves, Poetry, And A Fun Fall Project For Students

Some people think the arrival of autumn/fall is sad. However, I think fall is beautiful! I never miss the broiling summer days of make-up melting off my face. I love fall weather–chilly nights meant to snuggle in blankets and cool days perfect for wearing flannel; I love fall colors, especially as they appear in nature–apples, pumpkins, black-eyed Susans; I love fall smells–the spice, the autumn rain, and the wood smoke; I love fall sounds– the wind, the crunch of leaves, and the cheers of football crowds.

**Most of all, I love the leaves!**

I remember learning about leaf science in grade school. It is so fascinating! In case you don’t know, and because I like to explain it, here ya go:

In the fall, as days get shorter and temperatures drop, trees begin to prepare for winter. Since the first freeze signals the trees to become dormant, there is no longer a reason to keep their leaves alive. The leaves halt their chlorophyll production. Chlorophyll is what makes the leaves appear green, but green is not the only color in the leaves. As the green retreats, those other pigments are revealed! Those pigments, such as carotenoids and anthocyanins, become visible as chlorophyll breaks down. Carotenoids appear as yellow and contribute to the appearance of orange and brown. Xanthophyll is a yellow or orange pigment found in leaves. Anthocyanins are responsible for the reds and purples and are produced in various quantities depending on the intensity of the light of summer.

The brilliance of the fall colors can also be affected by environmental factors like sunlight and temperature. For example, dry, sunny, and cool weather produces the best colors. A moist spring and a dry, sunny late summer and early fall can promote more vibrant red and purple leaf colors.

What a gift from God!

This week, my classes from middle school through high school participated in one of my favorite projects. The students wrote fall poems, then did leaf rubbings on the white paper on which they printed the poems. The rubbings were done with an old kindergarten trick: The students placed a leaf or two, vein side up, under the paper. Then rubbed the side of a crayon, wrapper removed, over the top of the paper. That colorfully transferred the leaf impression to the paper.