In our neck of the woods, the leaves are just beginning to turn. And when that happens I love to make a fall leaf book and do a bit of fall leaf chromatography with my kiddos!
To do this STEAM activity, you will need the following:
Begin this fall science activity, you can watch the following video about why the leaves change their colors.
Then, have the students do the following:
The students should see that the original colored spot has disappeared, leaving behind a streak spread out colors. The colors that were left behind on the strip are the pigments that are found in that leaf. The alcohol picks up these pigments and sets them down on the paper at different times. Here are the colors you might see and the responsible pigments:
Did you try this activity? Take a picture of the colors you saw and tag us (@elementalscience) so we can see them too!
Then, check out these posts for more fall science fun:
Balance is key to keeping us upright. Click "Read More" to get a simple STEM lesson on balance, along with directions to make a balance tower!
Did you know that petrified rock is actually a fossil? Click "Read More" to see a simple STEM lesson about petrified rock and make your own petrified sponge!
Has spring visited your area yet? Keeping a "Signs of Spring" reference journal can help you anticipate the arrival of the best season of the year! Click "Read More" to learn how to make your own journal!