FREE Shipping on all our products! (Please Note: Orders may experience a delay of a week or more in shipping due to the high volume of orders at this time of year.)

0

Your Cart is Empty

Strip a leaf naked so you can examine the skeleton {Forest Science}

I ran across the coolest looking art project while scanning through Pinterest the other day. It's for color-tinted leaf skeletons and I just knew that I had to share a scientific twist on this activity with you guys!

I'll warn you, this is a bit involved and you will need some supplies that you probably don't have lying around your house, but it's totally worth the effort!

Let's dig in...

How to Create Leaf Skeletons

Materials Needed

  • Super Washing Soda (This can be found in the laundry detergent aisle. And it's typically made by Arm & Hammer.)
  • Magnolia leaves (You need a sturdy, waxy leaf for this project. You can use oak or maple leaves, but they will be much more fragile to handle and you will need to cut your cooking time by an hour.)
  • Crockpot
  • Water
  • Tongs
  • Colander
  • Bleach
  • 2 Bowls

Steps to Complete

  1. Add your leaves, one cup of super washing soda, and six cups of water to the crockpot. Set it on high and let it do its thing for about four hours or so. (NOTE - Be sure that the crockpot is in a well-ventilated area as this can get a bit stinky.)
  2. After several hours, use the tongs to remove the leaves, place them in the colander, and gently rinse. (NOTE - An icky white scale may develop in the bowl of your crockpot, but done worry - soak it in water with a bit of soap and after five minutes it will wipe right out.)
  3. Add the rinsed leaves to the bowl and add 3 cups of clean, fresh water plus 1/2 cup of bleach. Allow the leaves to soak for about 30 minutes. 
  4. Fill another bowl halfway with cool clean water. Then, use the tongs to remove the leaves one at a time. Place them in the bowl and use your fingers or an old toothbrush to very, very gently remove the flesh, revealing the leaf skeleton!
  5. Place the skeleton on a paper towel to dry and observe. (NOTE - You can mount the bare-boned leaves on a white sheet of paper to preserve them for further observations.)

Results & Explanation

The job of a leaf is to collect sunlight for photosynthesis. This process converts the energy in light into energy the plant can use to make food. In the leaf, this food is created and then transported throughout the plant to a series of tubes, called vascular tissue, which make up the leaves skeleton. These are the "bones" you are seeing in the leaf when the process is finished.

The super washing soda, heat, and the bleach all work together to break down the tender, fleshy part of the leaf - leaving behind the skeleton of vascular tissue.

Additional Resources

Looking for some easy-to-use science plans that will teach your students about the leaves? Here is what we offer:

Or check out our Forest Science Pinterest Board:


Also in Homeschool Science Activities

Don’t Be Afraid To Try These 3 Christmas Tree Experiments Right Now

December 07, 2024 3 min read

It's the most wonderful time of the year and these three Christmas tree experiments will make your season even brighter!

It's the most wonderful time of the year and these three Christmas tree experiments will make your season even brighter! Click "Read More" to see them.

Steps For Dissecting A Seed By Felipe Moreno

November 09, 2024 2 min read

The Argentinian folk ballad you didn't know you needed on how to dissect a seed from Sassafras Science.

Felipe Moreno, one of the Sassafras twins' botany experts, shares an Argentinian folk ballad which shares the steps for dissecting a seed.

How to make a Beautiful Fall Leaf Book {A Fall Science Activity}

September 21, 2024 2 min read

Preserve a piece of fall with this leaf book - a FREE download from Elemental Science.

Want to preserve the beauty of fall for science? Click "Read More" to learn how to make a fall leaf book and download the free templates!