Experimenting with leaves

Owing to changes in daylight and temperature during Autumn, the process of photosynthesis and the amount of chlorophyll in leaves is altered. Chlorophyll is the chemical that makes leaves green, so with less sunlight for photosynthesis, it’s only natural that some changes in colour are expected. The absence of chlorophyll is what results in the beautiful display of sunset-hued leaves.

Try this experiment with leaves.

You will need:

• A few glass jars.
• A few coffee filters.
• Various colours of Autumn leaves.
• Surgical spirits (available at pharmacies).
• A spoon for mixing.
• A container for gathering.

Leaves at the ready:

1. Unleash your children upon the garden or park in search of as many different Autumn-coloured leaves they can find. Equip them with a container to carry their findings.
2. Group their leaf treasures by colour. Once sorted, smash/ crumple/ tear each group of leaves into pieces and then place each pile into a separate jar.
3. Pour the rubbing alcohol into each jar until the leaf pieces are completely covered.
4. Use a spoon and continue mixing the leaves inside your jar until the rubbing alcohol changes colour.
5. Using a coffee filter, make a cone and then place the pointed tip down into the smooshed leaf/ rubbing alcohol mixture. Make sure the tip of the cone rests inside the mixture.
6. Let the jars chill for about a day, checking up to see magical mother nature and science at work.
7. Children will see with their very own eyes how the colours of the leaves begin to separate and travel up the coffee filter. Observe the absence of chlorophyll in all its glorious hues.

Enjoy this investigative, hands-on experiment with your young ones. Let’s continue our quest to inspire and educate the new generation of gardeners.