Here at The Austin Children’s Museum we’re excited that Summer is leaving and the weather is starting to cool, which means autumn is just around the corner.
Autumn is one of the four seasons and it typically falls between September 21st and December 21st. Why is autumn sometimes called Fall then? Because leaves fall off of deciduous trees during the season. Here are some cool facts about fall leaves from LoveToKnow. You should learn this before autumn starts and summer leaves!
- Leaves require sunlight, water, chlorophyll and carbon dioxide to make food for themselves.
- As winter approaches, leaves make a coating for themselves which blocks their water source; in the absence of water, the leaves no longer produce chlorophyll (chlorophyll is what makes leaves green).
- When the leaves turn colors in the fall, they actually are returning to their normal colors. During the summer months, the chlorophyll in the leaves causes them to turn green, blocking the leaves’ actual colors.
- Along with chlorophyll, leaves contain two other chemicals that cause coloring. The first is called xanthophyll, which is yellow in color. The other is carotene, which is orange in color.
- Red and purple leaves are actually caused by the presence of sugars from sap that is trapped inside of the leaves.
- Once the leaves have turned brown, they are dead and no longer receive any nutrients.
Leaves are pretty interesting right? They can even be used for art! Check out how we used leaves creatively in these activities:
Color one yourself: Leaf Man and Butterfly Leaf
And send us your leaf art!
