How Do Trees Know When to Drop Their Leaves?

How Do Trees Know When to Drop Their Leaves? 🍂

Questions Kids Ask Mini-Study | Ages 2–9 | 6 Pages

Does a tree really know when fall is coming? 🌳🍁

Trees don't have eyes, brains, or calendars—but they can respond to changes happening in the world around them!

In this 6-page Little Roots Learning mini-study, children will discover the fascinating science behind one of autumn's biggest changes: why deciduous trees change color and eventually drop their leaves.

Children will explore:

🍂 How trees respond to changing daylight and temperature

☀️ What photoperiod means

🌿 Deciduous trees vs. evergreens

💚 What happens to chlorophyll in autumn

💛🧡❤️ Where fall leaf colors come from

✂️ How the abscission zone helps a leaf separate from its branch

❄️ Why dropping leaves can help trees prepare for winter

🌲 Why evergreens don't lose all their needles at once

🔎 A hands-on autumn leaf hunt

✏️ Review questions + answer key

🎨 Autumn observation and coloring activities

Finish the study by heading outside together to investigate real fallen leaves and look for the changes you've just learned about!

6 pages | Ages 2–9 | FREE



Little Roots Learning 🌱