Kids can have fun noting fall changes for plants, animals

THE NEWS TRIBUNE
Last updated: September 4th, 2008 01:13 AM (PDT)

What do you do to get ready for fall? Do you get out warmer clothes for cool days? Do you get extra sleep so you’re alert and full of energy for school? Do you change some of the foods you eat?

Adults, kids, trees, flowers and animals all do things differently when getting ready for fall.

When trees get ready for fall their leaves change color. Have you ever wondered how leaves change color?

Leaves contain substances called pigments. All leaves contain chlorophyll and carotenoid which give leaves green and yellow colors. Some leaves also contain anthocyanin which produces a red-colored leaf. The green color allows photosynthesis, which produces sugars to feed the tree. When photosynthesis is happening, the yellow pigment in the leaf is hidden.

When the weather turns cooler and the days are shorter, photosynthesis slows down and the yellow pigment begins to show. In some trees, the red color will show, too. Once the weather turns colder, the tree will drop all of its leaves to protect itself from freezing in the winter.

TRACK THE CHANGE

Do you think leaves change color all at once, or does it happen slowly? Find a tree with green leaves near your house or school, one that you can look at every day. Get a notebook and your green, brown, yellow and red crayons or colored pencils. Draw a picture of the leaves on your tree. Color them exactly like you see them and include the date.

Visit your tree every day and draw a new picture each time. Continue drawing for one week and see if your pictures change. If the tree is still green, keep visiting until you start to notice color changes.

ANIMALS CHANGE, TOO

Animals have to prepare for fall, too. They may change colors just like the leaves do. Can you think of an animal that changes colors in the fall?

The black-tailed deer will begin growing a thick, gray-brown coat for the cool weather. The new color will help the deer to blend into its habitat and stay hidden from predators.

Black bears don’t change color, but they do prepare for the fall by gaining weight. Bears will spend most of their summer and fall months eating. In the fall, black bears may spend up to 20 hours a day eating and can increase their weight by 35 percent. A 400-pound bear might gain 140 pounds to help it survive during its long winter sleep.

How much weight would you need to gain to increase by 35 percent?

To find out, weigh yourself and multiply the number by 0.35. Would you be healthy if you increased your weight by 35 percent in just a few months?

A SQUASH CANDLE

Get an acorn squash, a knife, string or candle wicks, paraffin, a large needle and putty. Cut off the top and hollow out the squash. Cut just enough off the bottom for it to stand flat and stable.

Thread the wick through the bottom of the squash with the needle and seal the bottom with putty. Melt your wax in an old, clean can in a pan of water. Pour the melted wax into the squash – be sure to hold the wick up while pouring.

Once the candle hardens, peel away the squash.

You can learn more about the fall season by reading “Autumn” by Terri DeGezelle or “The Nature and Science of Autumn” by Jane Burton.

This month’s column was written by the staff at Northwest Trek.

Originally published: September 4th, 2008 01:13 AM (PDT)