Hello my Omschooligans! Teacher Omi had a wonderful afternoon with some of the grandkids playing in the Michigan dune woods. Inspired by that, I've created a bushel basket of free printable fall leaf lesson plans, autumn craft projects, tree identification activities, cross-curricular STEAM lesson plans, books on plant science with craft snack recipes, plant biology games and a whole forest more!
Free printable tree and leaf activities
Biology naturally focus on living things. Teach students about botany and plant biology in fall science activities. As students watch nature maturing in autumn, they observe plant science and structure--seeds, roots, stems, buds, leaves, flowers and fruit--first hand. Then back in the Omschool tree fort, we'll reinforce those concepts with free printable plant science activities.
- The Teacher's Corner has free printable biology science activities and botany lesson plans. Plants and trees cover an enormous area to study that you will want to check out these websites and see which have materials specific to what you need. Get free printable lesson plans and coloring pages of leaves, trees and plants. Activities cover
- edible plants
- medicinal plants
- toxic and unsafe plants
- plant biology
- finding and naming plants native to your area
- habitats and biomes
- plant and leaf identification
- Visit Enchanted Learning's science homepage for general science activities and free printable lesson plans on trees, plants, botany and plant biology. Check out the extensive section of free printable leaf identification and labeling worksheets pluscutouts of leaves.
- Lesson Plans Central has free printable science lesson plans and fall science activities. Instead of linking to the page on plants, I connected you to the general science activities page for more extended fall science lesson plans.
- Edupics is always a superior internet resource for free printable realistic coloring pages. Edupics has many coloring pages of trees, plants, botany, flowers, leaves and more.
- Primary Games has lots of free printable flowers and plants coloring pages. Use these to create your own plant identification games and activities.
- Biology Junction has gobs more free printable plant science worksheets and general biology activities. You can print an entire plant science workbook to complement your science experiments and lesson plans.
Skip To My Lou : Features a variety of free printable leaf coloring pages including maple, oak, birch, aspen, and sycamore, making them ideal for simple leaf studies and nature journals.ColoringZebra : Offers a large collection of tree coloring pages covering realistic trees, bark textures, root systems, and specific species like oak, birch, and pine.
🌲🌳🌴Teacher Omi's Value-added Leaf Activities
Print a coloring book of tree, leaf, and plant coloring pages. Have students color, label, and then use as field guides for nature hikes. 🍁🍂🍃
Plant science experiments
1. The Baggy Sprout (Sprouting a Bean in a Bag)
Materials: A clear Ziploc bag, a paper towel, water, and a few dried beans (like pinto or lima beans).
Instructions: Dampen the paper towel so it is wet but not dripping, then place it inside the plastic bag. Slip 2 or 3 beans between the paper towel and the plastic so you can clearly see them. Seal the bag and tape it to a sunny window.
What to Observe: Over a few days, students can watch the seed coat split, a root (radicle) push downward, and tiny green shoots reach upward, providing a clear look at germination.
2. Celery Color-Changing Transport
Materials: A fresh stalk of celery with leaves (preferably with light-colored leaves), a clear glass of water, and food coloring (red or blue work best).
Instructions: Fill the glass with water and mix in 15–20 drops of food coloring to make it vibrant. Cut the very bottom off the celery stalk and place it upright in the colored water.
What to Observe: Leave it overnight. By the next day, students will see the food coloring travel up the stem and dye the edges of the leaves, demonstrating how plant stems transport water (xylem).
3. Leaf Transpiration (Sweating Plants)
Materials: A living, potted houseplant or a low branch on an outdoor tree/shrub, and a clear plastic sandwich bag with a twist-tie or rubber band.
Instructions: Place the plastic bag over a cluster of leaves on the plant and secure the open end tightly around the stem or branch with the twist-tie.
What to Observe: Leave it in the sun for a few hours. Tiny water droplets will form on the inside of the bag, showing how plants release excess water vapor into the air through tiny pores called stomata.
4. Sun-Seeking Stems (Phototropism)
Materials: A small potted plant or a fast-sprouting bean cup, a cardboard shoebox with a lid, and scissors.
Instructions: Cut a small hole (about the size of a coin) in one end of the shoebox. Place the potted plant inside the box, put the lid on securely, and set the box near a sunny windowsill so the hole is facing the light.
What to Observe: Check on the plant every few days. The stem will bend and grow sideways through the darkness toward the single source of light, demonstrating how plants respond to their environment.
5. Carrot Top Regrowth (Root Regeneration)
Materials: A fresh whole carrot with the leafy green top (or at least the top 1 to 2 inches cut off the carrot root), a shallow dish or saucer, and water.
Instructions: Cut off the top portion of the carrot (the end where the green stems grow) and place it cut-side down in a shallow dish containing a small amount of water (keep the water level shallow so the top doesn't drown). Place the dish on a sunny windowsill and add fresh water as it evaporates.
What to Observe: Within a few days, new green shoots will sprout and grow upward from the top.
Plant science craft projects and snack craft recipes
- Grow an herb garden in your classroom. Have students monitor and chart plant growth and note tips on what works best for plant care.
- Herb-Ex (ploration) People who explore urban structures are called Urbexers. We're plant explorers. To play this game
- have students snip a few stems from each of their herb plants
- gently tape herb sprigs to a paper attached to a tray.
- pass round bags with one herb sample in each.
- students smell, taste, touch and feel the herbs in bags.
- print label cards of herbs represented.
- students match names to images.
Plant and leaf snack crafts
- Herb's Noodle Soup (see above recipe). Make this like Stone Soup where everyone shares an ingredient.
- Compare and contrast. Make two pots of noodles, one with herbs and one without. Discuss flavor difference.
- For more kids' cooking lesson plans, create a complete vegetable herb soup. Dice chicken and cook in herbs and butter. Add vegetables and saute.
- Plant Parts Stew
- Identify which plant parts the different favorite fruits and vegetables fall into
- Root--carrots, potatoes, yams and sweet potatoes, turnips, radishes
- Stem--celery, asparagus, kohlrabi, leeks, bamboo shoots
- Leaf--lettuce, green onion "tube" (yes that's a funny looking leaf), spinach, kale, mustard or turnip greens, spring mix, arugula and cabbage.
Remember: Your herbs are leaves too!
- Flower--cauliflower, broccoli
- Fruit--In plant speak this is the part which holds the seeds. So many vegetables are the fruit of the plant.
- squash
- tomatoes
- cucumber
- bell peppers
- green beans
- pea pods
- Seeds-- corn kernels, peas, beans, pumpkin seeds
- Bulb--keep reading to find out why onions, garlic and other bulb plants are different the other plants. But just as delicious!
- Sprouts--You can watch the entire process all over again by starting some sprouts (also called seedlings).
Science Experiments to Craft Snacks!
🧅🧄 Fun Plant Facts: Onions (and other bulb plants like garlic, shallots, scallions and tulips) fall into a different category than true roots!
While they grow underground like carrots, they are actually modified stems and leaves rather than true roots.
Why Bulbs Are Different:
The Basal Plate: At the base of an onion is a small, compressed, underground stem (the basal plate).
Fleshy Scales: The thick, layered rings that make up an onion are actually modified leaves that store food and water for the plant over winter.
True Roots: True roots grow downward from the bottom of the basal plate to anchor the plant and absorb water, but the onion bulb itself is above that root system.
So while carrots are modified taproots, onions are bulbs made up of modified stem and leaf tissue!
(Fun bonus fact: If you cut off the root end of a scallion and put it in a glass of water, it will rapidly grow a brand-new set of green shoots—just like the carrot top experiment!)
Fun and Games with Plants
🌲 The Rebel Conifers: Deciduous Needles! 🍂
While most needle-bearing trees (like pines, spruces, and firs) stay green year-round as "evergreens," trees like the larch (also called tamarack) love to break the rules!
- Golden Autumn Show: Their soft, delicate needles turn a brilliant, glowing golden-yellow every fall. 🌟
- Winter Sleep: They shed their needles entirely before winter, standing bare like broadleaf trees until fresh green needles pop back out in the spring! 🍃❄️
Evergreen Tree Matching Game
Specialty Evergreen Species
Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) & Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum): True evergreens. They maintain their needle-like leaves throughout the winter.
Cypresses (e.g., Monterey Cypress): Also true evergreens, keeping their scale-like foliage green all year.
The Exception – Bald Cypress / Dawn Redwood: While true redwoods and cypresses are evergreen, a close cousin—the Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) and the Bald Cypress—are actually deciduous conifers. Even though they look like evergreens with needles during the spring and summer, their needles turn a coppery-bronze color in the fall and drop completely for the winter.
Cypress in Lebanon (Lebanon Cedar / Cedrus libani): While often referred to in historical and regional contexts (and sometimes confused textually due to overlapping names like the Cyprus cedar variety), the iconic evergreen of Lebanon is the Cedar of Lebanon. It is a majestic, wide-spreading tree featuring stiff, dark green to bluish-green needle clusters and upright barrel-shaped cones.
Fall Harvest Party
Fall Leaf Cookies with natural dyes and sweeteners
Phase 2: Maple Roll-Out Cookie Dough
Replacing refined sugar with pure maple syrup requires slight adjustments to liquid and flour ratios to ensure the dough holds its shape during baking.
Prep time: 20 mins (+ 1 hour chilling)
Bake time: 8–10 mins
Yields: About 24 cookies (depending on leaf size)
Ingredients:
2.5 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened to room temperature
2/3 cup pure maple syrup (Grade A Amber or Dark Robust works best)
1 large egg (at room temperature)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions:
Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Cream Butter and Maple Syrup: In a large bowl (or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), beat the softened butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Slowly pour in the pure maple syrup and mix until fully combined (it may look slightly separated at first; keep beating until mostly smooth).
Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
Combine: Turn the mixer to low and gradually add the dry flour mixture just until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
Chill the Dough: Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour so it becomes firm enough to roll.
Roll and Cut: Preheat your oven to $350^\circ\text{F}$ ($175^\circ\text{C}$) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. On a well-floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about $\frac{1}{4}$-inch thickness. Cut out your leaf shapes using your templates or cookie cutters.
Bake: Place cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden.
Cool: Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Phase 3: Natural Fall Frosting (Natural Dyes & Chocolate)
To get vibrant fall colors without artificial food dyes, you can use natural powders or pureed ingredients mixed into a standard powdered sugar buttercream base.
Base Buttercream Ingredients:
2 cups powdered sugar
4 tbsp salted butter, softened
1–2 tbsp milk (or heavy cream)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Natural Dye Preparations:
Red: Beetroot powder, pomegranate juice
Orange: A pinch of turmeric mixed with a generous pinch of beetroot powder (adjust until you hit a warm pumpkin/orange hue), or juice from grated carrots soaked in water. Orange juice can work too.
Yellow: Pure ground turmeric (use sparingly—just a tiny pinch gives a bright golden-yellow) or saffron threads steeped in warm water.
Purple: Blueberry juice (reduce fresh blueberries down in a small saucepan) or maqui berry/acai powder.
Brown (Chocolate): Substitute 3 tbsp of the powdered sugar with unsweetened cocoa powder and add an extra splash of milk.
Instructions:
Beat the softened butter until fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon of milk, beating until smooth and spreadable (add the second tablespoon of milk if it's too thick).
Divide the white frosting into separate small bowls depending on how many colors you want to make.
Mix your natural color agents into each bowl a little bit at a time until you reach your desired autumn leaf shade.
Spread or pipe the frostings onto your cooled leaf cookies to mimic natural fall foliage (reds, oranges, yellows, purples, and rich browns
🍎 Spiced Lemon Maple Cider
A warming, aromatic autumn cider featuring a bright splash of fresh lemon and a cozy kick of whole spices.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups pure apple cider
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 1 tsp whole allspice berries
- 1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- a few multicolored or black peppercorns (to heat it up!)
- Optional: 1-2 tbsp pure maple syrup (if extra sweetness is desired)
Instructions:
- Combine: Pour the apple cider and lemon juice into a medium saucepan.
- Add Spices: Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, grated nutmeg, and black peppercorns.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, then immediately reduce the heat to low.
- Steep: Cover and let it simmer on low for 15 to 20 minutes so the spices infuse deeply.
- Strain & Serve: Strain out the whole spices, pour into cozy mugs, and enjoy warm! Pinkies up, please!
Books about Fall Leaves and Trees for the Omschool Cozy Corner story time
Here is a wonderful selection of beautiful picture books and stories about fall, harvest, changing leaves, and trees to enjoy with your cider and cookies.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
A classic, poignant story about the deep, enduring bond and unconditional generosity between a growing boy and an apple tree throughout the stages of life.
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
A visually stunning book where fall leaves whipped by the wind transform into ducks, chickens, cows, and eventually a "Leaf Man" traveling across the countryside.
We're Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger
A fun, adventurous seasonal twist on the classic refrain, following kids as they hike through forests and forests of colorful oak, maple, and pine leaves.
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson
A heartwarming tale about a sweet little fox who worries about his favorite tree as it loses all its leaves, only to discover the magical beauty of winter frost.
The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger
A gentle, reassuring story about a little yellow leaf that is hanging on tight to its oak branch, hesitant to let go and join the autumn flutter until it finds the courage to take the leap.
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
An educational and vibrant celebration of a sugar maple tree's life cycle, from a tiny seed in the nursery to a glorious backyard canopy of autumn color.
Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel
A touching, humorous family story told as a letter to a beloved backyard tree, celebrating all the memories, climbs, swings, and seasons shared together.
The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia
Oh, one last thing! Be sure to write a poem about your nature adventures!
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