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Mystery on the Leaves

Activity

What Are Galls?

Look closely at leaves and branches around you. Can you spot any strange bumps or swellings? These are galls – tiny homes that insects make inside plants! Count how many different shapes and sizes you find.

Science Seed

At Palmer Elementary, you can find galls on plants like mesquite trees, oaks, or local shrubs. Galls are little bumps or swellings that form when insects, like wasps or aphids, lay their eggs in the plant’s leaves or stems. The plant responds by creating a protective bubble around the eggs. These galls can be different shapes and sizes, but they usually don’t hurt the plant. Instead, they create a safe place for the insects to grow. Galls are also important for the environment because they provide food and shelter for insects, showing how complex the relationship between plants and insects can be.

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

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join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

This project was made possible by HEB.