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Leaf Exploration

Activity

What Makes Each One Special?

Go outside and collect a few different leaves. Look at their shapes, sizes, and colors. What do you notice? Compare them to see how they are alike or different. Each leaf has a special job to do: gathering sunlight, making food for the plant, or even helping it survive in different environments. Can you figure out what makes each leaf special?

Science Seed

Leaves are the “food factories” of the plant. They use sunlight, water, and air to make food for the plant through a process called photosynthesis. The shape and size of a leaf can tell us a lot about where the plant lives. Some leaves are thick and waxy to conserve water in hot climates, while others are broad and thin to catch as much sunlight as possible. Other leaves are prickly or taste bad to make them unappetizing to herbivores who might eat all of the leaves on a plant, preventing photosynthesis. By studying leaves, we can learn about the plant’s environment and how it survives.

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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).

Explore Sanchez Elementary

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.

Sánchez Elementary School is close to downtown on Austin’s east side. Built in 1976, the campus boasts murals by Raul Valdez depicting the school’s Hispanic history and heritage. Sánchez was one of the district’s first to introduce two-way dual language education- fitting because the school’s namesake, George Sánchez, was a pioneer in bilingual education. This project was made possible by HEB.