Week 04 · Wednesday: Plant Parts (Backyard Explorer K to 2)

Wednesday: Leaf shapes

Raven lays five leaves on the bench.

"None of them match!" Rocket says.

Raven asks, "What do you notice about the edges?"

Nova says, "Trace each one with your eyes."

Leaves come in many shapes

Leaves are not all the same.

Some leaves are round.

Some leaves are long and thin.

Some leaves have points like a star.

Some leaves have bumpy edges like teeth.

Pine trees have thin leaves called needles.

Look at the lines

Most leaves have lines on them.

The lines are called veins.

Veins carry water through the leaf.

Hold a leaf up to the light to see them.

◈ YOUR PLANT FIELD GUIDE

These are plants people see most near you.

Which ones have you seen?

#	Name	Seen most
1	London Plane Tree	Jul to Nov
2	Norway Maple	Jun to Oct
3	Callery Pear	Jul to Oct, Dec
4	Pin Oak	Jun to Nov
5	American Pokeweed	Jun to Sep
6	Red Maple	Apr to Oct
7	Poison Ivy	Apr to Jun
8	Common Milkweed	Jun to Aug
9	Garlic Mustard	Apr to May
10	Virginia Creeper	Apr to Jul

Whole United States. Names and months come from records people shared on GBIF.org. Your yard may have different neighbors.

LEAF CHECK

Read the question.
Tap your answer.

Are all leaves the same shape?

What are the lines on a leaf called?

What are pine leaves called?

Try it

Look at your field guide.
Pick one plant name you like.
Tell your grown-up its name.
Which months is it seen most? Point to them.

Safety first

Stay with your grown-up.
Pick up fallen leaves only.
Never pick a plant you do not know.
Some plants can make skin itch.
Wash your hands after.

Sentence	True or false?
Some leaves are round.	?
Some leaves have bumpy edges.	?
Every leaf is long and thin.	?
Veins carry water through the leaf.	?

WHY THIS EXERCISELeaves come in many shapes. Veins carry water.

WHICH SHAPE?

Read the question.
Tap your answer.

A leaf looks like a star. What does it have?

How can you see the veins?

What did Raven lay on the bench?

Sentence	True or false?
Pine needles are leaves.	?
Leaves have no lines on them.	?
A leaf can have a round shape.	?

WHY THIS EXERCISENeedles are thin leaves. Veins are the lines.

Look at your field guide. Draw number 1.

Word Spot: same, boy

Here are new sight words.

Look at each word. Say it. Spell it.

Same: S-A-M-E.

Boy: B-O-Y.

FIND THE WORD

Listen to the word.
Tap it.

Find the word you hear.

FILL THE GAP

Listen to the sentence.
Tap the missing word.

These two leaves are the ___.

A ___ reads a book.

You are a leaf expert!

Tomorrow you will compare big and small plants.