Year 1 Science: Trees that lose their leaves
Part of the Year 1 Science plants around us chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Trees that lose their leaves
A tree is a tall plant with a trunk and branches. Many trees in the UK are deciduous. This word means the tree loses all its leaves in autumn. Each tree has its own leaves.
Oak leaves have rounded, wavy lobes, and acorns grow on oak trees. Horse chestnut leaves are made of five to seven leaflets that spread out like fingers, and conkers grow in a spiky green case. Apple leaves are oval with a toothed edge, and apples grow on the tree. Sycamore leaves have five points, and its seeds spin down like helicopters. Birch has small pointed leaves and white bark that peels.
Key ideas
- A deciduous tree loses all its leaves in autumn.
- Each tree has its own leaf shape.
- Look at the leaf, its edges, and any fruit or seeds.
- Conkers and acorns are not for eating.
Method. Look for the clue that tells you which one it is.
- Look at the picture. Look at the colour, the shape and the leaves.rounded, wavy lobes on the leaf, and acorns
- Match the clue to a name. The clue tells us which one it is.oak
- Write the answer. oak
Check. Read the clue again: rounded, wavy lobes on the leaf, and acorns. ✓
Watch out. Look closely. Do not guess from the colour alone.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.oak / horse chestnut / birch
- Choose the one that matches. A horse chestnut has conkers in a spiky green case.horse chestnut
- Write the answer. horse chestnut
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.apple / sycamore / birch
- Choose the one that matches. A sycamore leaf has five points, and its winged seeds spin down like helicopters.sycamore
- Write the answer. sycamore
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Watch out
Watch out: conkers and acorns are not for eating. Do not put them, or any leaf, in your mouth. Pick them up only with a grown-up, and wash your hands afterwards.
Try it at home (with a grown-up)
Leaf sort. With a grown-up, collect four or five different leaves that have already fallen in a park or garden. Do not pick leaves from the tree. Lay them on paper and sort them into groups with similar shapes. Look at the edges: are they smooth, wavy or toothed? Wash your hands afterwards.
Working scientifically
What do you think will happen to the leaves of an oak tree in autumn? How could we find out?
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Look at a leaf together and ask, “Are the edges smooth, wavy or pointed? How many parts does it have?” Use leaves that have already fallen. Remind your child that conkers and acorns are not for eating.
Exercise 2D Naming deciduous trees by their leaves
Method. Look for the clue that tells you which one it is.
- Look at the picture. Look at the colour, the shape and the leaves.rounded, wavy lobes on the leaf, and acorns
- Match the clue to a name. The clue tells us which one it is.oak
- Write the answer. oak
Check. Read the clue again: rounded, wavy lobes on the leaf, and acorns. ✓
Watch out. Look closely. Do not guess from the colour alone.
Method. Look for the clue that tells you which one it is.
- Look at the picture. Look at the colour, the shape and the leaves.a leaf made of five to seven leaflets, and conkers
- Match the clue to a name. The clue tells us which one it is.horse chestnut
- Write the answer. horse chestnut
Check. Read the clue again: a leaf made of five to seven leaflets, and conkers. ✓
Watch out. Look closely. Do not guess from the colour alone.
Method. Look for the clue that tells you which one it is.
- Look at the picture. Look at the colour, the shape and the leaves.an oval leaf with a toothed edge, and apples
- Match the clue to a name. The clue tells us which one it is.apple
- Write the answer. apple
Check. Read the clue again: an oval leaf with a toothed edge, and apples. ✓
Watch out. Look closely. Do not guess from the colour alone.
Method. Look for the clue that tells you which one it is.
- Look at the picture. Look at the colour, the shape and the leaves.a leaf with five points, and winged seeds
- Match the clue to a name. The clue tells us which one it is.sycamore
- Write the answer. sycamore
Check. Read the clue again: a leaf with five points, and winged seeds. ✓
Watch out. Look closely. Do not guess from the colour alone.
Method. Look for the clue that tells you which one it is.
- Look at the picture. Look at the colour, the shape and the leaves.small pointed leaves and white bark that peels
- Match the clue to a name. The clue tells us which one it is.birch
- Write the answer. birch
Check. Read the clue again: small pointed leaves and white bark that peels. ✓
Watch out. Look closely. Do not guess from the colour alone.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.oak / horse chestnut / birch
- Choose the one that matches. A horse chestnut has conkers in a spiky green case.horse chestnut
- Write the answer. horse chestnut
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.acorn / apple / winged seed / conker
- Choose the one that matches. Acorns grow on oak trees.acorn
- Write the answer. acorn
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.acorn / apple / winged seed / conker
- Choose the one that matches. Apples grow on apple trees.apple
- Write the answer. apple
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.acorn / apple / winged seed / conker
- Choose the one that matches. Sycamore seeds have wings and spin down like helicopters.winged seed
- Write the answer. winged seed
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.acorn / apple / winged seed / conker
- Choose the one that matches. Conkers grow in a spiky green case on horse chestnut trees.conker
- Write the answer. conker
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.birch / oak / apple
- Choose the one that matches. A birch has white bark that peels off in thin layers.birch
- Write the answer. birch
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.sycamore / oak / birch
- Choose the one that matches. A sycamore leaf has five points, and its seed spins like a helicopter.sycamore
- Write the answer. sycamore
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.oak / holly / pine
- Choose the one that matches. An oak tree loses its leaves in autumn. Holly and pine keep their leaves.oak
- Write the answer. oak
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Compare the leaves of two different trees.
- Look at an oak leaf. An oak leaf has rounded, wavy lobes.Oak: wavy
- Look at a sycamore leaf. A sycamore leaf has five points.Sycamore: five points
- Write the answer. Each tree has its own leaf shape.No. Each tree has its own leaf shape.
Check. Look at two leaves side by side. They are different. ✓
Watch out. Leaves from different trees do not all look the same.
Method. Think about what conkers are, and what they can do to us.
- Look at a conker. A conker is a seed from a horse chestnut tree.Conker = seed
- Think about eating it. Conkers are poisonous, so they are not for eating.Poisonous
- Write the answer. Conkers are poisonous, so they are not for eating.
Check. Keep conkers for playing, and always wash your hands after touching them. ✓
Watch out. Something can look good to eat and still be poisonous.