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Celebrating FALL
Word of the Week Autumn — the season between summer and winter
Newspaper Knowledge Your newspaper will probably publish a summary of the previous week’s weather. What was the average high temperature: the average low temperature? If the temperatures were given in Fahrenheit, convert to Celsius. What was the high Celsius reading: The lowest Celsius reading? What was the precipitation in centimeters?
Leaf Facts • Leaves require sunlight, water, chlorophyll and carbon dioxide to make food for themselves. • As winter approaches, leaves make a coating for themselves which blocks their water source; in the absence of water, the leaves no longer produce chlorophyll (chlorophyll is what makes leaves green). • When the leaves turn colors in the fall, they actually are returning to their normal colors. During the summer months, the chlorophyll present in the leaves causes the leaves to turn green, blocking the leaves' actual colors. • Along with chlorophyll, leaves contain two other chemicals that cause coloring. The first is called xanthophyll, which is yellow in color. The other is carotene, which is orange in color. • Red and purple leaves are actually caused by the presence of sugars from sap that is trapped inside of the leaves. • Once the leaves have turned brown, they are dead and no longer receive any nutrients.
The Bookshelf Why Do Leaves Change Color? author: Betsey Maestro Harvest Moon author: Ralph Fletcher The Autumn Equinox author: Ellen Jackson
Write On! It’s time for our leaves to start changing colors. Take a nice day and go out collecting different colors and styles of leaves. Keep a journal on what you have found, and share it with your class.
NIE Coordinator: Dana Wolfe / Graphic Designer: Scarlett E. Smith
Fall is a beautiful time of year with crisp cool air, colorful leaves and a harvest of plentiful vegetables. But do we know the scientific reasons behind the changing of the seasons? Learn some cool facts about autumn here! A Season of Color The season of autumn can provide us with some very interesting weather and social event facts that they can use for science and social studies reports. There are many different changes that occur in the fall giving us much to learn and write about. Get your research started with these cool facts on fall. The Dates of Autumn There is no fixed time period for the season of Autumn. It can shift from year to year. This is because the earth's orbit is not perfect. Although most people are not aware of it, the first day and last day of autumn generally shift about 24 hours every year. The beginning of Fall generally falls between September 21 and September 23 depending on the year. This day is known as the fall equinox. On this day the amount of sun and the amount of night are equal, which is the same as the Spring equinox. The last day of Autumn falls on December 21 to December 23. Standing an Egg There are only two days of the year when you can stand an egg on end. One of these days falls on the first
day of autumn. To do this you will need an egg. It does not have to be hard-boiled. Place the egg on a hard flat surface on its largest end. Carefully pull your hands away and it should remain upright. This can only be done on the spring and fall equinox. Why Do Leaves Fall Off Leaves are the energy generators for plants. By using sunlight, water and carbon dioxide and chlorophyll they create food for the tree. The trees then pass oxygen into the air. The reason that the leaves change color is due to the shortening of the days. As this occurs the leaves begin to produce less chlorophyl and change color. Many people think that the leaves turn color but this is not true. The leaves are actually the colors we see in the fall. The reason that the
Leaves Word Search
leaves are green is because they are full of chlorophyll. Animals Hibernate Toward the end of the season, depending on where you live, mammals and reptiles will begin to prepare for the winter. Animals such as bears, groundhogs and other small mammals will fatten up for the long winter months. They will select a secluded place where they will be able to stay warm and dry and then sleep through cold months when food is scarce. Many cold-blooded reptiles will perform the same act. Frogs and snake will find a warm comfortable spot and sleep until the spring thaw. Certain birds are also migratory and will begin to move south as the weather cools the water and causes plants that they use as food to die off. As the lakes in the north
freeze Canadian Geese will leave their summer homes in Canada and use one of the many flight ways in the United States to reach warmer climates. It Is Not Fall All Over the World The earth is tilted on its axis and that is what gives us our traditional four seasons. It is because of this tilt that not all area's of the earth experience the autumn in the same months. In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa The months of September, October and November are actually spring. This is because the tilt of the earth causes these regions to actually be closer to the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere the sun's rays are not hitting the planet as direct as they do in the south.
2012 Green Gals Holiday Recycled Ornament Contest Rules and Regulations: 1) The ornament must be made of recyclable or reusable materials. Glue, paint, glitter, floral wire, etc. can be used, but the main emphasis of the contest is to see what can be created with recyclable or reused items. 2) Ornaments should be no more than 6”x6”x6” in size. 3) The ornament should be light in weight so it can hang on a tree. 4) The ornament must have an appropriate method to be attached to a tree (hanger.) 5) The materials cannot pose a safety hazard to the creator or those observing the ornament. Avoid the use of sharp, toxic or easily breakable materials. 6) Perishable items can’t be used. 7) A 3 x 5 card should be SECURELY attached to each ornament listing the following: A) School name & teacher name B) Student’s name and grade C) Parent’s address & phone number • Deadline: Friday, November 30th at 4 p.m. • Turn in entries at the Miami County Sanitary Eng. at 2200 N. County Rd. 25-A, Troy, OH 45373 • Call Cindy at 440-3488 for questions or email cbach@miamicountysed.com • Ornaments can be viewed or picked up after December 10th • McDonalds food wrappers can also be used to create an ornament Entries will be judged depending on number of entries received by grade levels and PRIZES for 1st, 2nd and 3rd will be awarded accordingly. All entries become the property of Sanitary Engineering, unless otherwise requested.
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