A hands-on chromatography lesson brings science to the magic of changing autumn leaves. After collecting plant samples, young scientists use paper strips, two liquids, and coffee filters to separate the pigments, then match their print with the puzzle pieces.

Concepts

chromatography, pigments, autumn, fall, fall leaves

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Additional Tags

autumn colors activity, chromatography, colors in nature, leaf colors experiment, pigments, plant colors, science

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Classroom Considerations

• Liquid is flammable so safety precautions are mandatory
• Lesson is designed for autumn but useful at any point in the year