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Leaf Stained Glass Sun Catcher

© Peggy Hoehne

All spring and summer, the leaves on the trees [5323_030918_108173.thl]have been helping to supply food to the tree. This process takes place in tiny cells in the leaf. These cells contain chlorophyll, which is the pigment that makes the leaf look green. It also contains yellow or orange carotenoids, which are the same pigments that give the carrot its orange color. Until fall, we don't see the yellow and orange because there is more green coloring.

In the fall, as daylight hours grow shorter and temperatures start to fall, the leaves stop making food. When this happens, the chlorophyll breaks down, the green color begins to disappear and the yellow and orange colors are easier to see.

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Other changes are happening at the same time. These changes may cause other pigments to form. These additional pigments may vary from yellow to red to blue. The reason trees have different color leaves in the fall is because of the mixing of different amounts of the green chlorophyll and other colored pigments in the leaf.

Some types of trees will turn color before others. Each type will change at about the same time each year. Certain trees tend to turn mostly red, or mostly yellow. Look at the trees in your area. Which ones turn color first? Which ones are yellow? Orange? Red or purple?

Leaf Stained Glass

[5323_030918_108160.thl] Supplies:
Black construction paper
Wax paper
Crayons or crayon pieces in fall colors
Glue
Scissors
Iron (requires adult supervision)

Directions:
Cut Black construction paper into two 5" x 5" squares.
[wc196.thl] Cut a leaf shape from the center of the two squares while holding them together. You may want to place your leaf shape at a diagonal, so that when you hang it the construction paper border is diamond shaped.
Shave crayon bits in fall colors. You may want to use more than one color for each leaf.
Place the crayon shavings between two pieces of wax paper and press with a warm iron until the crayon colors melt.

Cut the wax paper to fit inside the edges of the construction paper frame.
To assemble the window, place one square of construction paper on the table and glue your wax paper glass to that square. Then place the second square over the first square making sure your leaf pattern matches up and glue the two squares together.
[nat00124.thl] Put a small hole in the upper corner and run a thread through. Use a small suction cup with a hook to hang your project in a window.

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