The Secret Colors of Fall Leaves
Look up at the trees in the warm summer sun. The branches are full of bright green leaves.
Leaves have a very important job. They make sweet food to help the tree grow big and strong.
Leaves use warm sunlight, water, and air to make this food. A special green color inside the leaf helps catch the sunlight.
This green color is very bright. It is so bright that it covers up all the other colors inside the leaf!
Soon, the summer ends and autumn arrives. The air turns crisp and cool.
The days grow shorter, and the nights grow longer. The trees get much less sunshine each day.
The trees know that cold winter weather is coming soon. They must get ready to rest and save their energy.
The green color slowly starts to fade away. The leaves stop making food for the tree.
When the green fades, a wonderful surprise appears! Yellow and orange colors show up on the branches.
These bright colors were hiding in the leaves all summer long. The green was just too strong to let them show.
Some trees also trap sugar inside their leaves. This trapped sugar turns the leaves bright red and deep purple.
- autumn:
- The cool season between summer and winter when leaves change color.
- crisp:
- Pleasantly cool, fresh, and dry.
- energy:
- The power or strength needed to live and grow.
- fade:
- To slowly lose brightness or disappear.
- flutter:
- To wave or flap back and forth gently in the air.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What important job do leaves have during the summer?
- 2What three things do leaves use to make food for the tree?
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About this informational passage for Lower Elementary
“The Secret Colors of Fall Leaves” is a informational reading passage about Leaf Colors, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (261 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.