A classroom/laboratory activity to explore the possible role of climate-related environmental factors in the timing of leaf-out in plants (specifically, red maple leaf-out in New England).
In this activity, students will create graphs by using data for the timing of red maple leaf-out in New England. They will analyze these graphs and discuss the possible effect of changing spring temperatures on leaf-out.
Use this tool to help students find answers to:
- What is leaf-out?
- What are the climate-related factors that may affect leaf-out in plants?
- Which phenological events in plants could be affected by a change in the average spring temperature?
About the Tool
Tool Name | The Timing of Red Maple Leaf-out |
Discipline | Biological Sciences |
Topic(s) in Discipline | Phenology in Plants, Phenological Events in plants, Life-cycle Events in Plants, Leaf-out |
Climate Topic | Climate and the Biosphere |
Type of Tool | Classroom/Laboratory Activity |
Grade Level | High school, Undergraduate |
Location | New England, USA |
Language | English |
Translation | |
Developed by | Elissa Koskela (University of Maine Cooperative Extension), Dr. Molly Schauffler (University of Maine Climate Change Institute and RiSE Center) |
Hosted at | Signs of the Seasons: A New England Phenology Program, University of Maine Cooperative Extension |
Link | https://extension.umaine.edu/signs-of-the-seasons/resources-for-educators/red-maple-leaf-out/ |
Access | Online, Offline |
Computer Skills | Basic |