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Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?

In Autumn, leaves change from green to red, yellow or orange. Find out the science behind it.

Fall Colors - Forest Service
Fall Foliage Dates
Why Leaves Changes Color

Autumn Leaves, Pepper Pike, Ohio

Government Sites

AirNow Students - Learn about ozone and particle pollution by viewing the animations at right. Click on "Smog City" below to see how individual choices, environmental factors and land use contribute to air pollution.

Arctic - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - This Arctic Theme Page provides access to widely distributed Arctic data and information for scientists, students, teachers, academia, managers, decision makers and the general public.

Did You Ever Wonder? - Visit the Berkley Labs and learn more about about the structure of cells, how to carve with light, how soil keeps the world in balance and much more.

Dig It! The Secrets of Soil - National Museum of Natural History - (Smithsonian Institution) - Discover the amazing world of soils with images and information.

Drinking Water & Ground Water Kids' Stuff - Choose your age group and explore these resources on our drinking water.

Drinking Water and Ground Water - Kids' Stuff Grades 4-8 - This EPA Office of Water’s web page has links to games and activities that will help you learn about drinking water.

Drinking Water Kids' Stuff - This site has great games and activities that will help you learn about drinking water.

Earth Observatory - Accompany NASA scientists as they explore our world and unravel the mysteries of our climate and environmental change.

Environment - FREE - (Department of Education) - Ecosystems, clean water, land use, environmental protection, maps, and more.

Environment and Conservation Movement - (Library of Congress) - The history of the conservation movement in America.

Environmental Studies - Smithsonian Institution - This site has a variety of resources on such topics as climate change, marine ecosystems, conservation. land habitats and more.

EPA Student Center - This site from the Environmental Protection Agency is for students in the 5th thru 8th grades. Learn about projects, careers, ecosystems and much more.

Estuaries.Gov - Students Page - (National Estuarine Research Reserve System) - Learn about basic estuarine concepts and answer questions to solve a puzzle. You can also find information about careers in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the knowledge and skills required to enter these careers, and much more.

Explorers' Club - The Environmental Protection Agency’s website allows you to explore your environment and learn about the many things you can do to protect it.

Exploring Estuaries - Estuaries are places where freshwater rivers and streams flow into the ocean, mixing with the seawater. A wide variety of birds, fish, and other wildlife make estuaries their home. Use this Web site to explore these unique environments, including some of the plants and animals that live there.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Students’ Corner - This Corner is intended to explain to students of all ages how the FERC regulates energy for the United States. There are many different things to learn about FERC, including the history and the energy industries we regulate and our commitment to the environment.

Florida - Water Matters - The Southwest Florida Water Management District offers Water Matters to help students learn how to protect of our precious water resource.

Greenhouse Effect - (Environmental Protection Agency) - The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere trap energy from the sun. Because of how they warm our world, these gases are referred to as greenhouse gases. Read more about the importance of these gases.

Habitat Adventure: Panda Challenge - In "Habitat Adventure: Panda Challenge!", you will help make decisions about a fictional forest reserve. You will use binoculars, field guides, a camera, and other tools, as well as talk to local people to help you make the best decisions.

Kids and Teens - National Agricultural Library - Do you like to eat? What's your nutrition IQ? Do you really enjoy animals? Insects too? Do you like veterinary medicine? Is engineering what you want to do? Interested in plants or ecology? Does chemistry excite you? Learn more about food and agricultural sciences.

Kids Saving Energy - (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy) - Games, tips, and facts just for kids who want to save energy!

Kids Saving Energy - Games and Activities - (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy) - Fun games and activities for kids who want to save energy.

Let’s Go Outside! - (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) - Spending family time outside is easy and fun. Whether it is your own backyard, a local community park or a national wildlife refuge, there are lots of outdoor places you can visit. It's time to reconnect with our environment.

NASA for Kids Only - Earth Science Enterprise - This NASA kids site brings the world into your playroom. Listen to an earthquake's rumble. Look into the eye of a hurricane. Find out why the wind blows. Visit storms up close. Play games. The kids' quizzes here feature sound effects. Flashy graphics and well-written text make complicated science kid-friendly. Guarantee: If a child spends at hour at this site, she'll learn a few things most adults don't know.

National Ocean Service Education Page - (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) - This site teaches you about our environment and the ocean. Learn about nautical charts, estuaries, pollution and more. There's also a section for teachers with lesson plans and professional development.

National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration - Research - The goal of the site is to provide middle school science students and teachers with research and investigation experiences using on- line resources.

National Zoo - Visit the online exhibits, or take a tour and learn about the plants, animals and people of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

NationalAtlas.gov - Make interactive maps within your web browser! This program allows you to make your own maps. Select, change, and display map layers. Roam across America and zoom in to reveal more detail. Point at map features to learn more about them. Locate and map more than 2,000,000 geographic names in the United States. New map layers are added each month.

Natural Inquirer - (Forest Service) - This journal was created so that scientists can share their research with middle school students. Each article tells you about scientific research conducted by scientists in the USDA Forest Service. All of the research in this journal is concerned with nature, trees, wildlife, insects, outdoor activities and water.

Protect the Planet Promise - National Zoo - (Smithsonian) - Think about the things you do every day. You can help the planet just by making wise choices. Complete this list, sign the bottom, and post it in your home or classroom as a reminder of your promise to save the planet!

Recycle City - There's lots to do here - people and places to visit and plenty of ways to explore how the city's residents recycle, reduce, and reuse waste.

Sand and Gravel Program - Kid Connection - Here are several projects and experiments to learn about erosion and sedimentation, and see it in action.

Science Resources - USGS - (Geological Survey) - Learn about Biology, Geology, Geography and water.

Sewage In Your Face - (City of San Diego) - Sewage in Your Face! is a laugh-out-loud exploration of wastewater treatment. In this virtual science classroom, this site gives kids the opportunity to be a plumber and take a treatment plant tour - all while learning about the importance of a clean and healthy environment.

Smart Energy Use for Kids - (Department of Energy) - This site is a great a portal for energy and science education. The material is by subject matter, with other resources for teachers. Oodles of energy dictionaries and glossaries are also available.

The Water Cycle - This site is the most comprehensive Web site about "The Water Cycle" anywhere. It features a wonderful diagram of the natural water cycle and an in-depth discussion of each of the 15 topics on the diagram. And, the diagram is available in over 52 languages!

Water Drops: Science Fun for Kids in the Water Environment - This site has a collection of fun facts, games, and projects for kids to learn about our water environment. Each issue will have a different theme, although all material will relate to the science of water pollution and clean water.

Water Science for Schools - This site offers information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive center where you can give opinions and test your water knowledge.

WaterLife: Where Rivers Meet the Sea - (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) - An interactive story based on the estuarine environment introduces what the estuary is, its diverse ecosystems, tidal influences, restoration efforts, marine debris, and personal responsibility and care for environment.

What's Up With Our Nation's Water? - Learn about our nation's water supply, how the quality of water is determined, what is measured, what ground water is, get ideas for science projects and more.

Your Environment. Your Choice. - (Environmental Protection Agency) - You make choices every day that affect the environment: Do I throw away this notebook paper? What do I pack in my lunch? This site enables to make environmentally sound choices about the products and natural resources you use, the waste you create and the environment in which you live.

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Other Resources

Alliance to Save Energy Kids Page - It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, you can help your parents reduce home energy use, which helps save money and the environment. Learn how with fun stories, videos, games, and much more.

Earth 911 - For Students - It’s never to early to learn about the environment. Get schooled in some of the most talked about environmental topics.

EurekAlert! Science News and Resources for Kids - The EurekAlert! Science for Kids Portal is a central, online source for kid-friendly news and resources.

Fuel Our Future - Middle School Students - Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to learn everything you can about car design, environmental impact, energy efficiency and alternative fuels.

Hands on Nature from the BBC - Discover Nature activities and explore wildlife habitats in Great Britain.

Handy’s Little Helpers - Learn about the three R’s (recycling, reduction and reuse) and how important they are to the environment. This section also provides information on two very important issues: water conservation and how to dispose of your electronics.

Homework Help - National Geographic - Check out this page for information, or search One-Stop Research for pictures, articles, maps, and more on subjects like animals, history and science - perfect for reports, presentations, and more!

I Buy Different - Your buying choices make a difference and can send a message to companies. By buying differently, you can tell corporations that there’s a better way—one that uses less water, trees, and fossil fuels; decreases air and water pollution; and protects wildlife habitat.

Learning Adventures - Browse through and learn some amazing science facts! Find out about the Woolly Mammoth, oceans, Cleopatra's Palace and much more!

PBS Point of View Borders - Environment - Explore more about air, water, and earth and learn more about what is happening to our environment.

Science - New York Times - Explore science in depth or search by subject. Also view slideshows.

Shedd Aquarium - Waters of the World - Dive to the ocean floor and wade through a wetland. Visit rivers big and small and explore a Great Lake.

Smog City - Visit this website and take the smog city visitors’ tour guide. Learn about ozone, the air quality index, and what you can do to prevent air pollution.

Space & Science - National Geographic Kids - Learn what you can do to protect the Earth, animals, and resources. And find out why it's important to plant native plants in your garden.

Tennessee - TVA Kids - Learn all about the Tennessee Valley Authority, or TVA and how you can help protect the environment with this interactive site.

The Green Squad - This site teaches kids about the relationship between their schools and environmental and health issues.

The Greens - A site for kids about looking after the planet.

The Kids Green Toolkit - It’s your planet, too. You can make small changes every day that can add up to big changes for the future.

The WHY Files - The Why Files cover issues of science, health, environment and technology from a unique perspective. Using news and current events as a springboard to explore science and the larger issues it raises, we hope to show science as a human enterprise and a way of looking at the world.

Ways of Knowing Trail - Take an interactive journey with 4 teens to explore a forest.

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Page Revised - 10/30/2009

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