Why Do Leaves Change Color in Autumn?

For 4-5s on an autumn walk: why leaves turn gold - the tree stops making green so hidden yellows and oranges finally show. The cold did not paint them.

Ages 4-5 - 2 minute lesson - curious - EN

Reviewed for child-safety · gentle by design · How our stories are made

Published 2026-09-07T16:20:42.256041

Lesson cover for Why Do Leaves Change Color in Autumn?

Quick answer

Your child learns that leaves are green because of a green food-making color, and in autumn the tree stops making green so the yellows and oranges hiding underneath finally show — the cold did not paint them.

Lesson

Why Do Leaves Change Color in Autumn?

Mila crunches down the path. Wait — the whole park turned gold and orange! Yesterday it was green. 'Who painted all the trees?' she wonders.

All summer, the leaves are green. That is because they are full of green food-color, making yummy food from sunshine — like tiny green kitchens.

But now the days grow short and cool. The tree is getting ready to rest for winter. So it slowly stops making the green. The green begins to fade, like a curtain sliding open.

Look at this leaf — half green, half not. When the green slides all the way away, what color do you think will be left?

Orange and yellow! They were hiding under the green the whole time. The green goes, the gold shows!

And the bright reds? The tree makes those fresh in autumn, like a little goodbye gift. Mila leaps into a crunchy leaf pile. The green goes, the gold shows!

Lesson scenes

The Park Turned Gold

Mila crunches down the path. Wait — the whole park turned gold and orange! Yesterday it was green. 'Who painted all the trees?' she wonders.

Mila crunches down the path. Wait — the whole park turned gold and orange! Yesterday it was green. 'Who painted all the trees?' she wonders.

Little Green Kitchens

All summer, the leaves are green. That is because they are full of green food-color, making yummy food from sunshine — like tiny green kitchens.

All summer, the leaves are green. That is because they are full of green food-color, making yummy food from sunshine — like tiny green kitchens.

Getting Ready to Rest

But now the days grow short and cool. The tree is getting ready to rest for winter. So it slowly stops making the green. The green begins to fade, like a curtain sliding open.

But now the days grow short and cool. The tree is getting ready to rest for winter. So it slowly stops making the green. The green begins to fade, like a curtain sliding open.

Half Green, Half Not

Look at this leaf — half green, half not. When the green slides all the way away, what color do you think will be left?

Look at this leaf — half green, half not. When the green slides all the way away, what color do you think will be left?

Hiding All Along

Orange and yellow! They were hiding under the green the whole time. The green goes, the gold shows!

Orange and yellow! They were hiding under the green the whole time. The green goes, the gold shows!

A Crunchy Leaf Pile

And the bright reds? The tree makes those fresh in autumn, like a little goodbye gift. Mila leaps into a crunchy leaf pile. The green goes, the gold shows!

And the bright reds? The tree makes those fresh in autumn, like a little goodbye gift. Mila leaps into a crunchy leaf pile. The green goes, the gold shows!

Mini quiz

  • Why are summer leaves green?
  • When the green goes away, what shows?

Read-together tip

Pause on each picture and ask what changed.