Deciduous

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/deciduous

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the botanical definition?The seasonal shedding of leaves, petals, or fruit
2. What is the key hormonal regulators (plants)?Ethylene (promotes shedding) and auxins (inhibit shedding)
3. What does deciduous mean for trees?Deciduous means a tree changes its leaves every year, dropping them like colorful confetti. This helps the tree survive winter by keeping its branches light and protecting its leaves from frost.
4. Why do deciduous trees drop their leaves in the fall?They drop leaves to stop losing water when the soil is frozen and to avoid heavy snow on their branches. It also lets the tree keep its energy for the next growing season.

Abscission: The natural detachment of parts from a plant, such as leaves or fruit.
Transpiration: The process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, such as leaves, stems and flowers.
Cervids: The biological family that includes deer, elk, moose, and caribou, known for their antlers.