How Do I
Arbor Day
Objective:
Children will learn about trees through stories and hands-on science activities.
Grade Level: K-2 and 3-5
Books:
Grades K-2
We Planted a Tree
Simple text reveals the benefits of planting a single tree, both to those who see it grow and to the world as a whole.
Grades 3-5
Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story of Africa
This true story of Wangari Maathai, environmentalist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, is a shining example of how one woman's passion, vision, and determination inspired great change.
Return to the topInformational Text
Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees For Kids
Describes different kinds of trees and how to identify them, and presents the many parts of a tree, both inside and out.
Activity: Sensory Table
Examine various objects of nature; seeds, pods, leaves, buckeyes, monkey balls, and more.
Set up tables with the nature objects. Allow the children to move from one object to another in order to touch, explore and observe. Give children a picture of one of the objects. Had the children place the picture with the matching object.
Vocabulary:
bud: a small axillary or terminal protuberance on a plant, containing rudimentary foliage (leaf bud), the rudimentary inflorescence (flower bud), or both (mixed bud). or b. an undeveloped or rudimentary stem or branch of a plant.
ring: a circular or surrounding line or mark
seedling: a plant or tree grown from a seed or a tree not yet 2 feet high
arborist: a specialist in the cultivation and care of trees and shrubs, including tree surgery, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tree diseases, and the control of pests.
canopy: the highest level of branches and foliage in a forest, formed by the crowns of the tree.
chlorophyll: the green coloring in the leaves of plants that is needed to absorb energy from the sun.
photosynthesis: the synthesis of organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water (with the release of oxygen) using light energy absorbed by chlorophyll or simply defined as the process of which green plants use light to make food.
Additional Resources:
- Tree Pittsburgh
- Who Came Up With Chewing Gum? (Thinkfinity)
- If A Tree Falls In The Forest (Thinkfinity)
(identify by-products from forests used in their everyday lives; and describe several ways in which people depend on forests.) - NSTA Connection (tree ring diagram, CSI for Trees powerpoint)
