To Meet A Tree For The First Time …

1. To Meet A Tree For The First Time… By: Jessica Schneider

2. Objectives…

3. Concepts: • Trees are perennial—a plant that lives through three or more seasons. • Trees are plants with trunks that are long and woody. • Every tree is unique—no two trees are exactly alike.

4. Principles: • Perennial plants, like trees, stay alive for many years and you can see them all year long. They don't die after one year or one season like. • Some trees have needles, some have leaves. • Many trees grow one type of fruit that they only produce once a year during a certain season.

5. Principles: • Trees are not just scenery, they are of great import to us for many reasons. Some supply us with fruits and nuts for food, some with the wood we use to build things, and every tree is important because it produces oxygen for us to breathe. • Many different animals and birds depend on trees for food and some even make their homes in them too!

6. Some Facts On Trees: • Trees need sunlight, water, and soil to grow and live. • All trees have roots, trunks, branches and stems, and some kind of leaf or needle. • Some trees lose their leaves or some of their needles every year. But some trees with needles stay green all year long.

7. Skills That Will Be Used: • Creating observations and comparisons • Making independent conclusions • Communicating observations and results with other students

8. Materials: • A tree for every child or pair of children. • Pencils, crayons, or colored markers. • Drawing paper and something to put paper on so you can draw and write outside. • Clear contact paper.

9. Safety and Precautions: • Weather conditions may vary so be prepared.

10. Procedure and Activity…

11. Introduction To Activity: • Ask children the following questions as guidelines into the lesson:

12. Introduction: Have you ever met a tree?Listen as children share the kinds of trees they have "met" - trees they have at home, have climbed, have swung beneath on a swing or have planted. Lead discussion to basic ideas about trees, such as what they offer and provide for us.

13. Introduction Continued: What are some of the characteristics of trees?Lead the discussion into the idea that no two trees are exactly alike, just as no two people (or snowflakes) are just alike. Some of the characteristics of trees include:

14. Introduction Continued: • What is a trees outside appearance look like? (For example, size, leaves or needles, shape, size, and color of leaves, etc...). • How do people use the trees around them? (Eat maple syrup, nuts, enjoy the flowers or just sit under then for shade).

15. Introduction To Activity: Today, I am going to introduce you to a tree and you will become a scientist who observes and studies this tree to try to learn what special features it has. Then you are going to draw and write about your tree so you can present it to others.

16. Intro To Activity: Make observations like a scientist - check it out!Carefully study the whole tree with your eyes, from the tip top to the very bottom next to the ground! What kind of branches does it have, needles or leaves? Any animals in your tree?

17. Intro To Activity: Look to see what its physical features are. Is its trunk smooth or rough? Are the branches long and willowy or short and stumpy? Are there leaves or needles? What exactly do the leaves or needles look like? Do you see any flowers, nuts, pine cones or other things growing? Do any animals use the tree or even live in the tree?

18. Intro To Activity… • As we get ready to venture outside and introduce ourselves to a treebriefly explain what we are going to do with our trees. • Explain the following:

19. Activity: Document your observations like a scientist. Make a bark rubbing. Make a rubbing of a leaf or needle. Draw a picture of a leaf, taking special note of the pattern of its "veins."

20. Activity Continued: Draw a picture of any animals you might visiting or living in the tree. Take samples of leaves, needles, and twigs and seal them in between two pieces of the clear contact paper.

21. Activity Continued: Give children all the materials needed for the activity. Have them share what they found out about their tree with the rest of the class. Go outdoors and let children discover their trees.

22. Activity Continued: Children may need some extra time to write down their observations. Remember to give them time to practice their presentation contain the sharing of their drawings, rubbings, contact-paper-sealed samples and writings.

23. Evaluation: When you are back in the classroom ask the students what some of the characteristics or features of different trees are. Let students do their presentations.

24. To Extend Your Knowledge of Trees Use the Following Resources: • The wonderful world of trees • Different types of trees • Real trees 4 kids! • Trees forever organization