Tremendous Trees Activities -- PreK-2

Pre Visit

Suggested reading –  The Lorax by Dr. Seuss; The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Key words – tree, forest, habitat, recycle, evergreen, leaves, trunk, branches, roots, bark

Activity: Leaf rubbings Collect leaves from different trees in the schoolyard or park. Using unwrapped crayons, place white paper over a leaf and rub crayon to create a leaf print. Discuss different shapes of leaves, structure of leaves. Use a tree field guide and see if you can identify each leaf. Don’t forget evergreen needles, which are leaves.

Post Visit

Activity: Adopt-A-Tree Find a tree near the school  and start observation and keep a journal of it’s changes over time. - Draw a picture of your tree and find out what kind it is. - Look for signs of animals living in or around your tree. - Write a poem about your tree. - Draw pictures and watch for changes through the seasons.

Tremendous Trees Activities -- Grades 3-5

Pre Visit

Key words – hardwoods, softwoods, deciduous, evergreen, phloem, cambium, sapwood, heartwood.

Activity: Measure a tree You will need a tape measure, paper and pencil, a yardstick, a tree field guide. Kids can work in groups for this. There are three measurements of the tree: §         Circumference – measure the distance around the trunk at 4 ½ feet from the ground with a measuring tape. §         Height – face the tree, hold a yardstick out vertically with your arm straight. Walk back until you can see the base of the tree by looking over your fist. The distance from your eye to the yardstick should be the same as the distance from your hand to the end of the top of the yardstick. Measure the distance between you and the tree – this is the height! §         Crown Spread – This is the distance the branches spread out around a tree’s trunk. First find the branch that sticks out the farthest from the trunk. Stand directly under the tip of the branch. Do the same on the other side of the tree. (Different child) Both children step out from under the tree at an equal distance and measure the distance between them. Follow the same steps for the branches closest to the tree. Add the 2 distances, divide by 2 – this is your crown spread! Follow-up Find the biggest tree in the schoolyard. Have a contest to find the biggest tree in town. Research sizes of trees with field guides. Locate a copy of the National Register of Big Trees by the American Forestry Association.

Post Visit

Activity: Recycle paper Saving paper = saving trees! You can recycle paper yourself. You need used office paper, water, colored construction paper, a household blender, window screen, duct tape, big square containers for holding water and pulp, newspapers, sponges. -Make paper screens out of screen material to desired size, trimmed with duct tape. -Find a table with plenty of room where it is OK to spill a little water. -Fill a big square container half full of water. -Tear used office paper into approximately 1 inch squares. (Don’t be fussy) -Fill the blender loosely with paper bits. Add a few  bits of colored construction paper. Fill empty spaces with water. -Blend to a pulp. -Pour pulp into water container. -Put screen into container. Use both hands and strain water through screen until you have a layer of pulp on top. -Flip screen and pulp over (pulp side down) onto a piece of newspaper. Sponge off excess water until you can see the paper separating from the screen. Pull the screen up gently. -Your paper will dry over night. Just peel it off the newspaper in the morning and marvel at your craftiness! -Make paper screens out of screen material to desired size, trimmed with duct tape. -Find a table with plenty of room where it is OK to spill a little water. -Fill a big square container half full of water. -Tear used office paper into approximately 1 inch squares. (Don’t be fussy) -Fill the blender loosely with paper bits. Add a few  bits of colored construction paper. Fill empty spaces with water. -Blend to a pulp. -Pour pulp into water container. -Put screen into container. Use both hands and strain water through screen until you have a layer of pulp on top. -Flip screen and pulp over (pulp side down) onto a piece of newspaper. Sponge off excess water until you can see the paper separating from the screen. Pull the screen up gently. -Your paper will dry over night. Just peel it off the newspaper in the morning and marvel at your craftiness!