Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Let's Celebrate Arbor Day - April 27th!

Great activity for Arbor Day and all-year round!!

Adopt a Tree
In this activity, children “adopt” a tree, deepening their awareness of individual trees over time and encouraging a greater understanding and appreciation of their local environment.

Doing the Activity

The next time you are on a walk in a familiar area, invite children to choose a particular tree to observe. Suggest they become better acquainted with it by using their senses of sight, touch, hearing, and smell to describe the tree. Encourage critical thinking by asking:

Is this tree alive? How do you know?

How is this tree similar to and/or different from other trees around it?

How does this tree help the environment around it?

Complete the Adopt a Tree Journal Entry below. Revisit this tree on a regular basis throughout the year and in a variety of weather conditions. Have children guess reasons for the changes they see and then predict changes for the future.

Adopt a Tree Journal Entry My Adopted Tree

Date:________________Time:_____________

Location:______________________________

Describe the tree_______________________

_____________________________________

What color is the bark?___________________

Why did you choose this tree?_____________

_____________________________________

What type of tree is it?___________________

Draw a picture of your tree or use a crayon or pencil to complete a leaf or bark rubbing.

Adapted from Activity 21: Adopt a Tree from Project Learning Tree’s PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide.


How many seasonal signs can you find?

Spring
Bursting buds
Emerging insects
Ice-free lakes
Birds preparing nests
Fall
Leaf color change
Fallen leaves
Bird migration
Colder temperatures
Summer
Ripe berries
Lightning bugs(fireflies)
Thunderstorms
Longer days
Winter
Bare branches
Animal tracks in the snow
Visible animal homes
Shorter days

Adopt a Tree booklet for kids available. Email jswerczek2@unl.edu and put Tree Booklet in subject line. A template will be sent electronically.

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