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