Exploring the Secret Life of Trees is designed to help 3rd – 5th grade students gain an appreciation of trees, observe trees in their everyday lives, and develop an interest in discovering more about trees. It is intended for adults to work with children to explore the secret life of trees.
If you complete our online request form, we will send you a poster for your classroom featuring 'Exploring the Secret Life of Trees.'
Students will be able to:
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Here are additional activity ideas for you to use in your classroom to help children continue to explore the secret life of trees.
Mix red ink with water in a jar or clear glass vase. Stand a stick of celery in it and watch and see what happens over a 24-48 hour period. The stalk and leaves should turn pink. We can compare this activity to how water is carried throughout a tree.
You will need a sheet of paper and a big, dark colored crayon. Lay the paper on top of the bark of a tree’s trunk and gently rub all over the paper with the crayon. Try to get rubbings from different types of trees and compare the results. Students can keep a notebook of their findings.
Collect leaves from as many different types of trees as you can. Place the leaves on paper and press them between two heavy books. You may want to pile additional books on top of each other to add extra weight.
Collect branches with leaf scars from different trees. Compare and discuss the differences. Make an exhibit or bulletin board display of all the different leaf scars the students find.
To show the parts of the trunk, take different sizes of cans and paper tubes and color them to reflect the phloem, cambium, xylem and heartwood. Place the tubes around each other to build your own tree trunk.
Plant a tree to celebrate Arbor Day or to simply celebrate the importance of trees in our environment and our world.
Find a log or a tree that has been cut down at the trunk and count the rings. Each ring represents one year of life for the tree. Compare the age of the tree to the students.
Use a tape measure or yardstick and string to outline how much space in the classroom would be taken up if you were to store a cord of wood. Students can hold the string from end to end to demonstrate the length, width, and height of a cord of wood. You can then call your local home supply store and investigate the cost of a cord of wood.
Brainstorm and list everything in the classroom that has been made from trees. You will be surprised how many things we use each and every day that come from trees. The students can do the same activity at home.
Make a wall mural of the four seasons of a tree.
Design a postage stamp to celebrate trees or the seasons. Place the stamps together on the wall to create a mural or quilt.