Tree Related Activities for After-School Odyssey Program Students

Date: February 23rd, 2006

Time: 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Instructor: Emily Ewart, Resource Specialist for Meeteetse Conservation District

 I will use the lesson plan (in blue)  "My Life As A Tree" By - Judy Altheide

However, I will probably use a real tree cookie instead of a poster and will have bark samples, tree roots, leaves, and buds for the children to examine. I will also provide magnifying glasses and have 2 handouts on tree anatomy (parts of a tree) for the children to complete. We can also talk about how drought years are illustrated in tree rings and important uses of trees (windbreaks, animal habitat etc.). Materials needed (paper plates, crayons and stickers) will be provided for the children to make their own “life as a tree” plate.

Objectives:
-- TLW identify and explain the significance of a tree's annual rings
-- TLW recognize and define the importance of the bark, cambium, and the heartwood of a tree
-- TLW create a model of their own "life as a tree," and explain it to their classmates.

Set:
Does anyone know the purpose of the bark on a tree? Does anyone know what the words cambium and heartwood mean? Has anyone ever seen the "rings" inside of a tree? Does anyone know what a tree's "rings" represent? Today we will learn the meaning and importance of these parts of a tree.

Instruction:
TTW explain the significance of the bark (protects tree), cambium (helps tree make new bark), and the heartwood (supports tree on the inside).
TTW utilize a poster to show these 3 layers
TTW ask and answer any questions to check for comprehension.
TTW explain one significance of the annual rings on a tree. (tell its age)
TTW show the students how to properly count a tree's rings in order to calculate its age. (Count only the dark or light shades not all of the shades)
TLW count the number of rings on a tree cookie.
TTW ask and answer any questions to check for comprehension.
TTW give each student a paper plate, and brown, red, and green crayons.
TTW instruct the students to color the bumpy outside part of the plate brown, just like the bark on a tree.
TLW draw a green circle around the plate to represent the cambium.
TLW draw a red heart symbol in the center of the plate to represent the heartwood.
TTW ask and answer any questions to check for comprehension.
TTW tell each child to put the same number of rings as their age on the plate.
TTW will give each child a pencil and 2 sticky labels.
TLW place the label beside at least two important events in their life-birth, when started school, learned how to ride a bike etc.
TLW share their life as a tree with their classmates.

Closure:
What did we learn today? What are the three parts of a tree? What do these parts do for a tree? What do the rings inside of a tree tell us?

Assessment:
TLW identify and describe the three parts of a tree by pointing to them on a poster.
TLW tell what the annual rings of a tree are and point to them on a poster.
TLW show and explain their "My Life As A Tree" plate to their classmates.