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Overview: Students make, record, and discuss observations and uses of a tree.
Booklink: Once There was a Tree by Natalia Romanova, Puffin Books, 1983. ISBN 0-14-054677-4
Science Activity Link: Children choose a tree and make and record a variety of observations of the tree.
Objective: Students use their senses to make and record observations of a particular tree. Students make both qualitative and quantitative observations as well as inferences about their tree.
Science Processes and Content: Processes-observing, inferring, measuring, communicating, classifying, gathering, recording, and interpreting data. Content-the characteristics of organisms, parts of a tree, organisms and the environment, distinguishing between natural objects and objects made by humans, types of resources, changes in the environment, and science as a human endeavor
National Science Education Standards: Unifying Concepts and Processes, (1) Science as Inquiry, (3) Life Science, (5) Science and Technology, (6) Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, (7) History and Nature of Science
Materials: "My First Field Guide to Trees", magnifying lenses, measuring tapes, pencils, paper, crayons, book Once There was a Tree.
Procedure:
1. Distribute "My First Field Guide to Trees" to the students.
2. Take students outdoors and either have them select a tree or assign each child to a tree.
3. Direct students to make observations and record findings in their field guides. Have them observe and describe the tree, its bark, leaves, branches, and roots (if visible). What are the colors in the tree? What does it feel like? What does it smell like? What are its unique features?
4. You may wish to have your students measure the tree, e.g. How many hands around is it?, How many footsteps around?, How many centimeters around? How long is the tree's shadow (in steps or meters)? Have them estimate how tall the tree is. The children can record and discuss their data.
5. Other tree projects: a) have the children use natural materials to make a picture of their tree, b) have them make a bark rubbing from different trees and compare them, c) have the children collect a variety of leaves (if you wish, they can be pressed and dried between pages in a catalog or newspaper for later use) to observe, describe, measure, and classify into group by leaf properties-color, size, shape, texture, vein patterns, edge patterns, etc.
6. Discuss information in the "My First Field Guide to the Trees."
7. Have the children list and discuss what trees are used for by people and in the natural environment. Now read and discuss the book, Once There was a Tree.
Related Books:
Trees by Ruth Thompson, Usborne First Nature Books, 1980, 1990. ISBN 0-86020-473-1
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry, Trumpet Club, 1990. ISBN 0-590-98068-8
A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry, Harper Collins Publishers, 1956. ISBN 0-06-443147-9
The Big Tree by Bruce Hiscock, Boyds Mills Press, 1991. ISBN 1-56397-810-5
I Am a Leaf by Jean Marzollo, Scholastic, Inc., 1998. ISBN 0-590-64120-4
Look What I Did with a Leaf by Morteza E. Sohi, Walker and Company, 1993. ISBN 0-8027-7440-7
The Tremendous Tree Book by Barbara Brenner and May Garelick, Boyds Mills Press, 1928, 1955. ISBN 1-56397-718-4
Why Do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro, Harper Collins Publishers, 1994. ISBN 0-06-445126-7
Apple Tree by Barrie Watts, Silver Burdett Press, 1986. ISBN 0-382-24339-0
How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro, Harper Collins Publishers, 1992. ISBN 0-06-445177-8
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, Harper Collins Publishers, 1964. ISBN 0-06-025665-6
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