Content Area Instructional Toolbox

Tree Walk

 

The tree walk provides an exciting opportunity for the children to leave the classroom and head into the great outdoors: They will walk around the schoolyard and neighboring streets to look at and study trees. To assist with their inquiry, students will have access to tree field guides, digital cameras, tape measures, crayons, and observation journals. They will experience first hand the process that scientists use when observing and identifying trees for the first time!

 

Students will be placed into groups of two. Each pair of students will choose a tree they would like to “adopt.” After identifying the various parts of a tree discussed in class, students will collect as much information as they can about their tree through photos, bark rubbings, leaf collections, and detailed observations in their journals. The pair will work to identify their tree species using their field guides.

 

Students will also count the total number of trees on one block and based on that number, estimate the number of trees there are in the community (the teacher will provide data on the number of blocks in the community). Students can determine if the street shown is a typical street or if they should estimate higher or lower.

 

Students have the opportunity to look at other trees on their walk and make observations using their five senses. When they return to the classroom, they will get to hear about other adopted trees and experiences from their fellow classmates.

 

*If iPads are available, have students use the free app "Leaf Snap," which identifies trees by taking a picture of one of their leaves.

 

Other Option: Plant a Seedling

 

Students will be placed in groups of 3 or 4 students. Each group should have a shovel, ruler, and some water. The teacher will explain expectations when going outside and assign roles to each member of the group (for example: digger, soil observer, hole measurer, habitat observer, etc). 

 

The students will form a circle and the teacher will first demonstrate how to look around, look above for power lines, and test the soil to find a good spot. Then the teacher will remove weeds, grass and other debris from a 1-foot circle around the site. The teacher will dig a hole 6 inches across and 6 inches deep, breaking up any big chunks of soil. Next, the teacher will remove the seedling from the tube and place the roots just below the surface of the soil so that they will be completely covered. After the teacher puts the soil back in place, she will water the seedling and have students repeat the steps she just followed so that everyone is clear on instructions. 

 

Each group will set off on their own to plant their seedling. In the coming year, students will watch it grow. They can water it anytime the soil gets dry, and incorporate measuring activities, charting growth once a week. 

 

This activity not only helps students understand the science of growth and the life cycle of a tree, it allows them to feel that they have made a positive impact on the world- planting new trees helps reduce greenhouse gases, clean the air, provide oxygen, cool the city, provide food and shelter, create wood, among many other benefits.