Lesson Plan

Gifts from our Trees

Subject: Science
Duration: One class period
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A lesson plan designed to prompt learners to notice the value of trees for humans, other animals, and the environment.

Objectives

To appreciate the services and products provided by trees and forests

Materials

  • A writing surface
  • White paper
  • Colored pencils or markers
  • Tape or glue
  • String
  • Tacks
  • Chalkboard or flip chart paper

Instructions

  • Begin by drawing a tree with roots, stem, and crown on a chalkboard or on a sheet of flip chart paper.
  • Now, talk with the group about the importance of trees in our daily lives. What gifts do trees give us? Write down their responses, which may include wood, firewood, fruit, medicine, bark, leaves, compost-rich soil (preventing erosion), water (promoting infiltration and transpiration), windbreaks, shade, beauty, and animals (providing habitat).
  • Assign each kid a tree, and have them draw its gifts.
  • Then ask them to hang the gifts on the appropriate part of a fictitious tree drawing you make.
  • Alternatively, instead of drawing a tree, you can select an actual tree nearby with branches low to the ground and accessible to kids. In this case, each kid would find an object that represents a tree gift and hang the object on the tree with string.

Assessment & Evaluation

Participation in project and understanding of purpose/value of trees.

Sources