Core Knowledge Foundation
Cycles in Nature Tell It Again!™ Read-Aloud Anthology
A read-aloud anthology offers stories all about nature's life cycles. Over three weeks, second graders listen to and discuss tales about the cycles of daytime, nighttime, seasons, plants, trees, frogs, butterflies, and water. Following...
National Wildlife Federation
What is DBH?
When measuring the circumference of a tree, does it matter how high you place the measuring tape? Most scholars have never considered this question, but scientists know that measurement techniques must be standardized. The 13th...
PBS
Terrific Trees
Engage in a shady activity to practice measurement techniques. Classes venture outside to collect measurements of various trees, using different strategies to measure the height, trunk circumference, width, and crown size. Then they...
University of Florida
A Walk in the Woods
Take class members on a field trip to the forest without leaving the classroom. Scholars learn content-related vocabulary and factors affecting forest health with class discussions and during a presentation. Scientists combine forestry...
Purdue University
Tree Talk
Examining tree rings shows more than just age. The third installment of a five-part Family Nature Program unit has learners examine all parts of trees including tree rings to tell stories about the life of the tree. They then use their...
National Wildlife Federation
Branching Out – Exploring Dendrochronology
Tree rings from North America give a continuous history of El Nino intensity over the last 1,100 years. Scholars learn how scientists use tree rings to create timelines demonstrating variations in weather patterns. The cumulative...
Berkshire Museum
Adopt a Schoolyard Tree
Help young scientists connect with nature and learn about trees with a fun life science lesson. Heading out into the school yard, children choose a tree to adopt, taking measurements, writing descriptions, and drawing sketches of it in...
Curated OER
Learning About Trees
After looking at pictures of trees, discussing tree growth, and identifying the parts of a tree, lead your class on a nature walk and have them collect samples and record their observations. They then work in pairs to polish the...
Curated OER
Mistletoes Math Investigation
This math investigation has kids consider the branch growth of a Mistletoe tree. They use imput tables to determine branch growth per year. Cool way to warm up when it's cold outside.
Curated OER
Tree Birthdays
Students investigate the growth of trees. In this tree growth lesson, students discover that trees make a ring each year they live. Students use new voabulary such as bark, phloem, and cambuim to talk about tree parts. Students create a...
Curated OER
Forest Succession
Students research environmental change and why forests cannot stay the same for long. In this environmental growth lesson, students discuss the life cycle of a tree and examine tree cookies to discover the age of these specimens....
Curated OER
Please the Trees, But Not These, Please!
Students study trees. In this forestry lesson, students complete a variety of activities where they learn the basic parts of a tree and their functions.
Curated OER
Sawing Away
Students examine tree rings. In this tree ring lesson, students analyze the rings of fallen trees. Students discuss factors that influence tree growth.
Curated OER
It's All in the Rings
Students examine how the environment influences tree growth. In this tree instructional activity, students analyze the growth of rings to see how plants adjust to adverse conditions in order to survive.
Curated OER
Tree Growth
Students fill in a diagram. In this tree growth lesson, students view a model of a tree, learn how trees grow and explore the layers of a tree. Students complete a diagram where they label the layers of a tree.
Curated OER
Let's Start Growing
Students investigate how a tree grows from a seed. In this plant biology instructional activity, students use potting soil, tree seeds, and a paper cup to observe seeds growing into plants. Students record observations in their science...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Shape of Trees: The Frustration Principle
This series of images shows the work of biologist Karl Niklas on the adaptations and evolution of plants. From The Evolutionary Biology of Plants.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Time and Cycles: Dendrochronology
Students explore the direct impact of climate on annual tree growth patterns by using pre-marked paper strips to simulate tree-ring core samples.
Other
Montreal Botanical Garden: Trees Inside Out
A comprehensive resource on trees, covering many topics, including growth, needs, diversity, and identification. There is a section profiling botanists who work at this arboretum, and another where the public can present questions to the...
Utah Education Network
Uen: Tree Cookie Combat
Understand what trees need to live and grow in the environment.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: How Old Is That Tree?
One of the best ways to learn about a tree is to look at its annual rings. Tree rings show patterns of change in the tree's life as well as changes in the area where it grows. In this lesson, learners will trace environmental changes...
Environmental Education for Kids
Eek!: Tree Trivia! Can You Pass This Test?
This site provides a fun and challenging trivia quiz. Will test your knowledge of trees. Grades 4-8.