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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Creation of Dichotomous Keys From a Bio Blitz

For Teachers 6th - 8th
An outdoor lab where students investigate the environment and decide a method of survey to identify trees in their area. To finish the exercise they will create a dichotomous key of the ten they identified.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Minnesota Tree Blitz

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This activity serves as an introduction to tree identification and helps students learn about the natural world around them. While exploring trees of Minnesota, students will recognize biodiversity of trees and learn how to observe,...
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Activity
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: A Student Produced Field Guide to Neighborhood Trees

For Students 9th - 10th
During this project, students will be working cooperatively to create a field guide of trees in the neighborhood near the school. Students will make observations of trees near the school. They will then learn about tree anatomy and...
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Promoting Environmental Awareness Through Culture and Exploration

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson plan, the story of Turtle Island is told to the students. Each student will collect leaves and bring one to school, every day, for about a month. Discuss as a class where they come from and why they are all different....
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: English Language Learners Create a Botanic Field Guide

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students gather information and create a botanic field guide which includes the common and scientific names for plants (trees, shrubs, wildflowers, plants) typically found in their surroundings.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: A Tree for All Seasons

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The students will observe a maple tree throughout the year and recognize changes in weather and phenology using their 5 senses.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Mn Step: Schoolyard Trees: Creating a Field Guide for Your School

For Teachers 4th - 6th
An interesting activity where students observe and identify the trees in the schoolyard, then create a field guide for others to use.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: The Microenvironment Project: Featuring Phenology

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A field lab for biology that focuses students on the study of nature and its changes over time. Students are asked to observe and acquire knowledge of trees and the interdependence that a tree shares with other organisms.
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Activity
Cynthia J. O'Hora

Mrs. O's House: Tree Inventory and Map Project

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Canvas the neighborhood or school grounds to identify the quantity and types of trees found. Students will map out the area including all of the trees locations. Reviewing the map, students will determine whether areas may benefit from...
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Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: The Networked Beauty of Forests

For Students 9th - 10th
Deforestation causes more greenhouse gas emissions than all trains, planes and automobiles combined. Suzanne Simard examines how the complex, symbiotic networks of our forests mimic our own neural and social networks- and how those...
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Activity
PBS

Pbs Kids: Plum Landing: Popular Poplars

For Students Pre-K - 1st
After watching the "Popular Poplars" episode of PBS Kids' Plum Landing, students will draw a picture of poplar trees and publish them online. Students will include butterflies alongs their trees.
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Activity
PBS

Pbs Kids: Plum Landing: Flying Frog: Jungle Mission

For Students Pre-K - 1st
After watching the "Flying Frog" episode of PBS Kids' Plum Landing, students will draw pictures of flying tree frogs and publish them online.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers:broom Forest: A Tall Trees Simulation

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Explore environmental factors of an area that affect a species' characteristics over time. Construct a "broom" tree, sketch support structures similar to those used by the tall Amazon trees and explain the limitations of such structures.
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Handout
Other

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the discovery of "Methuselah," the oldest living tree. Where the bristlecone pines grow, in what conditions, and how they were dated.
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Handout
New Zealand Ministry of Education

Cork Quality Council: Harvesting Natural Cork

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn how cork, "An eminently renewable resource harvested from the living bark of the Cork Oak," is grown, removed, and used for wine bottle corks and more. Information on the cork forest, the world's largest cork tree, and quality...
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Activity
PBS

Pbs Kids: Plum Landing: Tree Inspector

For Students K - 1st
This PBS Kids activity is an extension of a Plum Landing episode featuring trees. Students will use the online tools to draw a tree that they closely observe.
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Activity
PBS

Pbs Kids: Plum Landing: The Kangaroo

For Students 1st - 3rd
This PBS Kids activity is an extension of a Plum Landing episode featuring Australia and its kangaroos. Using the online tools, students will draw pictures of trees that would shade kangaroos.
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Handout
Other

Elm Care: How Trees Work

For Students 9th - 10th
How do trees drink, how do trees breath, what is the structure of a tree? Answer these questions and more.
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Handout
Other

Dcnr: Common Trees of Pennsylvania [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A list of common trees in Pennsylvania, as well as specific information on each tree.
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Handout
Other

Missouri Dept. Of Conservation: Missouri Forest Facts

For Students 9th - 10th
This site highlights the importance of forests and the need to keep them healthy. Information about how Missouri depends on its forests for many uses is highlighted.
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Article
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Habitat Network: Increase Canopy Cover by Planting and Maintaining Trees

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out the ecological benefits of filling a backyard habitat with trees.
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Website
University of Pennsylvania

Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania

For Students 9th - 10th
This site presents information on the University of Pennsylvania's Morris Arboretum and Gardens. On this web page, you will find general information about the garden, features of the garden, information on the garden's plant collection,...
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Website
Harvard University

The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains general information about The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts. The site also gives a selection of links that tell more about the garden.
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Website
Other

Trees for Life

For Students 9th - 10th
A Scottish conservation charity dedicated to the regeneration and restoration of the Caledonian Forest in the Highlands of Scotland.