The teacher will discuss the importance of trees with the students. The teacher will provide photographs of various trees that grow in Russell Cave National Monument and the surrounding North Alabama area. The teacher will discuss significant features of each tree and pertinent ways to identify them. The collection may include: Dogwood, various Oak, Hickory, Pine, Maple, Cedar, Beech, Elm, and Birch trees. The teacher will take a nature walk with the students in order for each child to choose a tree and do a bark rub. The students will compare their art and write a journal entry in order to describe something they learned about their particular tree. This lesson plan is made possible through the ALEX and the U.S. National Park Service Partnership.