Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trees, Trees, Trees! - Adopt A Tree

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students adopt a tree, take a bark rubbing from that tree, and conduct research about that type of tree. They write an original piece about their tree using three facts and in a genre of their choice.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology: Trees

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research and identify the different layers of the forest. As a class, they observe real-life trees or analyze a poster, and discuss the characteristics of each forest layer. Students then draw a forest and label the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Adopt-A-Tree Certificate

For Students 6th - 8th
In this adopt-a-tree certificate worksheet, students choose a tree and complete 3 observation questions as well as conduct some height and circumference calculations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

So -- What's Happening Here? On this Old Christmas Tree Farm

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students take a field trip to an old Christmas tree farm near their school. In groups, they gather data at the site and analyze the data in an attempt to discover what happened to the area. They identify human activities that led to the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Outdoor Observation

For Teachers K
Students examine their outside environment. They use their senses to make observations of the four seasons. They keep a chart of all of the data they have collected.
Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 2

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Why are Torrey pines only found in La Jolla, California and on Santa Rosa Island? Class members examine images of Torrey pines from these two locations, noting the similarities and differences, and then develop a demonstration model that...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Distinguishing Between Flowers

For Students 4th - 6th
A branching key is a great way to classify different types of animals and plants! Fifth graders answer several yes/no answers about three different plants. They then create their own key to differentiate between an iris, a rose, and a...
Unit Plan
NASA

Wetlands

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Take a little wade in the wetlands. A fun unit has pupils conduct a literature review to learn how climate change and human actions affect wetland ecosystems. They take a trip to a wetland, observe the fauna and flora, and then take and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Art of Trees

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students identify parts of a tree and use observation and art techniques to depict the growth of a tree from seedling to crown.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Night Tree

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore the book, Night Tree, by Eve Bunting. They read and discuss the story, identify what the tree did for the animals, create a food chain for animals to hang on a tree, and decorate a tree at school.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Selecting Trees for Urban Environments

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students consider the best place to plant a tree. In this environment lesson, students identify urban locations that are compatible with particular tree types. Students decide what trees would go where and why they would survive.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Log Hotel

For Teachers K - 2nd
Pupils identify how the different plants and animals work together to cause the changes in the log. Students discuss the sequence of events in the life of the tree and log. Pupils plant a seed to take home and care for. Students retell...
Lesson Plan
UAF Geophysical Institute

System Interactions: The Lorax and the Truffula Tree

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
If the Lorax were to write a letter, what would he write? Introduce your class to systems and feedback loops through the whimsical stylings of Dr. Seuss. Learners take on the Lorax's point of view to write a letter, among other activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing Tree Rings to Determine Climate Change

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how to locate and access data sets.  In this climate change activity students import data into Excel and graph it.   
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Angles of Elevation and Depression: Fly-By Calibration

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Determine the distance between two trees from afar. Pupils use an interactive resource to create two right triangles using trees and a plane. They determine the horizontal legs of each triangle to find the distance between the two trees.
PPT
Biology Junction

Kingdom: Fungi

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Based on DNA, fungi relate more closely to animals than to plants. This new scientific knowledge shifted the world view of scientists and opened up new classifications. Viewers learn about fungi's place in evolution, in the tree of life,...
Activity
101 Questions

Lost in the City with a Clinometer

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Come look at trigonometry from a different angle. To begin a simple activity, scholars view a video of someone using a clinometer to find the angle of elevation to the top of a building. They then use a diagram that shows the building's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Schoolyard Field Guide

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders observe, plan, research, and create a field guide for the trees that are in their schoolyard. In this trees lesson plan, 4th graders make careful observations of what they see around their school and create a guide.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Leaf Magic

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders adopt a deciduous tree in September, and begin regular observations of their tree. They create a timeline to show how leaves change color and conduct a science experiment to illustrate color change.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Look At Those Leaves!

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore botany by researching plants in class. In this tree identification lesson, students examine a group of leaves and list the different characteristics before guessing what types of trees they came from. Students read about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seasons

For Teachers K
Students explore the four seasons. In this seasons lesson, students create a class tree. Students make leaves for the tree for each of the seasons. Students mark their paper into fourths and draw a picture of the seasons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Start Growing

For Teachers K - 5th
Students investigate how a tree grows from a seed. In this plant biology lesson, students use potting soil, tree seeds, and a paper cup to observe seeds growing into plants. Students record observations in their science journals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Grow An Apple Fungus

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners study fungus which attacks apple trees. In this apple tree instructional activity, students grow a mold to demonstrate how an apple fungus could destroy an apple tree. They observe the mold which will not actually destroy a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Habits of Mind

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students study tree leaves to complete the activity, For this tree leaf experiment lesson, students observe, measure, and sort tree leaves individually, in groups, and in relationship to the entire tree.