Reading Trees: Understanding Dendrochronology

Trees are everywhere! Yet what do these majestic organisms do for their ecosystem, and why do some have leaves and some have needles? During a five-day activity, young scientists investigate trees by analyzing the water cycle,...

Students investigate environmental effects on tree growth. In this tree growth lesson, students study various environmental effects on tree growth. Students participate in a group project on tree rings.

Upper elementary schoolers investigate philanthropy and selflessness by reading a children's book. In this ethics lesson plan, they read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, and research Mahatma Gandhi's troublesome, yet inspiring, life....

Besides the age of a tree, tree rings can tell scientists all kinds of interesting information. Learners read about tree rings, gaining an understanding of them, and then analyze four to five different tree horizontal slices of a tree...

Open with a discussion on weather and climate and then explain how tree rings can provide scientists with information about the earth's past climate. Pupils analyze graphics of simulated tree rings from various US locations for the...

Help young conservationists appreciate the important role that trees play in ecosystems around the world with this collection of six engaging activities. From a shared reading and class discussion of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, to in an depth...

Visit the Magic Treehouse and take your class on a trip through time with a reading of the children's book Mummies in the Morning. Using the story to spark an investigation into Egyptian culture, this literature unit engages...

A hopeful lesson focuses on creating a wish tree for young academics to share their wishes for the nation. Scholars write their wishes on stars, decorate, and finally display their wishes on a tree in the classroom. Historians also...

Fourth graders go to an outdoor area and are assigned a specific native plant to observe. They read about and answer questions about their tree. They draw the tree. Finally, 4th graders teach the rest of the class about their tree.

Students identify and experiment with dendrochronology (the study of tree rings to answer ecological questions about the recent past) and come up with conclusions as to what possible climatic conditions might affect tree growth in their...