In my struggles to learn to identify trees, (still working on it), I took time to look at some elementary school lesson ideas around trees and nature. I also decided to bring in some experts, (my 5 and 8-year-old nieces), to ask their opinions on some of the ideas, so the two detailed below were doubly vetted by them, ha. I also added a few book recommendations.

GET TO KNOW A TREE

This is a great activity for Grades 1-2 but could be adapted for younger or even older students. This activity involves choosing a special tree, drawing the tree, drawing it’s leaves or needles, measuring it’s trunk, taking a rubbing of it’s bark, and explaining why you chose the tree. From here you could also work with the students to identify their trees. You could also link this activity to a mindfulness moment or activity where student’s choose a tree as their thinking or calming spot and return to it regularly throughout the school year. It can be a spot where they go to clam down or to do their best thinking. They can also make observations of their tree in different seasons.

BC Curricular Connections:

Science: 1) Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment. 2) Names of local plants and their
structural features.

Art: 1) Visual arts: elements of design: line e.g., thick, thin, wavy, zigzag, jagged, etc., shape 2-dimensional enclosed space, as compared to form which is 3-dimensional , and texture, the way something feels (e.g., smooth, rough, fuzzy).

PHE: 1) Practices could include: participating in relaxing activities. 2) Emotions and their causes and effects.

(Resource from Pam Quigg)

TREE SCAVENGER HUNT

There are a lot of different nature scavenger hunts out there and my nieces were insistent that a scavenger hunt is always a must. Most of the pre-made ones I found were either more nature in general or were not specific to trees in Victoria or on Vancouver Island… I would recommend making your own specific to the trees in the area (use pictures of trees, bark, needles, leaves, cones/seeds) you will be exploring and here are 2 examples you could adapt. You could do this activity with Grades K-3, with the higher grades you can scaffold by adding more writing or observation questions.

Plant-Scavenger-Hunt

What Have You Spotted

BOOKS

“A Tree Is Nice” by Janice May Udry, Marc Simont (Illustrator)

I would use this in a K-1 classroom. This is a simple story that lists a lot of reasons why trees are nice, where you can find trees and what trees can offer.

” The Canoe He Called Loo Taas” by Amanda Reid-Stevens and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas

This is a great book to use in a Grade 2-3 classroom. It tells the story of Loo Taas, the amazing 50-foot canoe designed by legendary artist Bill Reid, and carved by members of the Haida community. It illustrates the importance of trees in their community and goes through the entire process of selecting a tree for a canoe!

https://www.strongnations.com/store/item_display.php?i=1480&f=