The Science of Trees

Trees are the most accessible and obvious way to introduce children to nature. Every tree is a habitat unto itself, providing food and shelter for any number of insects, birds, and mammals. A tree study can be carried out throughout the year so children can observe a variety of natural rhythms and cycles. The trees in your area will depend on the climate as well as how often the area has been cleared. Many people plant exotic or ornamental trees that are not native to their area. It’s a good idea to study a healthy, native tree. You can identify a tree by using clues such as its leaves, its bark, and its shape. I also recommend planting a tree with he children as a way to demonstrate that there are things we can do to help the earth. See the Arbor Day link below for information about planting trees.

Trees Facts

· There are approximately 100,000 different species of trees throughout the world
· Trees produce oxygen and reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and thus are very important for maintaining a healthy environment
· Conifers or evergreens are cone-bearing trees such as pines, firs, cedars, junipers, and redwoods
· Deciduous trees lose their leaves due to seasonal changes
· Most trees produce growth rings every year, which makes it possible to determine the age of the tree
· The oldest known tree in the United States is a Bristle cone Pine Tree in California that is 4,700 years old!
· The tallest trees are the California Redwoods; one was measured to be 379 feet tall!

Tree Resources

http://www.arborday.org/ This site has everything you need to know about trees, including an online tree guide and a Nature Resource Book for teachers.

First Guide to Trees, G. Petrides, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 2nd edition, 1998

Fandex Family Field Guides: Trees (Cards), S. Aronson, Workman Publishing Company, 1998 This is a great way to learn about trees with children. The cards have die-cut leaf shapes, along with photographs and facts about every tree in the set.

Schoolyard Habitats

Did you know that you can create a natural schoolyard habitat and have it certified by the National Wildlife Federation? A schoolyard habitat can attract birds, butterflies, and other wildlife nearby your school where children can observe and learn more about them without having to leave the safety of your own schoolyard. In order to create a habitat you will need to include some of each of the following:

• food sources, such as seeds and nectar
• water sources, such as a small pond or a bird bath
• places for cover, such as a thicket or a rock pile
• places to raise young, such as a nesting box or dense shrubs
• use sustainable gardening methods, such as compost and mulch

Go to http://www.nwf.org/schoolyard/howtoguide.cfm

for free, complete guidelines for your schoolyard project, including free pdfs about planning your habitat, native plants, composting, container gardening, as well as free articles about the schoolyard habitat movement. Turn your schoolyard into a miniature nature area, and join the hundreds of teachers who bring nature to life right outside their classrooms.

Earthworms

Earthworms might make teachers squirm, but there is no doubt that young children are facinated at these crawly creatures. Earthworms are interesting and easy to study, because you can ususally access them right in your outside play area.

Earthworm Facts:

• There are 2,700 different species of earthworms
• Earthworms can be from 1-2 inches up to 14 inches long
• Earthworm bodies are made up of ring-like sections
• Earthworms are invertebrates, meaning they do not have an internal skeleton made of bone
• Earthworms form the base of many food chains. They are preyed upon by many species of birds, e.g. starlings, thrushes, gulls, crows, and robins. Some snakes feed on them and mammals such as bears, foxes, hedgehogs and moles eat many earthworms as well. Earthworms are also eaten by many invertebrates such as ground beetles and other beetles, snails.

Earthworm Resources:

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Animals/CreatureFeature/Earthworms
Earth worm facts and photographs.

The Worm Book: The Complete Guide to Gardening and Composting with Worms by Loren Nancarrow and Janet Hogan Taylor, 2004

The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms by Amy Stewart, 2004
Earthworms (Minibeasts) by Claire Llewellyn and Barrie Watts, 2002

http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/how-to-raise-earthworms