Get in Touch With Trees
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In these experiences, children will explore trees and their parts by using the sense of touch. They may feel rough bark, spongy moss, sharp thorns, and sticky sap.
This is one of 11 activities that can be found in PLT’s Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood guide. To get the activity, attend a training either in person or online and receive PLT’s Early Childhood guide. Below are some supporting resources for this activity.
My Forest is Green
Follow along a curious young boy who explores the urban forest near his home and describes the shapes, textures, and colors of the plants and animals that live there and encourages young children to observe and appreciate the nature around them.
Circle Unbroken: The Story of a Basket and Its People
Circle Unbroken: The Story of a Basket and Its People Grades K-2 and 3-5 Written by: Margot Theis Raven Illustrated by: E.B. Lewis Published by: Square Fish, New York, 2004 ISBN-13: 978-0312376031 Recommended Reading A young girl sits in her grandmother’s lap and learns how to sew a basket made of natural sweetgrass. The... Read more »
Leaves
Leaves Grades K to 2 ISBN-10: 0399246363 Putnam Juvenile, 2007 Recommended Reading This book’s warm and vibrant colors invite early childhood listeners to enjoy the topic of the season. The author, David Stein, takes the viewpoint of a first-year bear cub as he encounters this seasonal change for the first time, such as leaves... Read more »
Mud
Mud Ages 3 and up. ISBN: 0152024611 Published by Sandpiper, 2001 Authored by Mary Lyn Ray Illustrated by Lauren Stringer Recommended Reading What happens in spring? What happens before the fruit blossoms, before the daffodils flower, before the grass even grows? Why, mud, of course. In this book, the earth seems to secretly thaw... Read more »
Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?
Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? Ages 3 and up. ISBN: 0873588282 Published by Cooper Square Publishing LLC, 2003 Authored by Carmela LaVigna Coyle Illustrated by Mike Gordon Recommended Reading Do you ever wonder if princesses… climb trees? eat vegetables? play in the dirt? wear torn jeans and a messy old shirt? At the... Read more »
EE Resources
Photo Stuff With Ruff
Based on the PBS animated digital series The Ruff Ruffman Show, this app helps students discover the “stuff ” their world is made of. The Photo Stuff with Ruff app can be used in the classroom as part of lessons exploring materials science. In this camera-based experience, students will learn about science by exploring their surroundings and... Read more »
Why Would Anyone Cut a Tree Down?
Help learners understand why it is sometimes necessary to cut trees in order to get wood, protect other trees, or reduce tree hazards. The book Why Would Anyone Cut a Tree Down? is geared for students in grades 1–3 and also provides tips for planting a new tree.
Identify Trees from Leaves
Leafsnap is a free app that uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species from leaf photographs you take in the field. Leafsnap currently focuses on tree species found in the Northeastern United States and Canada, but expansion is underway to include all U.S. regions.
Find Nearby Trails and Parks
AllTrails is a free app that helps users discover the outdoors. Use it to find a hiking path suitable for children, to search for local places to bike or fish, or to plan a national park visit.
Early Childhood Education
Are you looking for information on the field of childhood education? All Education Schools offers a clearinghouse of resources to explore professional organizations, licensing and credentials, teaching strategies, research, and more – all related to early childhood.
WildLab Bird
A free app that can be downloaded onto any Apple device (try iBird Lite for Android). Use WildLab Bird to learn the basics of bird identification. This application uses audio, photographs, maps, and the process of elimination to help identify over 200 bird species. Sightings can also be entered into a national bird watching database for... Read more »
Epic! For Educators
Are you looking for new literature connections to support your favorite PLT lessons? This growing Epic! online library offers thousands of picture books, chapter books, early readers, and even nonfiction books (think Common Core Connections!) that elementary teachers can access free of cost. Registered users receive unlimited access to books and customized recommendations for readers’... Read more »
Nature Maestro® App Series
With Nature Maestro®, sound recordist and composer Dennis Hysom is your guide. Use this series of applications to explore sounds in nature. You might compose a soundscape for the rainforest, build a nature scene using audio paired with imagery, and discover fun facts about animals all along the way. Immerse yourself in these biomes to... Read more »
Tree Product Images
Print out pages containing many examples of everyday products from trees!
Login to download supporting materials such as appendices and teaching tips.
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Three Cheers for Trees
In this activity, children explore the many products and benefits that trees provide.
Community Explorers
In this activity, children explore how their community—and the trees within it—provide things people need.
Home Tweet Home
In this activity, children discover how plants and animals depend on trees.
Parts to Play
In this activity, children make a tree costume and explore the parts of a tree.