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In this activity, children discover how plants and animals depend on trees.
Objectives
Provide opportunities and materials for children to:
- Observe signs of insects and other animals living on, or eating, sleeping, or hiding in trees.
- Observer plants such as mosses and lichens that live on trees.
- Adapt a storyline by adding new characters and sounds.
- Express feelings about trees as habitats through music, movement, and art.
- Incorporate the knowledge they gain into their everyday world.
- Play outside in a natural setting.
This is one of 12 activities that can be found in PLT’s Trees & Me activity guide for exploring nature with young children. For the complete activity and more like it, purchase Trees & Me at Shop.PLT.org and/or attend a professional development training in your state.
K-2 Early Learning Standards: NGSS, Common Core, and C3 Framework
To help educators link instruction to academic requirements, each Trees & Me activity includes an Early Learning Standards graphic, which lists practices and concepts addressed in the activity for four subject areas: Science, English Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies.
The Early Learning Standards Connections in this guide are based on the following national standards:
- Science, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
- English Language Arts, Common Core State Standards-ELA
- Math, Common Core State Standards-Mathematics
- Social Studies, C3 Framework for Social Studies
Correlations to NAEYC Accreditation Standards
Along with academic correlations, Trees & Me activities align with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) 10 standards system for early childhood programs.
Based on research on the development and education of young children, the standards define what NAEYC believes all early childhood programs should provide. This document identifies correlations between Trees & Me activities and NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards and Assessment Items.
Correlations to the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework
PLT identifies correlations between Trees & Me activities and Head Start’s Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF), which outlines what early learners should be able to do in each of five essential learning domains.
Correlations identify which Trees & Me activities provide learners with opportunities to develop skills and knowledge in ELOF’s five domains.
The Memory Tree
Teaching young children about the loss of a loved one can be a difficult topic. In this picture book, a fox lives a long and happy life in the forest, but he is now ready to sleep and closes his eyes forever. As the fox’s friends begin to share memories and tell stories, a tree starts to grow taller and stronger with every memory.
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.
Amara and the Bats
Amara and the Bats Grades: K-2 Written and Illustrated by: Emma Reynolds Published by: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2021 ISBN-13: 978-1534469013 Recommended Reading As Halloween approaches, fall is a great time to think about bats and their role in our ecosystems. Bats live all around the world on every continent, with the exception... Read more »
Deep in the Woods
Deep in the Woods Grades K-2 Written by: Christopher Corr Published by: Francis Lincoln Children’s Books ISBN-13: 978-1847807274 Recommended Reading Spend time in the woods and meet many new animal friends! This modern retelling of the traditional Russian folktale “Teremok” is a joy for adults and children alike. In Russian, the word teremok means... Read more »
A Day in a Forested Wetland
A Day in a Forested Wetland Grades K-3 Written by: Kevin Kurtz Illustrated by: Sherry Neidigh Published by: Arbordale, 2018 ISBN-13: 978-1628559125 Recommended Reading A continuation of Kevin Kurtz’s award-winning “A Day In” series once again delights readers with a rhythmic, scientifically-sound look into a typical day for the animals that call the soggy forest... Read more »
Tall Tall Tree
Tall Tall Tree Grades K to Grade 4 ISBN-13: 978-1584696018 Dawn Publications, 2017 Recommended Reading Teachers and parents alike can use this book, Tall Tall Tree written by Anthony Fredericks and illustrated by Chad Wallace, to take children on a virtual fieldtrip into the dense redwood forest. Not only will readers experience the grandiose... Read more »
The Happiest Tree: A Yoga Story
The Happiest Tree: A Yoga Story Grades K-2 ISBN-13: 978-1600603600 Lee & Low Books, 2008 Recommended Reading The Happiest Tree: A Yoga Story, written by Uma Krishnaswami, is an empowering story of a young girl’s road to self-confidence. In addition to introducing the practice of yoga to young children, this story’s protagonist, Meena, offers... Read more »
Wild Ones, Observing City Critters
Wild Ones, Observing City Critters Grades K to Grade 5 ISBN-13: 978-1584695547 Dawn Publications, 2016 Recommended Reading A new children’s picture book called Wild Ones, Observing City Critters offers readers a tour of wildlife that can thrive in urban areas. The main character is Scooter, a dog who wanders away from home. Readers are invited... Read more »
Over and Under the Snow
Over and Under the Snow Grades K to Grade 4 ISBN-13: 978-0811867849 Chronicle Books LLC, 2011 Recommended Reading Even if children do not live in an area that experiences seasonal change, videos and books about snow can help students imagine and understand something they have never experienced first-hand. In this book, a young girl... Read more »
The Three Questions
The Three Questions Grades K to Grade 3 ISBN-10: 0439199964 Scholastic Press, 2002 Recommended Reading A young boy named Nikolai seeks the answers to three essential questions. He immediately turns to his three animal friends and asks them: When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is... Read more »
Flashlight
Flashlight Grades PreK to Grade 2 ISBN-10: 1452118949 Chronicle Books, 2014 Recommended Reading What happens when a little boy leaves the comfort and security of his tent to explore the unfamiliar and unpredictable environment that surrounds his camp… in the dark? Armed with only his flashlight, the main character of this book takes readers... Read more »
Welcome To The Neighborwood
Welcome To The Neighborwood Grades PreK to Grade 3 ISBN-10: 0763665940 Candlewick, 2015 Recommended Reading Learn about forest habitats and micro-communities as artist-turned-author, Shawn Sheehy, takes readers from neighborhood to neighborwood. In his stunning pop-up book, Welcome to the Neighborwood, he introduces readers to seven woodland animals and insects. In this book, readers investigate how... 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 »
Nature Recycles, How About You?
Nature Recycles, How About You? Grades K-5 ISBN: 9781607186274 Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2013 Authored by Michelle Lord Illustrated by Cathy Morrison Recommended Reading Nature Recycles is an ideal book to introduce reuse and recycling to young children. By showcasing the various methods animals use to repurpose materials in their natural habitats, this book provides... Read more »
Hey, Little Ant
Hey, Little Ant Ages 3 to 8. ISBN: 1883672546 Published by Tricycle Press, 1998 Authored by Phillip and Hannah Hoose Illustrated by Debbie Tilley Recommended Reading What would you do if the ant you were about to step on looked up and started talking? Would you stop and listen? What if your friends saw... 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 »
Around One Log
Around One Log: Chipmunks, Spiders, and Creepy Insiders Grades PreK-3 By Anthony D. Fredericks Illustrated by Jennifer DiRubbio ISBN: 1584691379 Recommended Reading Years after a great oak tree tumbles to the ground, a whole community of animals have made it their home. Upon close inspection, the fallen tree is seething with life! Question: Is... Read more »
EE Resources
Paper Plate Habitat
Use Florida PLT’s Paper Plate Habitat template as the basis for learners to create their own microhabitats.
Identify Birds
Merlin is a free app for identifying birds you see and hear. Using your location, the date, and your answers to a few simple questions (or your sound recording), Merlin shows you likely birds.
Create a Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat
The Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service gives step-by-step recommendations for creating a wildlife habitat at site, based on on-the-ground experience from successful projects.
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.
Login to download supporting materials such as appendices and teaching tips.
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My Tree and Me
In this activity, children compare trees and identify distinguishing features.