Tree Lesson
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Overview:

In this lesson students will learn about characteristics and environments of Conifer and Hardwood trees that are native to Pennsylvania.  Students will also learn ways that humans use trees and how this impacts the environment.  The suggested timeframe for this lesson is three 50-minute class periods.

Standards:

4.2.4.A – Identify needs of people
4.2.4.B – Identify products derived from natural resources
4.7.4.A – Identify differences in living things
4.7.7.A – Describe diversity of plants and animals in ecosystems
4.8.4.C – Explain how human activities may change the environment
4.8.4.D – Know the importance of natural resources in daily life

Content Objectives:

Students will know:

  1. The differences between hardwoods and conifers
  2. The identifying features of the Conifer
  3. The identifying features of the Hardwood
  4. How humans use trees

 

Process Objectives:

Students will be able to:

  1. Identify common trees around their school
  2. Describe the distinguishing features of the Conifer
  3. Describe the distinguishing features of the Hardwood
  4. Describe ways that humans use trees
  5. Describe how their actions impact tree use

 

Assessment Strategies:

Characteristics document
Matching Exercise
Description of tree and environment
Discussion Question Answers
Class Discussion

Materials:

4-6 twigs or picture of twigs with fruit and leaves
Characteristics Document
Computer with projector for video
A computer for each group of students
Materials for tree creation:  Paint, Paper, Pencils, and Colored Pencils

Multimedia:

Trees in the Winter Video

Website with common Pennsylvania Trees:
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/FORESTRY/commontr/

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources:
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us

Procedures:

Part 1 – 50 Minutes

  1. Before completing this lesson, collect samples or print out pictures of 4-6 branches or twigs from trees that are found locally around your school.  Include examples of both Conifer and Hardwood trees.
  2. Begin this lesson by having students watch the 3 Minute Video – This will introduce students to tree identification
  3. Divide your class up into 4-6 groups (depending on how many samples of twigs/branches that you have) and hand out the characteristics worksheet.
  4. Ask students to fill in the characteristics worksheet by using the following website to identify their tree:

 

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/FORESTRY/commontr/

 

You should provide a small list of tree type possibilities in order to keep kids on task.

  1. Once students have identified their tree, have them bring their description and sample to the front of the classroom.
  2. Mix up the descriptions and samples so that they are not in a logical order.  Assign a number to each sample twig and a letter to each description.  Ask students to take out a piece of paper and individually choose which letter and number match one another.
  3. Once students are finished, you can ask the class which picture corresponds to the description.

Extension for Part 1:  Take students outside of the school and see if they can identify local trees based on the descriptions that they created in their class.

Part 2– 50 Minutes

  1. Make copies of the tree descriptions from part 1 and pass them out to each student.  If you did not complete part 1, you can get descriptions from this website:

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/FORESTRY/commontr/

  1. Have students review the characteristics to create a tree of their choice in its natural environment.  Students can choose to paint or draw their trees.
  2. Students should then either display their trees in the classroom or can present their trees to the class

Part 3– 50 Minutes

  1. Form groups of 3-5 students. 
  2. Ask the class: What are natural resources?  Make sure that you include trees in the list.

Information on Pennsylvania’s Natural Resources is available at the: 

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources:

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/

  1. Ask student groups to answer the following discussion questions and have them present their answers to the class:

Discussion Question 1:  Can you list all of the ways that you use trees?

Discussion Question 2:  What ways can you help protect trees from being cut down?

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