How To... Hug a Tree - Electronically
By Linda Lindroth

For Reproducible click here. PDF 83B

Choose a tree in your schoolyard. Measure its circumference and estimate its height. How many students will you need to give it a hug?

Trees are an all-time favorite subject for kids, whether it's a tree house hideaway or a nature investigation in science. Incorporate these "hug a tree" ideas for National Wildlife Week (April 21-29), Earth Day (April 22) or Arbor Day (April 28).

Our national parks
One of the richest resources on the Internet for any study of trees is the "For Kids & Teachers" section of the National Park Service website, at www.nps.gov/learn The four main areas here are LearnNPS, WebRangers, The GoZONE and The GalleryZONE.

LearnNPS. The comprehensive classroom materials include curriculum units and lessons and guides like the Archeology for Kids program to explore the past. Online environmental education resources and Teaching with Historical Resources are also available.

WebRangers. As WebRangers, students learn what park rangers do to protect our natural resources and cultural heritage. Choose from three levels for ages six and up, 10 and up and 13 and up. Each level has three tours of the national parks with lots of activities for reinforcing learning. First graders will love Talkin' Trash – just in time for Earth Day recycling. Teachers will love the related links for each activity. Complete all three tours – Adventure, Exploration and Discovery – to earn a WebRanger Passport.

The GoZONE. Search for parks in your area or complete an online visit of a park of your choice with virtual tours and activities ranging from a visit by Flat Stanley at Fort Larned to the Sequoia Seeds newspaper for kids at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.

The GalleryZONE. Students can view and post works of art and literature inspired by their National Parks. If unable to access this section via the homepage, go to www.nps.gov/learn/gallery.htm

Trees – and more trees
Whether your curriculum focus is on trees and their habitats, trees in literature or recycling, here are some great resources for your spring agenda.

1. Educypedia – http://www.educypedia.be/education/biomesforest.htm Learn more about trees from this extensive forest biome index. Be sure to click on the Forests of the World maps.
2. Tree-planting lessons – www.arborday.org The National Arbor Day website features many Nature Explore activities for grades K-8. Tree guides, treeplanting projects and Arbor Day resource links are also found here. For more tree webquests and lessons, try www.42explore.com/treesforests.htm
3. Project Learning Tree – www.plt.org or www.fs.fed.us/conf/ee/treeless.htm Incorporate trees and environmental education into your interdiciplinary units with this great resource from Washington state.
4. Recycling and products from trees – www.gp.com/educationalinnature This web resource has it all - extensive topics and lessons, activities, vocabulary and related links. For more Earth Day activities, check out the lessons at www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/earth_activities.html Another must-have is "Forests Forever," a teacher's guide, at www.laplt.org/resources/la-forests-forever.pdf
5. Trees in Literature - www.webenglishteacher.com/cherry.html#kapok Take advantage of the rich literature connections on trees to enhance your celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day. At this site you'll find lessons and links for The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry (Voyager Books, 2000). Other classic tree-related titles are The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (HarperCollins, 1964) and The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1971).

For Reproducible click here. PDF 83B

Linda K. Lindroth is Teaching K-8's technology editor and website coordinator, and a technology resource teacher at Russell Cave Elementary School in Lexington, KY.
E-mail: Linda@TeachingK-8.com.

April 2007, Volume 37, Number 7