Look around the classroom and list how many things are made from trees: desks, chairs, pencils, paper, and so on.
What kind of wood is used to make Popsicle sticks? Hockey sticks? Guitars?
How is maple sugar made?
Look through recent newspapers to find articles about forests or about events that affect trees: a drought, a forest fire, clear-cutting in the rain forests, or insect problems. Discuss the effects or solutions.
Some students may not have trees near their homes or apartments that they can observe closely, or safely. They could instead draw a picture of their “dream tree,” an ideal “perfect tree,” or even an imaginary tree from another planet!
Ask students to create word scrambles of tree names, or a quiz with multiple-choice questions.
Start a classroom “tree calendar.” Students can write down the first dates that they see a tree in bud, flowering, or fully leafed out. In the autumn, they can add the dates when leaves begin to change color and when the first leaves begin to fall. During the next school year, new students can compare dates with the previous year’s.
Find photos of tall mountains and discuss why there are no trees above a certain altitude or latitude.
Write a short poem about a tree or forest. It can be silly or serious.
Discuss a problem in conservation: Is it important to preserve a forest or woodland, even if few people get to see it?
Are there any trees in Antarctica? Why or why not?
Find out what your state or local forestry service or environmental group is planning for Arbor Day or Earth Day.
Learn about a park, reserve, arboretum, or sanctuary in your area: When was it first started?
Find out about these naturalists and conservationists:
John Bartram (botanist), 1699–1777
Rachel Carson (environmentalist/biologist), 1907–1964
John Fraser (naturalist), 1750–1811
Aldo Leopold (conservationist/writer), 1887–1948
François André Michaux (botanist), 1770–1855
John Muir (naturalist/writer), 1838–1914
Thomas Nuttall (naturalist), 1786–1859
Henry David Thoreau (naturalist/writer), 1817–1862
Discuss what these common phrases mean:
Turn over a new leaf
Let’s get to the root of this
Branching out
He can’t see the forest for the trees
Strong as an oak
Giant oaks from little acorns grow
We’re not out of the woods yet!
Make a list of things that anyone can do to be a tree keeper (recycle papers and magazines, mulch or water trees, learn more about the weather and climate, learn about forest insects, let other people know about wildlife diversity in the forest).
Recently, building “faerie houses” in the woods has become popular. Discuss why walking off the trails in the woods and collecting sticks may endanger ground-nesting birds. The activities may attract dogs and cats into the woods. Would this pose a danger to wildlife?