Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Tree is That?

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine leaves and the trees in their neighborhood that they came from.  In this ecology lesson, students read the book, I Can Name 50 Trees Today, and discuss how a tree goes from a forest to a wood shop.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Schoolyard Trees

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders choose specific trees to research while taking a nature walk around the schoolyard. They discuss tree and leaf parts and observe various types of leaves. After writing their reports, 6th graders present them to the class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cherokee Leaf Printing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars investigate their local creeks and forests and practice identifying trees.  For this ecology identification lesson, students utilize a pad and pencil while on a field trip near their school and describe their trip...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Deciduous and Evergreen Trees

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students investigate nature by identifying different plants and trees. For this environmental field trip, students participate in a British Columbia expedition in which they identify cedar, pine, hemlock and Douglas fir trees. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Does One Tree a Forest Make?

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students take a walk around the schoolyard looking at and identifying the trees. One leaf for each tree is collected. A chart is developed that represents the population of trees on the school ground. They keep journals and write an essay.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forest Activity: Leaf Collection and Creating a Herbarium

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students identify and categorize leaves. They collect leaves from trees, research the leaves using field guides and the Internet, press, label, and display the leaves, and discuss how the leaf reflects adaptation to its environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is a Tree?

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students identify and define types of trees. In this tree identification lesson, students complete a KWL chart on trees and read the book ABCedar: An Alphabet of Trees. Students complete a tree word scramble.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tree Identification

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners list four ways to identify trees. In this tree identification instructional activity, students use tree identification techniques such as leafs, bark, wood grain, soil type, and climate to create tables and graphs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spot the Leaf: Identifying Plants in Works of Art

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore the leaf as a design motif in art. They conduct Internet research on leaf and tree symbolism, view and discuss artwork, and create an original work of art featuring a leaf or leaf motif.
Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Impacts of Climate on Forest Succession

For Students 10th - 12th Standards
Part two in a series of four explores the effects of climate on succession or the changing of plant species in a forest. Groups review how to identify trees and then spend a day in the field collecting extensive data on trees to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Look At Those Leaves!

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore botany by researching plants in class. In this tree identification lesson, students examine a group of leaves and list the different characteristics before guessing what types of trees they came from. Students read about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphing the Diversity of a Forest

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders work in groups to identify what types of trees create which types of leaves  In this plant life lesson plan, 2nd graders analyze a set of leaves and identify the tree it came from while graphing the data in a science...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Leaf Collection and Herbarium

For Teachers 3rd - 9th
Pupils gather and identify leaves for a collection. They discuss how a leaf's form reflects its adaptation to its environment. They press the leaves in a book and glue them on construction paper.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Uniquely Leaves

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the uniquely diverse structural design of leaves and demonstrate knowledge of interdependence between structure and environment through research, laboratory activity and written summary.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In the Wild

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the concept of ecology and how animals are suited to their habitats. For this animal adaptation lesson, 3rd graders identify a variety of plants and animal species that live in a Beech forest.Students create a food...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Most Troublesome Exotic Invasive Plant Species Web Quest

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars participate in a Web Quest activity in which they identify common exotic invasive plant species of the Southern Appalachian Region. After identifying the top 10 exotic invasive species, they choose one to research in depth.