Lesson Plan
Tree-mendous Adventures Lesson Plan
Introduce Pre-K students to trees by exploring their parts, importance, and environmental role using engaging, age-appropriate activities.
This lesson fosters early appreciation of nature, encourages curiosity, and builds foundational knowledge about trees and the natural world.
Audience
Pre-K
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive, play-based exploration.
Prep
Preparation
5 minutes
- Review the Tree-mendous Adventures Lesson Plan for overall flow
- Familiarize yourself with the picture cards and leaf collage materials
- Ensure the outdoor area for the mini nature walk is safe and accessible
Step 1
Story Time & Discussion
10 minutes
- Gather students in a circle and introduce trees using the Tree Picture Cards
- Discuss simple tree parts (trunk, branches, leaves) using a story format
- Ask questions to engage students (e.g., 'What do you think trees need to grow?')
Step 2
Hands-On Leaf Collage Activity
10 minutes
- Provide each student with the Leaf Collage Activity Sheet and assorted paper leaves
- Encourage students to create a collage, discussing the different shapes and colors of leaves as they work
Step 3
Mini Nature Walk
5 minutes
- Take the class for a brief walk around the school yard
- Point out real trees and discuss how they differ from the pictures used earlier
- Reinforce key concepts learned during the story and collage activity
Slide Deck
Tree-mendous Adventures
Let's explore trees together!
Welcome the students to the lesson. Use this slide to introduce the theme 'Tree-mendous Adventures'. Emphasize that today they will learn all about trees through pictures, stories, and a fun outdoor activity.
What are Trees?
Trees are living friends that give us shade, oxygen, and sometimes fruits!
Discuss what a tree is. Ask the students simple questions such as 'What do you see in a tree?' or 'Have you ever seen a big tree outside?' Use simple language and visuals if available.
Parts of a Tree
• Trunk
• Branches
• Leaves
Use visual aids like pictures or cards to introduce the parts of the tree. Explain that a tree has a trunk, branches, and leaves. Use simple words and encourage students to point out these parts on the picture.
Fun Facts About Trees
• Trees clean our air
• Trees provide shelter for animals
• Trees can grow very tall and live for a long time
Share fun facts about trees in an engaging way. For example, mention how trees help clean the air, provide homes for animals, and can live for many years. Ask the students if they can think of any animals that live in trees.
Time for a Nature Walk!
Let's go outside and look at some trees!
Prepare the students for the mini nature walk. Explain that they will go outside to see real trees and compare them to the pictures they've seen. Remind them to stay close and listen carefully.
Activity
Tree-mendous Adventures - Activity: Tree Picture Cards
These Tree Picture Cards are designed especially for our Pre-K students. They feature simple, colorful images that highlight the components of a tree such as the trunk, branches, and leaves.
Activity Guidelines
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Purpose:
- Help students visually identify the parts of a tree.
- Provide an engaging visual aid during the story time and discussion.
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How to Use:
- Story Time: Gather students in a circle and show each card. Ask questions like "What part of the tree is this?" to encourage observation.
- Discussion: Use the cards to point out and name each part of the tree, reinforcing the lesson's key vocabulary.
Follow-Up Points
- Ask students simple questions like, "Can you find the trunk on this card?"
- Have children point to the corresponding part on the card as you call out the names.
This activity pairs perfectly with our Tree-mendous Adventures Lesson Plan and the slide deck for a well-rounded exploration of trees.
Activity
Leaf Collage Activity Sheet
This activity sheet is designed to help our Pre-K students explore trees through creative expression. They will create their own leaf collages by pasting paper leaves onto tree outlines. This fun, hands-on activity reinforces learning about the parts of a tree and encourages creativity.
How to Use the Activity Sheet
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Introduction:
- Explain that trees are made of different parts and that today they will make a picture of a tree using colorful paper leaves.
- Show an example of how the collage might look and talk about the different shapes and colors of the leaves.
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Activity Steps:
- Step 1: Give each student a copy of the activity sheet with a basic outline of a tree (trunk and branches).
- Step 2: Provide a variety of paper leaf cutouts (or let students cut out leaves from colored paper).
- Step 3: Invite students to paste the leaves on the tree outline, creating their own unique tree design.
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Discussion:
- Ask students to share their collages with the class.
- Prompt questions like: "What colors do you see on your tree?", "Where did you decide to put your leaves?", "Can you find the trunk on your tree?"
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Follow-Up:
- Discuss how every tree is unique, just like everyone's artwork.
- Reinforce key vocabulary by pointing to the trunk, branches, and leaves on each collage.
This activity pairs perfectly with our Tree-mendous Adventures Lesson Plan and the Tree Picture Cards to create a hands-on, engaging learning experience about trees.