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Welcome to the Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse

Here, you can find free sustainability lessons to use in your class and upload your own lessons to share. Be sure to rate the lessons you use and leave comments for your colleagues!

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Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse

Let's Make a Tree

Lesson Description:
  • Students will create their own tree picture based on what they have learned about the parts of a tree.
  • Eco-fact: all trees need at least four things to live: sunlight, water, soil and air.

Procedure:
Before tree activity:
  • Discuss the importance of trees with the class. discuss the importance of trees to living things and the environment.
  • Discuss the parts of a tree with the class, including the roots, trunk, branches, and leaves.

Let’s make a tree!:
  • This fun art activity is easy to set-up and clean-up. this project is open-ended, meaning no example is required and each is unique. Pass out construction paper to each student.
  • If students like, they may draw a tree first with markers. Tissue paper squares can be glued on the tree, or used solely without markers.
  • Ask students to experiment with the tissue paper. For example, students can try to make flowers, crumple the tissue, glue the paper on flat, layer different colors, Use fall colors like reds and oranges, or use summer colors like greens and blues.

After tree activity:
  • Have students share their trees with the class.

Adaptations:
  • Students can make a class collage of trees. students can place all of their trees together to make one large class tree.
  • Students can hang the trees around the classroom to represent a tree forest.

Lesson Type:
  • Experiment
  • Group Work

Sustainability Topic:
  • Gardening

GEF Program Category:
  • Green Thumb Challenge

Time Needed:
40-50 minutes
Materials Needed:
  • construction paper
  • small squares of colored tissue paper (recycled from gifts)
  • glue sticks
  • markers
  • newspaper to cover tables

School or Group:
GEF
Contact Email:
service@greeneducationfoundation.org

The Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse is brought to you in partnership with

Center for Green Schools