Schools Tree Day - Who needs a tree? - Foundation

Activity Introduction

Quick summary: In this activity children think about the ways that animals use trees. Children are asked to identify a range of native animals and think about how they use the trees as habitat and for food. Children then go outside and attach pictures of animals to the parts of a tree that they think the animals use.

Following this lesson is an ideal way for students to participate in Planet Ark’s Schools Tree Day – the largest nature-care event in Australian schools. You and your students will join thousands of amazing teachers in making a difference, fostering a child’s love of nature and creating positive environmental change. So, get growing! It only takes a minute to register for Schools Tree Day.

Learning goals:

Students will begin to recognise that trees are needed by all different kinds of animal for all sorts of reasons.

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content description:

Foundation Science

Living things have basic needs, including food and water (ACSSU002)

Syllabus Outcomes: STe-8NE.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.2, OI.7.

Topic: Schools Tree Day.

Time required: 60 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activity.

Resources required: Masking tape, Student Worksheet – one printed copy per student.

Digital technology opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities.

Homework and extension opportunities: Students could compare habitat trees from a variety of other countries.

Keywords: Animals, birds, insects, reptiles, fish, nature, biodiversity.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation

Overarching learning goal: Students will begin to recognise that trees are needed by all different kinds of animal for all sorts of reasons.

Teacher content information: There has been a dramatic shift in childhood activity from outdoor play to indoor activity in the space of one generation. Planet Arks 'Climbing Trees' research found that 1 in 10 children today play outside once a week or less. There is an emerging body of local and international research linking childhood contact with nature with a range of health and wellbeing benefits, including:

Positive mental health outcomes
Physical health benefits
Enhanced intellectual development
A stronger sense of concern and care for the environment in later life.

This activity is all about getting students outside to connect with nature in a fun and engaging way. They will build skills in classification by sorting natural objects into groups.

Student and classroom organisation

Step 1. Begin this activ

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: Why do you think trees are important? Who uses trees?

Colour in one of the animals below. While colouring in your animal think about why it may need a tree?

In the next part of this activity, lets head outside to the largest native tree at our school. Think about where on the tree your animal might live. Stick your animal to the tree (using masking tape) in the area you think it might live.

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Activity: Schools Tree Day – Who needs a tree? – Foundation