JESS COPY

Trees

What is a Tree?

A tree is a tall, woody plant that typically has a single main stem or trunk, with branches and leaves extending from it. Trees are perennial plants, meaning they live for many years, and they play a crucial role in ecosystems by providing oxygen, habitat for animals, shade, and various resources for humans. They are essential components of forests and woodlands worldwide and come in many different shapes, sizes, and species.

Trees are amazing plants that provide us with many benefits! Trees are like nature's giants, standing tall and strong in the ground. They have woody trunks that help hold them up and branches that reach out like arms to the sky.

But trees aren't just big and pretty to look at - they do lots of important things for us too! They give us fresh air to breathe by taking in carbon dioxide, which is a gas we don't need, and turning it into oxygen, which is what we do need to stay alive. So, trees are like nature's air purifiers, cleaning up the air for us to breathe!

Not only that, but trees also provide homes for lots of animals, like birds, squirrels, and insects. Their branches and leaves offer shelter and food, making them like nature's hotels and restaurants!

And guess what? Trees even give us yummy fruits, like apples, oranges, and bananas! They grow these delicious treats on their branches for us to pick and eat.

So, trees are like superheroes of nature, helping us breathe, giving animals homes, and providing us with tasty snacks. Next time you see a tree, give it a big thank-you for all the amazing things it does!"

Fast Facts!

Breathing Buddies: Trees are like big green lungs for the planet! They absorb carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen during photosynthesis, helping to keep the air clean and fresh.
Habitat Heroes: Trees provide homes for all sorts of animals, from birds and squirrels to insects and even some larger mammals. They offer shelter, food, and protection from predators.
Growth Giants: Did you know that trees can grow really tall? Some trees, like the coastal redwood and giant sequoia, can reach heights of over 300 feet (about 91 meters), making them some of the tallest living things on Earth!
Age Wonders: Trees can live for a long time! Some trees, like the bristlecone pine, can live for thousands of years. That means they were around long before most of us were born and will continue to stand long after we're gone.
Fruitful Friends: Many trees produce delicious fruits that we love to eat! Apples, oranges, bananas, cherries, and peaches are just a few examples of the yummy treats that trees give us.
Leafy Looks: Trees come in all shapes and sizes, with leaves of different colors, shapes, and textures. Some have big, broad leaves, while others have tiny, needle-like ones. Each tree is unique and beautiful in its own way!
Helpful Helpers: Trees are our natural friends! They provide shade on hot days, help prevent soil erosion with their roots, and even cool the air around them through a process called transpiration.
Global Guardians: Forests cover about 31% of the Earth's land area, and trees play a vital role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems around the world. They support biodiversity, regulate the climate, and provide valuable resources for humans.
Nature's Artists: Trees change with the seasons, offering a stunning display of colors in the fall as their leaves turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow. In the spring, they burst back to life with fresh green leaves and blossoms.
Tree-mendous Treasures: From providing wood for building houses and making paper to offering medicinal compounds and natural remedies, trees offer us a treasure trove of resources that we rely on every day.

Introduction to Trees
Brief explanation of what trees are.
Importance of trees (oxygen production, providing habitat, etc.).
Fun facts about trees (e.g., tallest tree, oldest tree).

Try This

Activity: "Sensory Guardians - Preserving Precious Hearing"

Objective:
Introduce preschoolers to the science of hearing and the importance of protecting their ears from potentially harmful loud noises.

Materials:
Large poster or visual aids illustrating the anatomy of the ear
Markers or crayons
Elastic strings or yarn
Craft paper or cardboard
Glue or tape

Instructions:
Introduction to Hearing:
Begin by showcasing a simplified illustration of the ear anatomy. Point out the different parts, emphasizing the delicate structures responsible for hearing.
Briefly explain how sound waves travel through the ear and how the inner ear translates them into signals for our brain.

Decorate Ear Models:
Provide each child with a pre-cut craft paper or cardboard ear model.
Instruct them to color and label the different parts of the ear. Encourage questions and discussions about the role of each part in the hearing process.

Construct Ear Shields:
Discuss the potential harm loud noises can cause to the sensitive structures in the ear.
Transition to creating "Ear Shields" as a protective measure. Assist the children in attaching elastic strings to their ear models, mimicking the real-life connection of the ear to the head.

Sensory Exploration:
Set up a few stations with various objects producing different sound levels (e.g., a bell, a soft drum, and a louder instrument).
Allow the children to experience and categorize these sounds. Emphasize the need to wear their Ear Shields when encountering loud noises.

Scientific Reflection:
Gather the children to discuss their observations and experiences.
Ask questions like:

"What did you notice about the different sounds?"
"Why do you think we need to protect our ears?"
"How did wearing the Ear Shields make you feel?"

Ear Superhero Pledge and Reflection:
Have the children recite an "Ear Superhero Pledge" based on their newfound understanding of ear protection.
Conclude with a reflective discussion about how their role as "Sensory Guardians" can positively impact their hearing health.

This scientific approach combines visual learning, hands-on activities, and sensory exploration to help preschoolers grasp the importance of protecting their ears in a way that aligns with the scientific principles of auditory health.

Questions/Discussion

Observation Reflection:

"What did you notice about the different sounds at the sensory exploration stations?"
"Were there any sounds that surprised you? Why or why not?"

Ear Anatomy Understanding:

"Can you point to the parts of the ear on your ear model? What do they do?"
"How does sound travel through the ear, and how does the ear help us hear?"

Ear Shield Experience:

"How did it feel to create and wear your Ear Shield during the activity?"
"Do you think wearing the Ear Shield made a difference in how you experienced the sounds?"

Real-Life Application:

"When do you think it would be important to wear your Ear Shield in real life?"
"Can you think of a time when you've been in a loud environment and wished you had your Ear Shield?"

Importance of Hearing:

"Why is it important to take care of our ears and hearing?"
"What are some things we enjoy hearing, and how would it feel if we couldn't hear them anymore?"

Ear Superhero Pledge Reflection:

"What does being a 'Sensory Guardian' mean to you?"
"How can we continue to be Ear Superheroes outside of our classroom?"

Family Connection
Home-Based Sound Hunt:
Encourage families to go on a "sound hunt" at home or in their neighborhood. Have children identify and categorize different sounds they encounter. Discuss the experience during the next class.

DIY Sound Experiments:
Provide families with simple sound experiments they can conduct at home, such as filling glasses with varying levels of water and tapping them to produce different tones. Share observations in the following class.

Create a Family Ear Protection Plan:
Guide families in creating an "Ear Protection Plan" for various situations, such as attending concerts or fireworks. Discuss the plans during a family engagement event.

Family Ear Health Workshop:
Organize a workshop where families can learn more about the anatomy of the ear, common causes of hearing loss, and practical tips for protecting family members' hearing.

Discussion Questions for Families:
Sound Awareness:
"Can you and your child discuss some everyday sounds you encounter at home?"
"How do you manage loud noises at home, especially during activities like watching TV or playing music?"

Ear Protection at Home:
"Are there specific situations at home where you think it's important to protect your child's ears?"
"How can you integrate the concept of ear protection into your daily routines?"

Family Sound Preferences:
"What sounds does your family enjoy together?"
"How would it impact your family if hearing these sounds became challenging?"

Building Healthy Habits:
"How can you encourage your child to incorporate ear protection habits in various environments?"
"What role can family members play in reinforcing the importance of protecting our hearing?"

Family Ear Health Commitment:
"Can your family create a small commitment or pledge to prioritize ear health at home?"
"What steps can you take to ensure that your home environment supports healthy hearing for everyone?"

Encourage families to share their experiences, insights, and any additional activities they come up with. This involvement helps reinforce the concepts learned in class and promotes a collaborative effort between educators and families in fostering healthy habits.

Learn more...

Tree Anatomy
Simple diagrams or illustrations labeling parts of a tree (roots, trunk, branches, leaves).
Interactive activities where preschoolers can match parts of a tree.
STICKS and LEAVES

Ecosystems + Habitats
Explanation of how trees contribute to ecosystems.
Examples of animal habitats found in trees (birds' nests, squirrel homes).
Interactive games or puzzles about forest ecosystems.

Trees +Animals
ANIMAL HOMES
food

Animal Habitats: Explain how trees provide essential habitats for a wide variety of animals, including birds, squirrels, insects, and mammals. Discuss how different parts of trees, such as branches, trunks, and foliage, offer shelter, nesting sites, and food sources for animals.
Food Sources: Explore how trees produce fruits, nuts, seeds, and nectar that serve as food for many animals. Discuss the role of trees in supporting food webs and providing sustenance for herbivores, omnivores, and even some carnivores.
Protection and Safety: Highlight how trees offer protection and safety for animals from predators, harsh weather conditions, and disturbances. Discuss how animals use trees for camouflage, nesting, roosting, and hiding from danger.
Migration and Movement: Explain how trees play a crucial role in facilitating animal migration, dispersal, and movement across landscapes. Discuss how interconnected networks of trees provide corridors and pathways for animals to travel, forage, and find mates.
Life Cycle Support: Describe how trees support various stages of the life cycle of animals, including breeding, nesting, raising young, and hibernation. Discuss examples of specific tree species that are particularly important for certain animal species.
Symbiotic Relationships: Introduce preschoolers to symbiotic relationships between trees and animals, such as pollination by bees and other insects, seed dispersal by birds and mammals, and mutualistic interactions between tree roots and soil organisms.

Trees + People
BREATHING
HOW PEOPLE USE THEM
food
Connection to People: Explore the relationship between trees and people throughout history and in different cultures. Discuss how trees have been revered, used in ceremonies, and depicted in art and stories.
Human Uses of Trees: Highlight the various ways people use trees in their daily lives, such as for food, shelter, medicine, and fuel. Include simple examples relevant to preschoolers, like eating apples from apple trees or using paper made from tree pulp.

Connection to People: Explore the relationship between trees and people throughout history and in different cultures. Discuss how trees have been revered, used in ceremonies, and depicted in art and stories.
Human Uses of Trees: Highlight the various ways people use trees in their daily lives, such as for food, shelter, medicine, and fuel. Include simple examples relevant to preschoolers, like eating apples from apple trees or using paper made from tree pulp.
Respecting Trees: Teach preschoolers about the importance of respecting trees and the environment. Discuss concepts like conservation, sustainability, and the impact of human activities on trees and forests.
Activities for Appreciating Trees: Provide hands-on activities for preschoolers to appreciate trees, such as tree planting, tree-themed crafts, and nature walks to observe and learn about different trees in their surroundings.

Seasonal Changes
How trees change throughout the seasons (leaves falling in autumn, budding in spring, etc.).
Seasonal activities related to trees (leaf rubbings, nature walks).

Types of Trees
Categories like deciduous and evergreen trees.
Pictures and descriptions of common tree species (oak, maple, pine, etc.).
Interactive quizzes or games to identify different types of trees.

Tree Life Cycle
Grow from a seed
how do they live
Visual representation of a tree's life cycle (seed, sapling, mature tree, reproduction).
Simple explanations suitable for preschoolers.
Craft ideas related to tree life cycles (e.g., seed planting).

Trees + the Earth
Discussion on why it's important to take care of trees and forests.
Simple conservation tips for preschoolers (reduce, reuse, recycle).
Fun activities promoting environmental awareness (tree planting events).

Community Engagement:
Information on local tree-related events or organizations.
Opportunities for preschoolers and their families to get involved in tree-related activities in their community.

Sample Tree Activities

Key Words

Sound: Vibrations that travel through the air and reach our ears.
Loud: A strong and intense sound.
Soft: A gentle and quiet sound.
Acoustic: Relating to sound or the sense of hearing.
High Pitch: A sound that is high or squeaky.
Low Pitch: A sound that is low or deep.
Fast: Sounds that happen quickly.
Slow: Sounds that happen slowly.
Frequency: The number of cycles of a periodic wave that occur in a unit of time, usually measured in Hertz (Hz).
Pitch: The perceived frequency of sound; higher pitch corresponds to higher frequency.
Volume: The intensity or loudness of a sound.
Timbre: The quality or color of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds with the same pitch and loudness.
Amplitude: The maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation, measured from the position of equilibrium.
Decibel: A unit of measurement for the intensity of sound.
Decibel Meter: A device used to measure the intensity of sound, often in decibels.
Echo: The reflection of sound off a surface, producing a delayed and repeated sound.
Rhythm: A repeated pattern of beats or sounds.
Beat: The regular and repetitive pulse in music.
Musical Instruments: Tools or objects that make music, like drums, xylophones, or tambourines.
Echo: The reflection of sound off surfaces, creating a repeated sound.
Tone: The character or quality of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds.
Environmental Sounds:
Quiet Time: A time when we listen for very soft or silent sounds.
Nature Sounds: Sounds that come from the outdoors, like birds singing, leaves rustling, or rain falling.
Body Sounds: Noises our bodies make, like clapping hands, stomping feet, or snapping fingers.
Listening: Paying attention to the sounds around us.
Muffle: To make a sound quieter or softer.
Mute: To reduce the intensity or volume of a sound.
Silence: The absence of sound.
Vibration: The quick back-and-forth movement that creates sound.
Ultrasonic: Sound waves with frequencies above the upper limit of human hearing.
Infrasound: Sound waves with frequencies below the lower limit of human hearing.
Noise: Unwanted or disruptive sound.
Soundwave: A longitudinal wave that can travel through a medium, such as air or water.
Instrument Families: Groups of musical instruments that have similar features or make similar sounds.
Harmony: Sounds that go together and sound nice when played at the same time.
Dissonance: Sounds that clash or don't sound as nice together.
Echoic Sounds: Sounds that imitate or repeat.
Sound Effects: Different sounds that enhance stories or imaginative play.
Resonance: A sound being prolonged or enhanced.
Volume Control: Adjusting the loudness of sounds.
Mimic: Copying or imitating a sound.
Pitch Control: Changing the highness or lowness of a sound.
Crescendo: A gradual increase in volume.
Decrescendo: A gradual decrease in volume.
Tempo: The speed of the beat or rhythm.
Conducting: Directing or leading the music with hand movements.
Wind Instruments: Musical instruments that produce sound by the flow of air, like a flute or a trumpet.
String Instruments: Musical instruments with strings that vibrate, like a guitar or a violin.
Percussion Instruments: Instruments that make sound by being struck or shaken, like drums or tambourines.

Talking + Voice

Larynx: Highly specialized structure atop the windpipe responsible for sound production, air passage during breathing and protecting the airway during swallowing
Vocal Folds (also called Vocal Cords): “Fold-like” soft tissue that is the main vibratory component of the voice box; comprised of a cover (epithelium and superficial lamina propria), vocal ligament (intermediate and deep laminae propria), and body (thyroarytenoid muscle)
Glottis (also called Rima Glottides): Opening between the two vocal folds; the glottis opens during breathing and closes during swallowing and sound production

Ears + Hearing

Hearing: The ability to perceive sound.
Earlobe: The fleshy lower part of the external ear.
Cochlea: A spiral-shaped, fluid-filled structure in the inner ear responsible for converting sound vibrations into nerve impulses.
Eardrum: The thin, membrane-like structure that separates the outer ear from the middle ear and vibrates in response to sound waves.
Ossicles: The three small bones (malleus, incus, and stapes) in the middle ear that transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.
Eustachian Tube: A tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat, equalizing air pressure on both sides of the eardrum.
Ear canal: The tube-like structure leading from the outer ear to the eardrum.
Auricle: The external part of the ear, also known as the pinna.
Earplug: A device designed to be inserted into the ear canal to protect the ears from loud noises.
Balance: The ability to maintain bodily equilibrium, controlled in part by the inner ear.
Hearing Aid: A small electronic device worn in or behind the ear to amplify sound for individuals with hearing loss.
Deaf: Partial or complete inability to hear.
Hard of Hearing: Having a diminished ability to hear but not completely deaf.

Concepts Related to Trees

If your class is interested in studying trees and you choose to facilitate a simple machine investigation, consider using any 3 or 4 concepts listed below. Choosing a limited number of concepts based on children's interests helps to narrow down the research required by teachers. It also helps teachers shape the investigation by diving deeper into the chosen content instead of feeling pressure to cover all concepts related to the topic. Choosing what's most relevant to the children in your class helps everyone get the most out of the investigation.

Tree Anatomy
Ecosystems + Habitats
Fruit + Nut Trees
Animals + Trees

How People use Trees
Seasonal Changes
Types of Trees
Tree Life Cycle
Conservation + Community