Exploring Trees

Sometimes you just have to go with it and get outside!  I was inspired by the beautiful morning and decided to change our lesson to go and explore the trees in our school yard.  Last week I had the kids learn a dichotomous tree identification key for a few tree samples I had collected.  I told them to bring them home to go and explore the woods and their neighborhoods this summer.  So I took my own advice and we had a beautiful morning outside.

Inside Education has some great resources on forestry and tree identification.  And I JUST found this video about forestry EN FRANCAIS!!

Grade 4 selfie!!

Touch the tree!  See the waxy side of the leaf and how it changes colour as it trembles in the wind?
Un tremble.  Oui!  Science!

And then a bit of Bill Nye The Science Guy always makes my day awesome!

Tree Lab

Today we learnt about how to identify trees.  Have a walk together this thanksgiving weekend and let your kids show you what great Alberta arborists they have become!

See more details from last year's lab. http://mmemerriman.blogspot.ca/2012/11/tree-lab.html

Spruce and  stunning yellow Tamarack (Mme's Favorite!)

The beautiful red maple tree in front of the school

Tree Lab

My grade 7 science class got to learn all about Canadian trees, most from Alberta.  This summer and fall I collected leaves, branches, cones, and pictures of all the species of trees we have at our cabin by Calling Lake.  I made laminated cards with a diagram, photo, and pressed leaf/branch of each species.  The students circulated around the stations and uses a dichotomous key to figure out which tree they were observing.  So the next time you are in the woods have them point them all out to you.

Any teachers out there who want my templates, worksheets, or power point presentation to go with the lab please email me!