This activity introduces the unit by having students draw a picture of tree from memory. As they explore trees close up through the other unit activities, they will draw new pictures and compare them with the original pictures they draw.
Time
30 minutes
Materials
- drawing paper
- crayons or markers
- flip chart (optional)
Vocabulary
tree, branch, leaf, trunk, roots
Getting Ready
Gather the materials.
Doing the Activity
- Have students close their eyes and picture a tree. Encourage them to think about the overall shape of the tree, how the branches are connected, and the texture of the trunk and leaves.
- Give students drawing paper and crayons or markers, and ask them to draw a picture of their tree from memory. Have them share their pictures in small groups and discuss how their drawings are alike and different. (Consider using collaborative discussion strategies for leading the discussion.)
- As a whole class, have the small groups share the similarities and differences they found. (You may record their responses on the board or flip chart to help build student vocabulary and word recognition.)
- Introduce the Treemendous Science! unit by leading a discussion about trees:
- How did you know what to draw?
- What do you know about trees?
- What questions do you have about trees?
- How could we learn even more about trees?
- What kinds of information could we gather?
- How might we go about getting that information?
- What do you think a scientist might do to learn about trees?
- Save student pictures for Lesson 1: The Closer You Look.
Remember to visit the Enrich tab for recommended children’s books that support the science concepts covered in this activity.