Trees

SPECIAL TOOL

This tool was created in response to a special request. (Open group identification-Bonsais) Print and display in specific areas or in your circle time area.

CIRCLE TIME

Find a large plant or small tree that you can set on the floor in your daycare, in a corner where children are sure to see it. Use the tree to spark a conversation with your group. Name the various parts of a tree as you point to them. Ask children questions about what trees need to grow and be healthy. Fill a bin with leaves, cover it with a lid, and set it on a table before children arrive in the morning. When they discover the bin, use it to spark a conversation and introduce your theme.

Animated discussion-Trees

(Open picture game-Trees) Print and laminate the pictures in the format you prefer. Use them to spark a conversation and ask children questions about the theme. Use adhesive paper to arrange leaves in a circle on the floor. Children can sit on the leaves for circle time. Before they arrive, you can also use leaves to create a path from the door to your circle time area.

• What happens to trees in the fall?
• What makes fall different from other seasons?
• What elements of nature are associated with fall?
• Can you name things that we see only during fall?

Flipogram-Trees

(Open picture game-Trees) Print and laminate the pictures in the format you prefer. Use a hole-punch to make a hole in the upper right and left corner of each picture. Stack the pictures and insert a ring through each set of holes. The flipogram is easy to manipulate. Simply show children how they can lift a picture and flip it under the stack. Name each item with your group. Use the flipogram to encourage children to talk during circle time and to ask them questions about the theme.

Let’s chat

(Open word flashcards-Trees) Print and laminate the word flashcards. Have each child pick a word flashcard. They can take turns presenting their flashcard to the group. Ask them questions to see what they know about each element associated with the theme.

Poni discovers and presents-Trees

(Open Poni discovers and presents-Trees) Print, laminate, and cut out the cards. Use a Poni puppet, or another puppet that children are familiar with to present the different types of trees to your group.

Educa-chat-Trees

(Open educa-chat-Trees) (Open giant word flashcards-Trees) Print the questions and the giant word flashcards. Laminate them. Insert the questions in a box so that children can take turns picking one. Spread the word flashcards out on the table or display them on a wall. Also print the “It’s my turn” card. Laminate it and glue it on a stick. It will help children respect the child whose turn it is to speak. You can also use a Poni puppet or a stuffed animal related to the theme. The questions will help children develop their observation skills, their ability to cooperate, their thinking skills, and waiting for their turn. This tool is a great way to animate circle time and

explore your theme.

Point to (or name) the picture

(Open giant word flashcards-Trees) Print, laminate, and display the word flashcards on a wall, next to your circle time area or glue them on a large piece of cardboard that you can move around. Ask children questions and have them identify the corresponding word. birch tree, maple tree, oak tree, spruce tree, white pine tree, larch tree, apple tree, cedar tree, buds, bark, tree trunk, stump

The woodworkers make…

Explore the woodworker profession with your group. Together, identify a variety of wooden items within your daycare. Explain to your group that the wood needed to build and create furniture comes from trees.

AREA SETUP

Thematic poster-Trees

(Open thematic poster-Trees) Print and display within your daycare.

Educa-theme-Trees

(Open educa-theme-Trees) Print and laminate the different elements representing the theme. Use them to present the theme to your group (and their parents) while decorating your daycare.

Educa-decorate-Trees

(Open educa-decorate-Trees) Print, laminate, and cut out the illustrations. Use them to decorate your walls and set the mood for the theme.

Garland-Trees

(Open garland-Trees) Print and let children decorate the garland elements. Cut out the items and use them to create a garland that can be hung near your daycare entrance or within your daycare.

Stickers-Trees

(Open stickers-Trees) Print the illustrations on adhesive paper and use them to create original stickers for your group.

A forest in your daycare

Draw several trees on a long white paper banner or on open brown paper grocery bags. Decorate the trees with your group. Add leaves on the branches and at the bottom of each tree. If you prefer, trace children’s hands on orange, red, and yellow construction paper and cut out the shapes to represent leaves. Add construction paper pinecones, acorns, apples, etc. If you prefer, collect fallen branches with your group and use them to represent a forest in your daycare. Hang fabric leaves from the branches and from the ceiling. Display pictures of trees on the walls of your daycare.

Educa-numbers-Trees

(Open educa-numbers-Trees) Print and laminate the cards. Display them on a wall to decorate your daycare.

Educa-letters-Trees

(Open educa-letters-Trees) Print and laminate the cards. Display them on a wall to decorate your daycare.

PICTURE GAME

The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group.  Use them to decorate the daycare or a specific thematic corner. (Open picture game-Trees) Print, laminate, and store in a “Ziploc” bag or in your thematic bins.

Memory game-Trees

(Open picture game-Trees) Print the pictures twice and use them for a memory game.

ACTIVITY AND WRITING SHEETS

Activity sheets are provided for each theme. Print and follow instructions. (Open activity sheets-Trees)

Creating your own activity binder

Laminate several activity sheets and writing activities and arrange them in a binder along with dry-erase markers. Leave the binder in your writing area and let children complete the pages as they wish. At the end of the day, simply wipe off their work so the activity binder can be reused.

Writing activities-T like tree

(Open writing activities-T like tree) Print for each child or laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

Tracing words-Trees

(Open word flashcards-Trees) (Open giant word flashcards-Trees) Print several word flashcards. Glue them on pieces of paper, laminate them, and arrange them in a binder. Show children how they can trace the words using dry-erase markers. If you wish, leave room under each word so children can try to write the words without tracing the letters.

Stationery-Trees

(Open stationery-Trees) Print. Use the stationery to communicate with parents, in your writing area, or to identify your thematic bins.

Educa-nuudles-Trees

(Open educa-nuudles-Trees) Print for each child. Have children color the sheet and use Magic Nuudles to give it a three-dimensional look. Variation: You don’t have Magic Nuudles? Have children fill the spaces designed for Magic Nuudles with bingo markers or stickers. To order Magic Nuudles.

String activities-Trees

(Open string activities-Trees) Print for each child. Children use white glue to trace the lines and press colorful pieces of yarn in the glue.

Construction/Building blocks:

• Natural-colored wooden blocks (or colored ones).
• A few branches and pinecones.
• Tiny logs.
• Wooden sticks of all kinds that can be used for different types of constructions.
• Forest animal figurines.

Arts & crafts:

• Cardboard, tissue paper, empty egg cartons, recycled material, etc. Children can use them to represent a cabin in the woods.
• Hang a large piece of paper on a wall to create a mural. You can inspire children by drawing a few trees and letting them add leaves, animals, etc.
• A tree drawing printed on paper and children have to glue leaves and bark on it (torn pieces of green and brown construction paper). Glue sticks are best for this activity since liquid glue might seep through the paper.
• An easel with a large piece of paper (or paper on a wall) along with poster paint. Children can paint a forest.
• Popsicle sticks and white glue for building a log cabin.
• Discuss animal tracks with your group, apply paint to the bottom of children’s feet, and invite them to walk on paper. Once the paint is dry, encourage them to compare their footprints.
• A piece of waxed paper and white glue children can use to draw a spider web. Once the glue is dry, they can peel the web off the waxed paper and hang it.
• Discuss forest fires as you explore orange and yellow paint.

Drawing:

• Coloring pages related to forest animals, nature, birds, etc.
• Musical drawing: draw a forest as you listen to a CD of forest-related sounds.
• Provide recycled paper for children to draw on and explain the importance of preserving trees!

Role play:

• Picnic:
  • A picnic basket filled with plastic dishes and food items, a blanket, a radio with a CD to listen to chirping birds as you pretend to have a picnic in the forest. This activity can be organized at lunch or snack time. Simply sit on a blanket on the floor, in your daycare.
• Camping in the forest:
  • A tent, sleeping bags, utensils, plastic or disposable dishes, plastic food items, pyjamas, etc.
• No matter which theme you choose, decorate your area with giant paper trees, pictures of forests found in old calendars, fabric leaves, etc. The goal is literally to transform your area to make it look like a forest.

Manipulation:

• Forest animal-themed memory game with educatall picture game or a store-bought game.
• Puzzles related to the theme.
• Brown and green modeling dough to create a forest. If you wish, you can use homemade modeling dough and leave children’s creations out to dry. They will enjoy building their very own miniature forest with the trees and animals.
• Fabric leaves that can be sorted by color, size, shape, etc.
• A felt board with felt trees, animals, etc. that can be used to invent stories and scenes.
• A variety of pre-cut mushroom shapes on which you have glued theme-related pictures for a unique memory game.
• An association game in which children must associate animals to the correct habitat.
• Set a variety of items related to the theme on a table (acorn, pinecone, squirrel figurine, pine needle, etc.). Ask children to observe the items closely. Cover them with a blanket and remove one item. Children must identify the missing item.
• Pieces of rope children can use to tie knots.
• Sorting game involving animals with fur and animal with feathers.

Pre-reading:

• Books about forest animals.
• Tales and fables with a forest setting: The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Hansel and Gretel, etc.
• Headphones and CDs with sounds of nature, chirping birds, animal sounds, etc.
• Puppets representing forest animals and birds.

Pre-writing:

• Connect the dots or dotted lines children can trace to reveal trees.
• Games with educatall.com word flashcards.
• Tracing activities that involve forest animal names. Associate pictures to each word to help children identify them.
• Various activity sheets related to the theme.

Motor skills:

• An obstacle course throughout which children are encouraged to move like different forest animals.
• A treasure hunt where children must find pictures of forest animals.
• Try to whistle like a bird.
• Act out different actions associated with forest animals or insects.
• Pretend you are firefighters extinguishing a forest fire. Have children stand in line and pass a bucket filled with water down the chain, attempting to have as much water as possible in the bucket when it reaches the end of the line.
• Sing songs alongside a pretend campfire and explain the importance of properly extinguishing a campfire to avoid causing a forest fire.

Sensory bins:

• A large container filled with dirt.
• A container filled with pine needles.
• A bin filled with pinecones.
• A large container filled with autumn leaves (real or fabric).
• A container filled with sunflower seeds.

Kitchen:

• As a group, prepare a fruit salad with different types of fruit that grow in trees (pears, apples, plums, pineapples, etc.).
• Let children cut mushrooms (white and brown) into tiny pieces and mix them with sour cream or plain yogurt to prepare a dip that can be served at lunch or snack time with a veggie platter.
• Prepare a recipe with berries that can be found in the forest.
• Prepare your own trail mix by mixing seeds, nuts, and dried fruit. Explain how this simple snack is great for hikes in the forest, since it provides energy.

Science:

• Fill a large container with leaves, pieces of bark, branches from coniferous trees, and pinecones.
• Arrange different types of mushrooms in clear containers and invite children to observe them.
• Have children use raffia, hay, and pieces of yarn to create nests for birds.
• Set up your very own vivarium and add any insects children find while playing outside to it. Be sure to cover your vivarium to avoid unpleasant surprises.
• Show children a compass, a map, etc.
• Plant flowers and different types of vegetables with your group.
• Build a birdfeeder. There are many simple models to try!

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

The flashcards may be used during circle time to spark a conversation with the group or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards-Trees) (Open giant word flashcards-Trees) roots, branch, leaves, tree trunk, bark, buds, acorn, nest, pine needles, tree sap, forest, wood

Sequential story-Trees

(Open sequential story-Trees) Print and laminate. Invite children to place the illustrations in the correct order.

Giant word flashcards-Trees

(Open word flashcards-Trees) (Open giant word flashcards-Trees) Print. birch tree, maple tree, oak tree, spruce tree, white pine tree, larch tree, apple tree, cedar tree, buds, bark, tree trunk, stump

Sequential story-Autumn

(Open sequential story-Autumn) Print the story, laminate the illustrations, and cut them out. Children must place them in the correct order.

Forest scene

(Open forest scene) Print, laminate, and cut out the pieces. Children use them to decorate the scene.

ROUTINES AND TRANSITIONS

Let’s hop from tree to tree

(Open educa-decorate-Trees) Print. Laminate the pictures and use adhesive paper to arrange them on the floor. Play music. When the music stops, children must quickly find a picture to sit on (variation of musical chairs).

Tree pose

Fill a bin or basket with fabric leaves. Whenever children must wait for their turn, for example to wash their hands, give them two leaves that they can hold over their head as they hold tree pose (yoga). This exercise will keep them busy while providing them with a relaxing moment.

Our leaf board

When you go for walks with your group, collect a variety of pretty leaves. When you get back to daycare, sort the leaves together and arrange them in a large chart divided into sections. Write the name of a different type of tree at the top of each section, making sure to choose trees that can be found in your neighborhood. Help children associate the leaves to the corresponding tree.

Giant hopscotch game

Using colorful adhesive tape, draw a giant hopscotch game on the floor. It could, for example, connect two different areas within your daycare. Show children how they can alternate hops on one foot and on two feet. Add pictures related to the theme in each square.

Game-This is my spot-Trees

(Open game-This is my spot-Trees) Print each illustration twice. Use adhesive paper to secure one copy of each illustration on the table. Deposit the second copy of each illustration in an opaque bag and invite children to pick a card that will determine their spot at the table (corresponding illustration). The illustrations can also be used to determine children’s naptime spots or their place in the task train.

My leaf path

(Open my leaf path) Print, laminate, and arrange the pictures on the floor to create a path leading to various areas within your daycare. The path can lead to areas frequently visited by children throughout the day such as the bathroom, the cloakroom, etc. or, if you prefer, delimit your workshops.

ACTIVITIES FOR BABIES

A walk in the woods

Go for a walk in a nearby forest with your group. Name the things you see (squirrel, bird, pinecone, etc.). Encourage children to touch leaves, pine needles, etc.

Leaf pool

Replace the balls in your ball pit with fabric leaves. Children will have a lot of fun manipulating the colourful leaves. Variation: You may also fill your ball pit with leaves that have fallen to the ground.

Leaf collage

Hang a large piece of adhesive paper on a wall, with the sticky side facing you. Let children press leaves on the paper.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

From one tree to the next

Create an obstacle course. Add obstacles like a rope that children must walk over, without touching it. Set leaves on a chair and have children crawl under it. Incorporate whatever you have on hand, for example hats representing forest animals that they can wear to complete the course. Plan your course so that children explore different ways of moving about (jump, crawl, walk, etc.). Use your imagination to make your obstacle course fun!

Illustrated trees

Collect several pictures of trees and display them throughout your daycare. Use the walls, cupboards, the floor, etc. Children will discover the pictures as they go about their day.

Hideout

Provide boxes (different sizes) and let children hide in them. They can pretend they are squirrels hiding in trees.

Leaf pool

Replace the balls in your ball pit with fabric leaves. Children will have a lot of fun manipulating the colourful leaves.

Variation: You may also fill your ball pit with leaves that have fallen to the ground.

Leaf blower

Cut several leaf shapes out of tissue paper. Give each child a drinking straw and show them how they can use them to transport leaves. They can breathe in over a leaf and hold their breath until they reach a designated area or container, not very far away. As soon as they resume breathing, the leaf will fall.

Leaf collage

Hang a large piece of adhesive paper on a wall, with the sticky side facing you. Let children press leaves on the paper.

Playing in the leaves

Children love to jump in a big pile of leaves. This simple activity is best done outside, but if you really need to, you can bring a garbage bag full of leaves indoors and use the contents of the bag to create a pile on your daycare floor. Cleanup will be necessary, but children are sure to have a lot of fun!

Flying leaves

Set several leaves on your parachute. Have children raise and lower the parachute very gently and encourage them to observe the leaves. Slowly, let them increase the speed at which they move the parachute to send the leaves flying through the air.

Lacing-Leaves

(Open lacing-Leaves) Print, laminate, and punch holes around each shape, where indicated. Children thread a shoelace, a piece of yarn, or ribbon through the holes.

Leaf race

Use adhesive tape to determine a start and finish line. Place two leaves 10 cm apart.  Provide children with straws or empty toilet paper rolls they can use to blow on the leaves to move them towards the finish line.  The first child to successfully cross his leaf over the finish line wins. The winner may try again with another child.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Little monkeys

In your yard, find a tree that has a low branch that children can swing on, like monkeys. Help older children wrap their legs over the top of the branch. Of course, constant supervision is required throughout this activity. For added safety, set a thick exercise mat under the branch.

Outdoor mural

Hang a large paper banner on a fence or wall in your yard. Draw tree trunks and branches. Encourage children to collect leaves and have them glue them on the branches that you drew using glue or adhesive putty.

To the sawmill

Divide your group into two teams. Each team will need a large dump truck. Have each team roll around the yard, collecting fallen branches in their truck. At the end of the activity, count the branches collected by each team to determine which truck transported the most wood.

Our leaf home

Provide small toy rakes. Help children rake a large pile of leaves. Next, encourage them to use the leaves to represent the divisions in a house. They will like using the leaves to delimit a bedroom (or many bedrooms), a kitchen, a living room, a game room, a bathroom, etc. Let them play in their leaf home as they wish.

Our colorful tree

Fill a large bin with pieces of colorful ribbon. Have children take turns picking a ribbon they can tie on a branch of a tree that is in your yard. Name the colors together.

Our treehouse

You will need a large cardboard box (appliance). Let children decorate it to represent a treehouse. They can, for example, draw windows and glue pieces of fabric on either side to represent curtains. They can set small plastic furniture items in the box. Set your treehouse under a large tree in your yard or at the top of a large play structure. Let children play in their treehouse and invent all kinds of scenarios. They could even eat their snack or sleep in their treehouse.

Leaves in water

Fill a large bin with water and add leaves. Encourage children to use drinking straws to blow on the leaves to make them move around.

Leaf bins

You will need three empty bins. Glue a different color leaf on each one (ex. green, red, yellow). Set a large bag of leaves next to the bins. Children will have fun sorting the leaves by color.

Cabin in the woods

Children love playing in cabins. Drape old bedsheets over tables, chairs, and other furniture items to represent tents or cabins. Add objects that are normally found in the woods. Let children play in their tents and cabins.

A walk in the forest

(Open rally-Forest) Print and laminate so you can check the items on the list using a dry-erase marker. Go for a walk in your neighborhood or a nearby forest. Invite children to search for the items on the list. You can collect them in a bag or wagon and bring them back to daycare. Children can use them for a craft or observation activity.

Playing in the leaves

Children love jumping in large piles of leaves. This is a simple outdoor activity.  For variety, why not bring leaves into the daycare and create your very own leaf storm. You will have a hefty cleanup job, but oh what fun!

Leaf hunt

Hide several different types of leaves throughout your yard. Have children search for them. This activity can be used to associate leaves with different types of trees.

Flying leaves

Set several leaves on your parachute. Invite children to gently raise and lower your parachute to make the leaves bounce up and down. Gradually have them increase the speed at which they move the parachute until they send the leaves flying.

RELAXATION ACTIVITIES

Forest relaxation

Ask children to build a bed of leaves on which they can lie down. Encourage them to observe the stars and enjoy this relaxing pause. Invite them to look for shapes in the clouds, to take the time to listen to the wind, the birds…

MUSICAL AND RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES

A musical tree

Gather items related to trees (bark, branches, pinecones, dry leaves, etc.). With the help of the children in your group, have fun using the items to produce interesting sounds.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Educ-pairs-Trees

(Open educ-pairs-Trees) Print. Children must draw a line between identical items or color identical items using the same color. For durable, eco-friendly use, laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

Educ-trace-Trees

(Open educ-trace-Trees) Print for each child. Children must trace the lines with the correct colors and then color the corresponding items using the same colors.

Color by number-Trees

(Open color by number-Trees) Print for each child. Children must color the picture according to the color code.

Educ-big and small-Trees

(Open educ-big and small-Trees) Print and laminate. Children must place the illustrations in the correct order, from smallest to biggest.

Counting cards-Trees

(Open counting cards-Trees) Print and laminate. Prepare a series of wooden clothespins on which you can paint or draw numbers 1 to 9. Children count the items on each card and place the corresponding clothespin on the correct number.

Educ-same and different-Trees

(Open educ-same and different-Trees) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must circle the illustration that is different in each row.

Roll and color-Trees

(Open roll and color-Trees) Print for each child. This game can be enjoyed individually or as a group. Children take turns rolling a die, counting the dots, and coloring the corresponding part.

Educ-math-Trees

(Open educ-math-Trees) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must count the items in each rectangle and circle the correct number.

A tree for everything

(Open a tree for everything) Print. Children must cut out the items and associate them to the correct tree.

Shape forest

(Open shape forest) Print. Children must cut out the trees and glue them in the correct row.

Tree sections

(Open tree sections) Print. Children must cut the four sections and assemble them by gluing them on a piece of construction paper using a glue stick. When they are done, they can color their tree.

From a tree to paper

(Open from a tree to paper) Print. Invite children to cut the illustrations and glue them in the rectangles in the correct order to help them understand how paper comes from trees.

Squirrels in the trees

(Open squirrels in the trees) Print. Children must count the leaves in each tree and add the corresponding number of squirrels.

Game-Tree association

(Open game-Tree association) Print and laminate the game. Using Velcro, children associate the cards to the correct tree.

Game-Four trees

(Open game-Four trees) Print, glue the cards on opaque cardboard and cut them out. Arrange all the cards upside down on the floor or table (so you can’t see the illustrations). Children take turns rolling a die. Every time a child rolls a “1”, he can turn a card. If he doesn’t already have this tree in front of him, he keeps it and places it in front of him for everyone to see. The first child who has collected all four trees wins.

I am inventing my own tree

(Open I am inventing my own tree) Print, laminate, and cut each tree in half. Hand children the pieces and let them create original trees. They don’t have to match the trunk and the leaves that would normally go together.

MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Homemade wooden puzzle

Before children arrive, stack several pieces of wood (2 in x 4 in x 8 in). Draw a tree on the side of the pieces, from top to bottom. The leaves will be on the side of the top pieces and the roots will be drawn on the side of the bottom pieces. Next, set all the pieces of wood in a bin and encourage children to stack them to assemble the tree.

Transporting wood

(Open logging truck) Print for each child. Cut several empty toilet paper rolls into rings. Print and assemble the die. Children take turns rolling the die. Every time the die lands on the axe, the child who rolled it takes one cardboard ring (log) and sets it in his truck. The first child who fills his truck wins.

Shady tree

For story time, sit under a large tree with your group. Provide small blankets they can sit on. If you wish, you can even enjoy naptime in the shade. Children can also simply lie on their back and look up at the leaves gently swaying in the wind, the birds on the branches, etc.

I am going for a walk in the forest and I am bringing…

Sit in a circle with your group. Begin the game by saying, “I am going for a walk in the forest and I am bringing a flashlight.” The child next to you must repeat this sentence and add another item. Each child must repeat all the items listed by others before adding one of their own.

EARLY SCIENCE/MANIPULATION/EXPLORATION

Tiny forest

Cut several branches into sections. Set a large block of floral foam (or green modeling dough) on the table and invite children to prick the branches in it to represent a tiny forest. Set it on a windowsill or shelf to decorate your daycare.

My first herbarium

(Open my first herbarium) Print for each child. Throughout the theme (or season), children collect flowers and leaves they can add to their herbarium. Write the date under each new addition and help children identify the items they find. With younger children, print a single herbarium and have them complete it as a group.

Pinecone feeders

Go for a walk with your group and collect pinecones. Glue a string to each pinecone and let children use a plastic knife to spread peanut butter all over them. Hang them in a tree (beware of allergies).

Leaves in water

You will need a bin filled with water or a water table. Add leaves. Children use straws to blow on the leaves to make them move about.

Leaf bins

Use three empty storage bins. On each bin, glue a different coloured leaf (green, red, and brown for example). Place a large bag of leaves next to the bins.  Children sort the leaves per their color.

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

Maple water

Purchase maple water. Explain to your group how maple water comes from a tree. If possible, show them a maple tree when you go for a walk. Let them smell the maple water to appreciate its sweet scent. Talk about how maple syrup is made. Give each child a glass of maple water. Next, give each child a spoonful of maple syrup that they can pour on a pancake or waffle.

Pecking birds

Give each child an empty cardboard milk carton. Let them decorate it as they wish to represent a birdfeeder. Next, fill them with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc. Encourage children to eat the seeds and chirp like birds at snack time.

Blossoming fruit trees

You will need pretzel sticks, icing (or cream cheese), cherry-flavored Jell-O powder, and popcorn. Add the popped popcorn to a Ziploc bag along with the Jell-O powder. Shake the bag to color the popcorn. Have children press the pretzel sticks in the icing and then use it to “stick” popcorn on the tip to represent fruit tree blossoms.

Maple leaf cookies

Purchase maple leaf cookies and serve them with fruit at snack time.

ARTS & CRAFTS

A forest in the hallway

Trace each child’s silhouette on a large piece of paper. Ask children to stand with their arms open above their head and to press their legs together. Have children color their silhouette that will represent a tree trunk and branches. Let them glue Fun Foam or fabric leaves on the branches. Hang the trees in the hallway.

My stamped tree

Give each child four or five brown pipe cleaners. Help them twist the bottom of the pipe cleaners together to represent a tree trunk. Help them separate the upper extremity of the pipe cleaners to represent branches. Have children glue their tree on a piece of construction paper. Provide autumn-colored stamps pads and leaf-shaped stampers. Invite children to stamp leaves around their tree’s branches.

Tree masterpiece

Before children arrive, saw a log to create several wooden disks. Invite children to observe the surface of the disks. Let each child paint on a disk. Let dry before varnishing their work and using hot glue to stick a piece of jute rope behind their masterpieces so they can be hung.

Newspaper trees

Open several pages of newspaper on the floor and use a black marker to draw tree outlines. Have children cut them out and glue them on a piece of green construction paper. Use this activity to explain to your group how newspaper is made from trees.

Leaf veins

Set several leaves you collected with your group under pieces of paper and encourage children to color over the leaves to see the leaf veins appear like magic. Next, older children can cut out the leaves and hang them on an indoor clothesline to create an original garland.

Models-Trees

(Open models-Trees) Print the models and use them for various crafts and activities throughout the theme.

My leafy hat

(Open educa-decorate-Trees) Print and cut out. Glue items on a paper hat or headband.

Stencils-Trees

(Open stencils-Trees) Print and cut out the various stencils. Children can use them to trace and paint trees throughout the theme.

My crumpled tree

Trace a tree trunk with four (4) branches on construction paper. Have children fill the tree trunk with crumpled pieces of brown tissue paper. Make tiny balls of red, yellow, orange, and green tissue paper to add leaves to the tree.

Leaf impressions

With your group, stick several leaves on a large piece of paper. Provide sponges children can use to completely cover the leaves with paint. Once the paint is almost dry, gently remove the leaves.

Variation: Use old toothbrushes instead of sponges.

Puppets-Trees

(Open puppets-Trees) Print the various models on cardboard. Ask children to cut them out and decorate them with arts & crafts materials. Glue a Popsicle stick behind each one to complete the puppets.

Tree crafts

(Open models-Trees) Print several copies and use them as the base for various crafts and activities.

Hand tree

(Open tree trunk) Print. Apply red, yellow, or orange poster paint on children’s hands and encourage them to press them on the top of their tree to represent leaves.

Colorful trees

Have children draw tree trunks on heavy cardboard and glue crumpled pieces of tissue paper on the branches to represent leaves.

Leaf-filled tree

(Open tree trunk) Print for each child. Have children glue real leaves on the branches to complete their tree.

Branches

Collect branches with your group. Let children paint the branches and sprinkle glitter on them. If you prefer, they can use the branches as paintbrushes for different activities or just for painting freely on construction paper.

Scrapbook-Walk in the forest

(Open scrapbook-Walk in the forest) Print for each child. Go for a walk in the forest and collect leaves and branches that chidldren can glue on their scrapbook page. If you wish, photograph your group during your walk, print the pictures and give each child a copy.

COLORING PAGES

(Open coloring pages theme-Trees) Print for each child.

DIFFERENT WAYS TO USE THE COLORING PAGES

Identical coloring pages-Trees

Print the same coloring page for each child and an additional copy for your model. Color only certain parts of your picture. Present the model to your group and ask them to color their picture to make it look exactly like yours.

Coloring binder-Trees

Print and laminate several coloring pages and arrange them in a binder with a few dry-erase markers. Leave everything on a table for children to explore.

Musical drawing-Trees

Play musical drawing with your group. Give each child a coloring page. Have children sit around a table. When the music starts, they must pass the coloring pages around the table. Every time the music stops, they must color the picture in front of them until the music starts again.

Homemade puzzles-Trees

Give each child a picture to color. When they are done, cut each picture into pieces to create unique puzzles.

Complete the drawing-Trees

(Open complete the drawing-Trees) Print for each child. Children must draw the missing items.

I am learning to draw-A tree

(Open I am learning to draw-A tree) Print and laminate the model sheet. Invite children to practice their drawing technique on the model sheet before attempting to draw a tree on their own.

Creative coloring-Trees

(Open creative coloring-Trees) Print for each child. Have children complete the drawing as they see fit.

Have fun!

The educatall team