MSU Tollgate Farm: The Secret Life of Trees

Introduction

Our BIG ideas:
Trees have unique and diverse life cycles.
Trees have parts that help them survive and grow.
Trees use things in the world around them to survive. 

Our BIG questions:

Which trees grow on the farm? 
How do trees survive and grow?
Do trees compete or cooperate to survive?
Do we rely on trees? Do trees rely on us?

Let’s Explore Trees Together!

We’ll start by exploring the trees of Tollgate Farm together!

The Gift of Trees

Let’s think of all the good things that trees provide for us. How do these ‘gifts’ make a difference to us? Together, we’ll create a tree mind-map showing all the amazing ways that trees help us.

If you could give one gift to the trees, what would you give and why?

Trees, Trees, Trees Song

Can you learn the chorus to this song?

LYRICS

Trees, trees, trees,
Have roots, and trunks, and leaves,
Trees, trees, trees,
Have buds, and fruits, and seeds,
Trees, trees, trees,
A home for birds and bees,
We all need our trees, trees, trees…

Home for nests of flying birds,
Home for buzzing, honey-bees,
Home for bats so brown and black,
Some squirrels share those big tall trees.

Shades a slithering sharp-toothed snake,
Big bugs that blow there in the breeze,
Many things are making homes,
In green, green leaves of these tall trees!
(More lyrics at the link above.)

Chorus

Build-a-Tree Challenge

Each of us is going to build our very own model of a tree and its parts! We’ll be able to show our models to the rest of the group on our last day together. You can make your model of a tree and its parts from natural found objects like sticks, leaves, pebbles, tall blades of grass, etc. or you can make your tree model from clay, legos, cardboard, paper, food, or anything you would like to use from around your house!
You can find the instructions for this activity here!