International Day of Forests and Trees - March 21, 2019

The International Day of Forests and Trees gave me the opportunity to talk with children about the importance of trees to our planet.  We talked about how trees provide food, shelter, aid soil conservation, and provide oxygen for the air we breathe.  In some classes, we were even able to talk about the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the breathing process and how trees and plants give off oxygen and, in turn, take in carbon dioxide.  Children were very interested in this process so it was fun to have this discussion.  I also showed a 1 minute video about the beauty of the forest and how one should get outside to experience and enjoy it.

In Physical Education we played a game called "Planters and Wood Choppers."  Small cones were placed around the gym and half the students tipped the cones over while yelling "timber" and the other half set them back up while shouting "grow."  This game kept children constantly moving.  They got the opportunity to be both the wood chopper and planter.  Afterwards, we talked about the importance of planting a new tree each time one dies, falls over, or is cut down.  Children know that cutting down trees is necessary in order to provide lumber for building and other materials, but they also know how vital it is to our planet to plant new trees to replace them.  It takes a very long time for a tree to grow to the point where it is suitable for lumber use.

Planters and wood choppers move around the cones chopping down trees and planting new ones.

This students tips over a cone to symbolize that a tree has been chopped down.  He yells "timber."

This student sets a cone back up to show that a tree has been planted.

This student celebrates as she plants a new tree and yells "grow."

Click here for a few more pictures of our planters and wood choppers game.

Since today's children missed out on Alien Day yesterday, we warmed up today with a movement activity to music where students pretended to float in space.  We got the chance to talk about gravity.  I was impressed with how much information our students already knew about this subject.

Click here for a few pictures of our floating in space activity.