Terrific Trees

Programme: TERRIFIC TREES

Suitable for Foundation Stage pupils and available as a half day programme

This interactive programme allows children to explore the world of plants from the very smallest to large ancient trees. Children are given the chance to create a woodland scrap book as they use their different senses to explore the different forms of plant life. Children will leave with a basic understanding of the different parts of plants and their unique roles in the plant lifecycle.

ACTIVITY DETAILS

Terrific trees begins in the classroom with a discussion about different forms of plant life and how humans use plants every day. Children take part in a game which develops this idea and encourages them to think about where food and other every day objects come from. The woodland trail is introduced together with a specially designed woodland log book.

Woodland Trail

Guided by the session leader, children follow a trail with various activities being introduced along the way (not always in the order outlined below).

1. Leaf Parts - Each group is given a special bag containing different parts of a plant and a description of their role in the plan lifecycle. Working together children must match up the correct part plant with its job.

2. Leaf bingo -This activity allows children to explore colour, shape and size of different leaves as they search for leaves from common species of tree.

3. Tree Textures - Through bark and leaf rubbings children explore the variety of textures found on a tree. Children are encouraged to find different species of tree by just feeling the bark. This activity re-enforces the differences in leaf and the patterns made by the veins.

4. Flowers and Seeds - Depending on the time of year children explore either flowers or seeds and their role in producing new plants. They will investigate why flowers are different colours and the ways in which seeds move from one place to another.

5. Size - Children investigate different sizes of plant from the smallest plant they can find to the biggest. In a series of hands on activities children will measure the height and width of the tallest tree and the smallest plant.

6. Colour -Children investigate colours of leaves and how this might change through the year. Depending on the time of year children might look at deciduous and coniferous leaves.

7. Smelly Plants - Children investigate different smelling plants and how this might help them to attract pollinators.

CURRICULUM LINKS

This programme predominantly links with the following learning and development requirements however it will link with all L+D requirements at some points.

• Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy

• Knowledge and Understanding of the World

• Communication, Language and Literacy

This activity sheet is available to download as a word document from the right hand side.