How does knowing about the trees in our neighborhood help to protect and support their growth?

Identifying the trees in our neighborhood is important to understanding their benefits.

We can play a role in educating others in the importance of trees.

Students are aware of the benefits of trees to the local environment. If students do not have a clear understanding of the structure and function of the parts of trees, what trees need to thrive, and the benefits they contribute to the local environment, consider reviewing the Mini-Unit for Grade 4 before beginning this Mini-Unit.

In this Mini-Unit students conduct a tree inventory of their local area which may include the school yard, surrounding perimeter, and the local streets. The inventory serves as data which is analyzed to describe the tree health of their area. Students then engage in an action project to communicate the benefit of trees, for the community.

Show the video Why Do Cities Need Trees? 

Have students think about the spaces outside the school – schoolyard, park, their neighborhood. Ask the following questions or have them write their thoughts in their journal:

• How do you feel when you are here?
• Where is your favorite place to play? Why?
• Where is your least favorite place to play? Why?
• Where is the quietest spot? The noisiest?

Students are going to conduct a tree inventory of the trees in the neighborhood/schoolyard.

Introduce the idea of an inventory. They may have a collection of things that they keep track of: game cards, shells, rocks, special toy, sports memorabilia, etc.  Discuss how an inventory helps them take care of their special things. 

Introduce the idea of a tree inventory. Have them think about and suggest what information would be important to know to take care of the trees.

Can they identify how a tree inventory would help their neighborhood?

• Identifying the types of trees in their neighborhood
• Noting special or old trees that may need care
• Educating their community about the benefits the trees provide
  • Cleaning the air
  • Habitat
  • Shade and well-being

Students will be using the website iTree to enter data collected about their tree. The iTree website returns data on how much CO2 is sequestered and how this impacts the environment over time. 

Print out or provide digital copies of the data sheet to help them collect and calculate the data for their tree. This data sheet is a copy of what the data entry looks like on the iTree site.

Tree Data Collection Spreadsheet

Students will calculate the circumference of their tree by measuring the distance around the trunk. They take the measurement at 4.5 feet from the ground. This is a standard used when measuring trees. This calibration of a set location is important when comparing data for other trees in other locations. As students why they think everyone using 4.5 feet is important.

They take their measurement 3 times. Then find the average.

Next they will find the height of the tree. Detailed instructions are found in the slide deck. Students use a stick or yardstick for this estimate. Holding the yardstick straight out from their body, they walk backwards, facing the tree, until the top of the tree is even with the top of yardstick. They then count the number of steps (or strides) as they walk back towards the tree.

The formula is then presented to use their numbers to calculate an estimate for their tree. 

We now have the circumference and height of our tree. That data is used to enter into the iTree website. 

The iTree website will also ask for the location of the tree. The address of your school, or street may be used for the location.

The iTree website will provide a detailed report on the benefits of your tree.

While not included on the iTree data sheet, students may be interested in learning the age of their tree. On slide 21 the formula for estimating the age of the tree is given. The formula asks for the Diameter of the tree. The diameter is found by dividing the circumference by Pi  D=C/3.14

Depending on your schoolyard, students may want to advocate for a new tree for your yard. If that is the case, they can determine what type of tree and where the tree should be planted.

Students may now take on the role of environmental stewards, helping to educate their community about the trees in the area. Helping the students understand that by educating the community about the benefits of trees may help to protect the trees for years to come.

Using the information they collected, brainstorm with students ways that they might share the information they have collected in their tree inventory.

Some ideas for tree sign designs may be found in the slide deck, but students may come up with their own ideas.

On slide 27 some ideas for ways to share their tree information are provided, but students may have their own ideas.

Finally, celebrate their role in taking on this important job. By educating the community about the trees in their neighborhood/schoolyard, and the many benefits they provide to the community, they are helping to protect the trees for years to come.