Arbor Day Lessons and Teacher Resources
Videos | Lesson Plans | Additional Resources
Introduction:
Arbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. Arbor Day originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska, United States and is celebrated in a number of countries. It was founded officially by J. Sterling Morton in 1872. By the 1920s each state in the United States had passed public laws that stipulated a certain day to be Arbor Day or Arbor and Bird Day observance. These dates were established depending on climate and suitable planting times. In the present, Arbor Day is observed nationally, and it has garnered considerable recognition throughout various parts of the world. In the United States, National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in the month of April. – Wikipedia
Why Celebrate Trees?
- Here is an idea for making a four seasons tree booklet (K)
- Students make construction paper trees here and learn about trees in the process (K-1)
- “The Great Kapok Tree” is used to teach about Rain Forest trees here (K-1)
- This lesson is on the layers of the Rain Forest trees (K-1)
- This multidisciplinary Johnny Appleseed lesson includes geography, transportation, U.S. history, sense of taste, graphing, and story illustration (K-1)
- Apple trees are the topic of this lesson plan called “Apples All Around” (K-2)
- Here’s an “Earth Day Song” that is also very appropriate for Arbor Day (K-4)
- Students make leaf observations in this lesson plan and apply a little math (K-3)
- Called “My Life As A Tree,” this lesson is on tree rings, bark, cambium, and heartwood (K-4)
- This a brief writing lesson idea that explores how the tree got its leaves (1-2)
- In this science idea, students go on a nature walk to look at trees and leaves (2-3)
- “The Giving Tree” is read in this lesson on trees and leaf rubbings (3)
- This lesson plan is on forest ecology and human interactions with forests (3-4)
- This is an activity using digital cameras to capture shapes in nature (trees in particular) (4-8)
- Although part of a unit on Mars, this lesson’s discussion of trees and leaves may be helpful on its own (5-6)
- This is an idea for observing tree bark with scanners or digital cameras (5-8)
- Find related lesson plans, videos and recommended resource links below and on our Earth Day and Four Seasons page. If you have any Arbor Day lesson plans to share, please add them to our site!
- Here is one year in the life of a forest shown in forty seconds
- This is a sharp, yet simple Arbor Day video explaining the value of trees and why we should want to plant them
- This is John Denver’s beautiful “Plant a Tree for Your Tomorrow” 1991 Arbor Day Commercial
- Here Cameron Diaz talks about the merits of trees with Grover
- This is a “Tree, Tree, Tree” picture video set to Mr. Rogers’ simple song
- This is a “They Might Be Giants” “C is for Conifers” cartoon song
- Here Guy Smiley reunites a tree with past friends on Sesame Street
- Join the expedition to climb and measure the World’s Tallest Tree
- Tree People founder Andy Lipkis talks about the importance of trees and what they do to help nature heal our cities in this video
- Learn “How to Draw a Tree” in pencil here
- “How to Make an Arbor Day Card” is the subject of this simple kid’s craft video
- This is a listing showing when Arbor Day is celebrated in your state
- Here are great Arbor Day quotes for your bulletin board or to launch your Arbor Day activities
- Carly’s Kids Corner in the National Arbor Day Foundation’s (www.arborday.org/kids/) kid’s site comes well recommended for educational fun, especially the “What Tree is That?” and the Little Red Schoolhouse games
- The Arbor Day Foundation also sponsors a yearly 5th grade poster contest – learn more here
- EEK! – Environmental Education for Kids offers information and activity pages for kids
- Here the Idaho Forest Products Commission celebrates Arbor Day with a multidisciplinary list of ten things teachers and their students can do to celebrate trees and more
- Here you will learn the history of papermaking and find lots of great activities and information about forestry
- This eleven-page illustrated Kids for Trees guide for K-3 students is also available in Spanish
- This curriculum unit brought to you by Earth Day Network, includes activities for grades 1-12
- Find more Arbor Day activities, worksheets, and printables at edHelper.com
