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Objective
1. To understand what parts make up a tree
2. To understand what function each part serves
3. To understand the similarity between tree parts/functions and humans parts/functions
Skills
1. Association
2. Botany
3. Human Physiology
4. Art
Vocabulary
- Bark
- The tough outside covering of a woody stem or root
- Cambium
- Parallel rows of cells that form new layers of bark and wood
- Sapwood
- Newly formed wood that lies just inside the cambium. It acts as a major conductor of water and minerals for the tree
- Heartwood
- The hard, inactive wood at the center of the tree
- Roots
- The network below ground that holds the tree upright. Root hairs, which push their way through the soil and absorb moisture, send water and nutrients up into the tree.
- Chlorophyll
- The green substance found in leaves and needles
- Photosynthesis
- The process of producing food for trees by combining sun light, water, chlorophyll and carbon dioxide.
- Oxygen
- An element found freely in nature that is necessary for humans and animals to breathe and is needed for nearly all combustion to occur
- Carbon Dioxide
- A colorless, odorless, incombustible gas that is formed during respiration, combustion, and organic decomposition
Focus
1. Establish the value of trees by having the students list the benefits that trees provide. Examples are illustrated below:
- They provide shade and cool places
- They provide beautiful areas for relaxing, camping, and hiking
- They relese oxygen into the air
- They clean the air by taking in carbon dioxide from the air
- Their roots keep dirt from washing away
- Fallen leaves and branches and dead trees decay and make the soil richer
- Leaves on both the branches and on the ground slow down the collection of rainfall which helps the ground absorb moisture
- Trees provide homes and food for wildlife and humans
- They provide thousands of useful products which we use every day to make our lives better and more enjoyable
2. Establish the concept of photosynthesis by identifying the Greek words "photo" (light) and "synthesis" (to put together) as the basis of our word for this process. Ask the students to guess what this word might mean.
3. Establish that trees and people are perfect partners by discussing the process of photosynthesis. Have each student draw his own circular flow chart as you illustrate a large one, such as one linked to the bottom of this lesson plan, on the board. There are information bubbles for each phase. Have the class draw arrows from one phase to the next, with the last arrow returning to the first phase.
4. Establish how people and trees share things in common by discussing how different parts of trees serve different functions, as different parts of our bodies serve different functions for us.
If the needles and leaves take in and get rid of carbon dioxide and oxygen, what part of the human body are they like?
the lungs
Our human skeletons support our bodies. What supports a tree?
its trunk (especially heartwood); its roots
What system handles nutrients (food) and water for a tree?
The needles and leaves produce food through photosynthesis
The sapwood transports nutrients and water
The roots store water and send it up the tree for growth
What system handles food and water supplies for humans?
Our digestive system processes nutrients and water
Our cirulatory system transports nutrients and water
Enrichment Activity
1. Make copies of "The Wonderful Workings of Wood" activity sheets part one and two.
2. Have the students glue the picture showing the cross-section of a tree to construction paper or poster board for support.
3. Let the project dry if too wet from enthusiastic gluing.
4. Have the students use glue stick to apply glue to the marked sections of the tree, one section at a time, avoiding the indicated numbers. Lightly sprinkle with the correct coating.
NOTE:
To reduce waste during the sprinkling phase of the project, have the students GENTLY shake off the excess coating onto designated paper plates, one for each type of coating. Other students can then make use of these materials.
SUGGESTIONS FOR COATINGS:
- chocolate baking sprinkles for inner bark
- poppy seeds for outside bark
sesame seeds or powdered milk for cambium layer
- yellow baking sprinkles or powdered mustard for sapwood layer
- paprika, cinnanom, or chili powder for the heartwood
- green baking sprinkles or green sugar crystals for the needles
Other Materials Needed:
- Student Vocabulary List
- Wonderful Working of Wood part 1
- Wonderful Working of Wood part 2
- Photosynthesis Flowchart
- Flowchart Answer Key
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Talk About Trees