Community Tree Project Presentations

In this interactive lesson, students will follow the story of an oak tree and the animals who visit it throughout the changing seasons. Along the way, students will make observations and predictions, participate in movement activities, and learn about local living things.

Grades: Kindergarten, Grade 1

Presentation Length: 30 minutes

Curriculum Links:

• Kindergarten: 7. participate actively and regularly in a variety of activities that require the application of movement concepts
• Kindergarten: 14. demonstrate an awareness of the natural and built environment through hands-on investigations, observations, questions, and representations of their findings
• Kindergarten:  18. recognize, explore, describe, and compare patterns, and extend, translate, and create them, using the core of a pattern and predicting what comes next
• Grade 1: Science and Technology, Understanding Life Systems – Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
• Grade 1: Science and Technology, Understanding Earth and Space Systems – Daily and Seasonal Changes

In this presentation, your class will take a virtual field trip around the Credit River Watershed, including your school’s neighbourhood! Along the way, students will use their senses to learn about different plants and animals that call this watershed home. Students will help us identify birds by their calls, learn about the importance of city trees, and follow various animal clues (including poop!).

Grades: 2 – 3

Presentation length: 45 minutes

Curriculum links:

• Grade 2: Science and Technology, Understanding Life Systems- Growth and Changes in Animals
• Grade 3: Science and Technology, Understanding life systems – Growth and Changes in Plants

Students will become tree experts as they search for clues to diagnose a tree’s mysterious illness. The workshop follows a “Choose Your Own Adventure” format where your class calls the shots! The presentation will also discuss the benefits of planting and protecting trees in our cities.

Grades: 4 – 6

Presentation Length: 45 minutes

Curriculum links:

• Grade 4: Science and Technology, Understanding Life Systems – Habitats and Communities
• Grade 5: Science and Technology, Understanding Earth and Space Systems – Conservation of Energy and Resources
• Grade 6: Science and Technology, Understanding Life Systems – Biodiversity

Students will learn about the greenhouse effect and its impact on the Earth’s climate system. Using interactive polling software, students will make predictions about heat experiments, test their environmental knowledge, and share their opinions on possible climate solutions. The presentation will explore the Earth’s climate as a system with inputs and outputs and discuss strategies that could mitigate climate change.

Grades: 7 – 8

Presentation Length: 45 minutes

Curriculum Links:

• Grade 7: Science and Technology, Understanding Life Systems – Interactions in the Environment
• Grade 7: Science and Technology, Understanding Earth and Space Systems – Heat in the Environment
• Grade 8:Science and Technology, Understanding Structures and Mechanisms – Systems in Action
• Grade 8: Science and Technology, Understanding Life Systems – Water Systems