Learning Stations Forest Hike -Instructions -Tree Cookies Online: guest (web) |
A Woodland WalkIntroduction As you proceed down the trail to the woods stop on the grass just before the trail goes into the tall trees, Stand there for a minute or so, stand there long enough to feel the beat of the sun or the rain or the wind. Then introduce your station.... we are going to take a walk in the forest. Forests come in all shapes and sizes, some with little trees and some with big. Lets take a look at the Augusta Springs Wetland Forest Now walk into the woods and stop just as you teach the tall trees. Be sure you are far enough that you are in the shade and under tree canopy. Have everyone take a deep breath and dramatically exhale. Aren't trees wonderful! What did these trees just give us? Oxygen! What did we give them? Carbon Dioxide! Point out it is cooler under the trees or drier or out of the wind; trees give us so many things: oxygen, shade, shelter, wood, and a multitude of other products. Trees are also animal apartment houses. Continue to stroll on up the trail. Stop on the trail adjacent the can dump. Ask the kids if they see anything here that does not belong in a forest. Point out the can dump. Tell them how people used to think that rivers and creaks were a good place to get rid of trash. When a big rainstorm came it would wash away. People know better now. Because, we ALL live down stream and what you throw away doesn't go away! Forests and Soil Relationship Stroll a bit farther up the trail. Wetlands grow wonderful forests. Why? What do trees need to grow? They need plenty of water and nutrients, which they get from the soil and they need sunshine (some more than others). We know that wetlands act as big sponges for water flowing down and over the earth. Because of this, the trees (forest) growing around this giant sponge have a continuous supply of water at their toes (their roots). Because the trees can grow so well here, the roots help the hillside from wasting (eroding) away into the sponge or wetland and into the stream, which flows into the river, which eventually flows into the Chesapeake Bay! You see, the roots of a tree will extend out beyond its branch tips, holding the soil in place. Soil is an under appreciated natural resource. Soil provides the key nutrients for plants to grow. So the wetland and the forest share a special and necessary relationship. Wetlands are valuable for growing forests! Tree cookies allow us to take a look at the life of a tree. The rings, growth rings, on the cookies tell a story. Anything that affected the tree during its life is represented in how close (narrow) or far apart (wide) the rings are. For example, years with little water will have the rings really close. We can also count the rings to find out how old the tree was. Have kids guess the age of their tree then count and find out. Compare the suppressed cookies with the wetland cookies. The trees around the wetland are fat and healthy and probably happy! Why? Because Wetlands are valuable for growing forests! Every Tree For Itself Stroll up to the intersection to the hammocks. We have seen how wetlands are valuable for growing forests. What does it take to be a tree? Have the kids spread out around you. Lead in with something like: Let's pretend we are all trees. Stretch out your branches and dig in your roots (hold out your arms and wiggle your feet). Let's move like a tree might (animate the movements as you tell the kids the following list):
While the group is still standing around you as trees, play the game "Every Tree For Itself'. We just pretended to move liked we were trees now lets see if we can grow like trees. Ask the kids to tell you what a tree needs to grow (sun, soil, water, etc). Tell them to stay planted where they are and that you are going to sprinkle around them different color sticks that represent sun (yellow), soil (green), & water (blue). When you give the signal they can bend down and collect the sticks around them. They cannot move their feet because they are rooted in the ground! Once all the sticks are collected have them hold them out in their hands like a deck of cards. Go around to each child and discuss how each tree did. Will it survive? Did it get too much of one thing and not enough of another? Point out that it is not easy being a tree. You are stuck to grow (or in some cases try to grow) where you are planted! Wrap Up If you had to be a tree...you would want to be a tree near a wetland because of abundant water nearby, and other healthy trees contributing to abundant soil. Therefore, wetlands are valuable for growing forests! |
| /public/projects/augustasprings/learning stations/Forest Hike/Instructions | Login | Web Editor | Full Editor |
| Last modified 9/25/06 12:17 PM by menichol (history) Site contents | |