Do You See The Trees? Environmental Curriculum for K-3

“Do You See the Trees?”  Curriculum Materials for K-3

Little Egypt (and Beyond)

By Shannon Green and Michael Eldridge

Designed for CI 531

Summer 2012

Instructor: Dr. Grant Miller

These curriculum materials have been written to support environmental learning principles that are specifically related to the Southern Illinois region.   The curriculum ideas presented here have been written to support learning goals set forth by the Illinois supported Common Core Learning standards for early elementary grades.  Guiding principles for these curriculum ideas were taken from Universal Design for Learning theory. 

The following Curriculum plans and activity ideas are all associated with the general subject of trees.  Trees are an abundant natural resource in Southern Illinois.  It is our hope that by participating in the activities of this curriculum, children will became more aware of the importance of and appreciation for the trees in their own environment.

“Do You See the Trees?” General Curriculum Notes:

The primary goal of this curriculum is to reinforce the principle that trees are important to humans and other animals.

Specifically, we hope that:

• Children will gain an increased awareness of the trees in their school environment.
•    Children will gain understanding of the many ways humans and other animals interact with trees.
• Children will experience and describe how humans and other animals receive enjoyment and leisure opportunities from trees.
•   Children will recognize and describe how humans and other animals receive nourishment and shelter from trees.
•  And finally, that children will describe different ways in which humans can take responsibility for protecting trees in their personal environments and the larger world.

In addition to the learning goals stated above, the development of empathy as it relates to the study of trees is of primary importance in this curriculum as well.  With the completion of these learning experiences it is our hope that children will develop the capacity to:

• Care about the trees in their world.
•   Care that trees are important to the health and well being of humans and other animals, and are sometimes put into danger at the hands of human actions.
•   Care for the trees in their environment by providing care, nourishment, stewardship, and protection.
•  Care to notice and appreciate the trees that they see every day.

Two curriculum books were used as inspirations for this curriculum plan:

• Bringing Reggio Emilia Home by Louise Boyd Cadwell
• Worms, Shadows, and Whirlpools by Karen Worth & Sharon grollman

To find activities/lessons specifically related to this curriculum idea on this blog, use the label "Do you see the trees?" and the general labels k-3, trees, and environmental education to find all associated blog posts.