By: Patrick Troyer, Education Specialist
In honor of Arbor Day & Earth Day, first graders at Paulding, Oakwood, Payne, and Antwerp Elementary Schools learned about the importance of trees to our environment during recent programs. As part of this program, each student was given a Colorado Blue Spruce seedling donated by the Paulding Soil & Water Conservation District and packaged with assistance from the Wayne Trace FFA Chapter this year.
Students learned that trees are extremely valuable to our environment and need plenty of food, water, and nutrients in order to grow. Energy for trees to make food is obtained from the sun which starts the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis takes energy from the sun, combines it with carbon dioxide from the air to make food which allows the plant to carry out several processes needed to survive.
As a result of photosynthesis, oxygen is released for us to breathe. Students learned that just like they do, plants need water in order to carry out many other functions. Water helps carry much needed nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorus taken up by plant roots to various parts of the plant where they are needed. Nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorus provide additional energy to plants and help them carry out various functions such as producing leaves, seeds, and fruit among many other functions.
Students also learned some basic tree parts and some facts about each part. The leaves contain chlorophyll which is what gives trees their green color. The process of photosynthesis takes place in in the leaves. The trunk of a tree (stem) gives the tree support and shape. Trunks contain a network of cells which carry food and water throughout the tree. Roots are very important to giving the tree support. When the trees start out, the roots will grow straight down to become established. The roots have millions of tiny root hairs that absorb water and nutrients from the soil. At the tip of each root there is a root cap which protects the root as it pushes through the soil.
Bark covers the trunk of the tree. Branches and twigs of a tree and protects it from insects, disease, storm damage, and temperature swings. The crown of a tree consists of the leaves as well as branches at the top of the tree and filters dust and other particles from the air. It is also the function of the crown to cool the air, provide shade, and also slow raindrops during a storm. Students were asked if they knew how to tell the age of a tree. We look at the growth rings of a tree to determine age as each ring represents one year of growth for a tree. Several factors such as drought, excessive rain, fire, insects, injury, and air pollu tion can affect the growth of a tree and can be seen in the ring of a tree in the patterns of the growth ring.
Students were then given a paper plate which they used to draw their own growth rings according to their age. Next, we covered the value that trees provide to nature. Trees provide many services including: air cleaning, recreation & enjoyment, home for wildlife, and much more. In the process of photosynthesis, trees are taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen providing clean air for us to breathe. When trees are taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, they are helping to remove harmful gases which help contribute to climate change. Trees also provide inviting and cool places for us to enjoy while also providing a home for wildlife.
Students learned that Arbor Day is an annual observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives and that promotes the planting of trees. Trees can be helped in serval ways including: using paper wisely, pack lunch in a reusable bag, planting a tree, and of course recycling paper! Of course there are many more ways to help protect trees!
After learning all about trees, students took part in an activity called “Every Tree for Themselves! In this activity, students learned the difficulty that comes with trees obtaining all the resources they need in order to survive. Colored squares were placed on the floor to represent water, sunlight, and nutrients which trees need to survive. Each student now became trees and positioned themselves around the room.
Students or “trees” reach with their roots and branches (arms and legs) to gather their requirements. Everyone was reminded that trees can’t walk around. One foot (their tap root) must remain planted on their cross-section at all times. They were not allowed to slide their cross-section along the floor or step off it; they were disqualified for doing so. Thirty seconds were given for all requirements to be gathered. After the time was up, students recorded the amount of requirements they were able to gather.
Other rounds that were played depicted scenarios which there was drought conditions, lack of nutrients, and overcrowding trees. The results from each of these rounds was compared with the first round in which all requirements are available to show the difficulties that trees face in the environment when they are trying to get all the requirements they need to survive! Along with their free tree seedlings, students were given instructions on how to care for and plant their young seedlings.
