Build a Tree: STEM Challenge

30 minutesGradesK, 1, 2Mathematics

About this activity

In this center activity, students will design and create a tree using a variety of building materials. Students will also use standard and nonstandard units of measurement to measure and compare their creations.

Everything you need to teach it

Build a Tree Center ActivityView Activity

How to edit these materials (video)

Teaching tips

There are three levels of measurement to choose from. Students may use whichever method aligns with their ability and prior knowledge.
This activity is best done in a building or construction center. Alternatively, an open area on the floor will work.
Teacher can print the leaf templates and glue them to cardboard or draw directly on cardboard. Alternatively, green craft sticks can be used in place of leaves.

From the scientist review

A background on the importance of trees in the carbon cycle is given via this activity. It enables pupils to consider the effects of trees in urban areas and green spaces and quantify their richness. After reviewing all of the related supporting resources, we suggest using this task in the classroom.

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About the teacher writer

Elizabeth Ward

Elizabeth Ward, B.S., is SubjectToClimate's Chief Product Officer. She has more than 12 years of teaching experience across 3rd-grade science and social studies, Kindergarten, and online EFL, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Endorsement. She has spent 8 years in the education sector, spanning curriculum development and ed tech. Outside of work, she loves exploring the natural beauty of her home state of Texas.

At a glance

Time: 30 minutes
Grades: K, 1, 2
Subjects: Mathematics
Format: Google Slides
Language: English
Location: Earth
Created by: SubjectToClimate teachers
Published: December 13, 2023
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.1 + 56 more

Core

Core Standards legacy

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.1CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.1 Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.2CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.2 Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has "more of"/"less of" the attribute, and describe the difference. For example, directly compare the heights of two children and describe one child as taller/shorter.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.A.1CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.A.1 Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.A.2CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.A.2 Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Limit to contexts where the object being measured is spanned by a whole number of length units with no gaps or overlaps.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.1CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.1 Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.4CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.4 Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard length unit.

New Jersey Climate Education Hub

New Jersey Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

K.M.A.1K.M.A.1 Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.
K.M.A.2K.M.A.2 Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has "more of"/"less of" the attribute, and describe the difference. For example, directly compare the heights of two children and describe one child as taller/shorter.
1.M.A.11.M.A.1 Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
1.M.A.21.M.A.2 Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Limit to contexts where the object being measured is spanned by a whole number of length units with no gaps or overlaps.
2.M.A.12.M.A.1 Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
2.M.A.42.M.A.4 Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard length unit.

Oregon Climate Education Hub

Oregon Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

K.GM.C.7K.GM.C.7 Describe several measurable attributes of a single object using measurable terms, such as length or weight.
K.GM.C.8K.GM.C.8 Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, and describe which object has "more" or "less" of the attribute.
1.GM.B.41.GM.B.4 Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
1.GM.B.51.GM.B.5 Express the length of an object as a whole number of non-standard length units by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end.
2.GM.B.42.GM.B.4 Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate measurement tools.
2.GM.B.72.GM.B.7 Measure two objects and determine the difference in their lengths in terms of a standard length unit.

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

M.K.MD.A.1M.K.MD.A.1 Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.
M.K.MD.A.2M.K.MD.A.2 Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common to see which object has "more of" / "less of" the attribute, and describe the difference.
M.1.MD.A.1M.1.MD.A.1 Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
M.1.MD.A.2M.1.MD.A.2 Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps.
M.2.MD.A.1M.2.MD.A.1 Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
M.2.MD.A.4M.2.MD.A.4 Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard length unit.

Maine Climate Education Hub

Maine Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

K.MD.A.1K.MD.A.1 Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.
K.MD.A.2K.MD.A.2 Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has "more of"/"less of" the attribute and describe the difference.
1.MD.A.11.MD.A.1 Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
1.MD.A.21.MD.A.2 Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps.
2.MD.A.12.MD.A.1 Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
2.MD.A.42.MD.A.4 Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard length unit.

New York Climate Education Hub

New York Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

NY-K.MD.1NY-K.MD.1 Describe measurable attributes of an object(s), such as length or weight, using appropriate vocabulary.
NY-K.MD.2NY-K.MD.2 Directly compare two objects with a common measurable attribute and describe the difference.
NY-1.MD.1NY-1.MD.1 Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
NY-1.MD.2NY-1.MD.2 Measure the length of an object using same-size “length units” placed end to end with no gaps or overlaps. Express the length of an object as a whole number of “length units.”
NY-2.MD.1NY-2.MD.1 Measure the length of an object to the nearest whole by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
NY-2.MD.4NY-2.MD.4 Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard “length unit.”

Connecticut Climate Education Hub

Connecticut Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.2CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.2 Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has "more of"/"less of" the attribute, and describe the difference. For example, directly compare the heights of two children and describe one child as taller/shorter.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.A.2CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.A.2 Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Limit to contexts where the object being measured is spanned by a whole number of length units with no gaps or overlaps.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.4CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.4 Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard length unit.

ECCLPs Climate Education Hub

ECCLPs Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.1CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.1 Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.2CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.2 Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has "more of"/"less of" the attribute, and describe the difference. For example, directly compare the heights of two children and describe one child as taller/shorter.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.A.1CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.A.1 Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.A.2CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.A.2 Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Limit to contexts where the object being measured is spanned by a whole number of length units with no gaps or overlaps.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.1CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.1 Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.4CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.4 Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard length unit.

Michigan Climate Education Hub

Michigan Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

K.MD.1.K.MD.1. Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.
K.MD.2.K.MD.2. Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has “more of”/“less of” the attribute, and describe the difference. For example, directly compare the heights of two children and describe one child as taller/shorter.
1.MD.1.1.MD.1. Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
1.MD.2.1.MD.2. Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Limit to contexts where the object being measured is spanned by a whole number of length units with no gaps or overlaps.
2.MD.1.2.MD.1. Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
2.MD.4.2.MD.4. Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard length unit.

Illinois Climate Education

Illinois Climate Education Standards legacy

K.MD.1.K.MD.1. Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.
K.MD.2.K.MD.2. Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has “more of”/“less of” the attribute, and describe the difference. For example, directly compare the heights of two children and describe one child as taller/shorter.
1.MD.1.1.MD.1. Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
1.MD.2.1.MD.2. Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Limit to contexts where the object being measured is spanned by a whole number of length units with no gaps or overlaps.
2.MD.1.2.MD.1. Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
2.MD.4.2.MD.4. Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard length unit.

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Build a Tree: STEM Challenge

About this activity

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Teaching tips

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About this activity

Everything you need to teach it

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From the scientist review

Want this to fit your class?

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