This activity will provide students with a way to directly take part in a climate solution and engage with other students and adults in their community.
The easy-to-follow instructions are accompanied by links for additional information about the benefits of trees and helpful resources for students in Minnesota.
Teaching Tips
Positives
Students will feel empowered to be a part of the solution by taking this positive action with their peers, teachers, family, and friends.
The resources are especially helpful for those living in Minnesota.
Additional Prerequisites
You may need to do some planning with school administrators or other land owners to determine if there is a location at or near the school where native trees could be planted.
You may also have to seek out other organizations or local groups to identify appropriate trees for your area.
Differentiation
Cross-curricular connections with language arts and social studies could be made, as students are preparing, presenting, and promoting the event.
This activity could be completed by an entire class or school club.
Encourage students to seek guidance from university extension offices nearby that can help them choose the best types of native trees and possibly help them source free baby trees.
Students could encourage a volunteer day for their entire school to participate in the event, especially around Earth Day or Arbor Day.
Scientist Notes
The activity is appropriate to educate students on the need for clean energy advocacy for efficient energy supply. There is clear illustration on implementing clean energy jobs through legislation and activism. Resource is recommended.
Standards
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 4: Taking Informed Action
D4.8.3-5 Use a range of deliberative and democratic procedures to make decisions about and act on civic problems in their classrooms and schools.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
HS-LS2-7 Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
