How Old Is This Tree?

Counting Rings

Measuring the Circumference

Making Tree Rings

Activity:

The children learned ways to estimate the age of a tree: counting the rings inside the tree and measuring the circumference of a tree's trunk. During the ring counting activity, we brought logs into the school from the playground. Needless to say, bugs came in with them. The children were really excited about the little visitors. It was a great opportunity to work on language and communication skills. We talked about how they bugs got into the school, made projections on how the spider may have felt being in the school and explored beyond the here and now, discussing where it may be going.

Teacher: Oh wow, wonder how that got in here!

Child 1: the log

(The children start to chase the spider all around)

Teacher: How do you think the spider feels when you chase it around?

Child 2: Scared

Teacher: Why do you think it might be scared?

Child 1: because it is small.

We went out into the forest and measured the tree trunks of various trees, recording our findings. We later used string to demonstrate the different trunks and use comparative language such as big/bigger/biggest, short/shorter/shortest, fat/fatter/fattest to compare and contrast the trunks. They then created their own colorful tree trunks practicing their fine motor skills (cutting, drawing circles and coloring within the lines).

Purpose:

• sensory exploration: tactile, visual, olfactory
• language skill development: superlatives and comparative (big/bigger/biggest, etc), taking on the point of view of others, making predictions/talking beyond the hear and now 
• Math skills: ability to compare and contrast, make inferences based on known knowledge, use of measuring tools

Connection to the Lpfö-98 Revised 2016:

"Children search for knowledge and development through play, social interaction, exploration and creativity, as well as through observation, discussion and reflection.  A theme based approach can broaden and enrich the child's learning"

Shadow Trees:

Activity:

Today the children reviewed the parts of a tree by making a model of a tree using branches, twigs and leaves. They then used the materials to make a shadow tree. After they made the shadow tree they explored how they can use their bodies to create different shapes and shadows.

Some of the children had difficulty understanding how to move their bodies to cast a clear figure on the wall. We talked about how our movements had to be big and how we had to hold our limbs far apart to create clear lines.

The children also got creative using props to stage scenes. The really appeared to enjoy the activity and vocalized disappointment when we had to end the it. We will definitely need to repeat this activity in the future.

Purpose:

to review the parts of a tree in a new and exciting way providing them an opportunity to collaborate, cooperate and use free expression in a creative way.

Connection to the Lpfö 98- revised 2016

The preschool should strive to ensure that each child......

• develop his/her ability to build create and construct using different techniques, materials and tools
• develop his/her ability to function within groups
• be provided opportunities to develop his/her ability to observe and reflect.