Welcome to Tree Travels!
Tree Travels is an interdisciplinary and multicultural study of trees, wood and paper from around the globe. Trees can inspire, empower, and change lives. Learning about trees goes far beyond identifying their bark or leaves. Trees are critically important contributors to the health and well being of the people, land and animals on our planet. Cultures around the world have made rich connections to trees, and objects made from trees, for thousands of years. This program explores trees, wood and paper through the lenses of different cultures, and allows children the opportunity to make connections between their own lives and the lives of others around the world.
Tree Travels was created as an easy to implement, complimentary, standards based program, which merges current ICSD kindergarten FOSS science curriculum with district ELA, social studies, and science goals. Although this program is targeted for kindergarteners, it can be effectively used as a resource for children and adults across the district.
This program is the result of sabbatical research, conducted through the Ithaca City School District and Ithaca Teachers Association, during the 2012-2013 school year.
Navigating the Website:
This program explores trees, wood and paper in a dozen different locations around the world. Each location selected contains some/all of the following components:
Tree Travels was created as an easy to implement, complimentary, standards based program, which merges current ICSD kindergarten FOSS science curriculum with district ELA, social studies, and science goals. Although this program is targeted for kindergarteners, it can be effectively used as a resource for children and adults across the district.
This program is the result of sabbatical research, conducted through the Ithaca City School District and Ithaca Teachers Association, during the 2012-2013 school year.
Navigating the Website:
This program explores trees, wood and paper in a dozen different locations around the world. Each location selected contains some/all of the following components:
- Country Overview - The geography, landscapes, and cultural notes from each country are briefly introduced to the students. The overview provides the children and teacher with some general background information to help connect them with an unfamiliar place in the world, and have a context from which to learn about the content presented in each lesson.
- Photo Cards - Engaging images of trees, and objects made of wood and paper from around the globe. Each image is accompanied by a "teacher friendly" and standards linked script that can be used to promote class discussion, assess prior knowledge, and introduce new countries and objects of study.
- VoiceThreads - Original nonfiction stories emphasizing particular cultural connections to trees, and highlighting various objects made from wood and paper.
- Sequencing Cards - A series of photos on a particular tree related topic. Children can work independently or as a group to put the cards in order based on what they have learned from the VoiceThreads they have viewed. The cards can be printed or viewed as a slideshow on the webpage. The printed cards can be put out as a station, or used to assess individual comprehension of the nonfiction material presented in the VoiceThread. The cards are also perfect for retelling activities, and can be used as nonfiction writing prompts. In addition, children can write captions for each of the photos and create their own "how to" books.
- Write and Draw - Suggested writing activities on tree, wood and paper topics. Writing templates for printing are provided.
- Classroom Activities - Hands on lessons that help to reinforce and/or assess concepts presented during class discussions.
- Literature Link - A collection of fiction and nonfiction books that can be used to accompany the material created through Tree Travels. Click below for a list of recommended tree books for children.
Click on the menu tabs above and start traveling!