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The Illinois State Board of Education states:"The last Friday in April is designated as 'Arbor and Bird Day,' to be observed throughout the State as a day for planting trees, shrubs and vines about public grounds, and as a day on which to hold appropriate exercises in the public schools and elsewhere tending to show the value of trees and birds and the necessity for their protection." |
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Arbor Day
From the National Arbor Day Foundation
“Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care.” Here you can find:
• Arbor Day Around the World
• Arbor Day in the Classroom
• Arbor Day History
• Arbor Day Dates |
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Trees Make a World of Difference
From the National Arbor Day Foundation
This official site of the Arbor Day Foundation provides information about planting and caring for trees, Rain Forest Rescue, Tree City USA programs, and much more. Although it’s too late to enter the 2009 Arbor Day Poster Contest for this year, you can view winning posters from each state and sign up for free educational materials for the classroom. Did you know that Rockford has been a Tree City USA in Illinois for 19 years? Rockford is one of 187 cities in Illinois with that designation. |
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Arbor Day
From TreeHelp.com
"The first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. It was the brainchild of Julius Sterling Morton (1832-1902), a Nebraska journalist and politician originally from Michigan. Throughout his long and productive career, Morton worked to improve agricultural techniques in his adopted state and throughout the United States when he served as President Grover Cleveland's Secretary of Agriculture. But his most important legacy is Arbor Day... At the federal level, in 1970, President Richard Nixon proclaimed the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day. Arbor Day is also now celebrated in other countries including Australia. Variations are celebrated as 'Greening Week' of Japan, 'The New Year's Days of Trees' in Israel, 'The Tree-loving Week' of Korea, 'The Reforestation Week' of Yugoslavia, 'The Students' Afforestation Day' of Iceland and 'The National Festival of Tree Planting' in India. Julius Sterling Morton would be proud. Sometimes one good idea can make a real difference." |
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Arbor Day Crafts
From Enchanted Learning
Here you can find a pop-up tree card, a family tree, adding adjectives to describe a tree you drew, labeling parts of a tree in French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and more! |
Arbor Day Activities
From Apples4theTeacher.com
Plays and skits, songs and music, poems, a short bibliography of books related to Arbor Day, and printable short stories about Arbor Day can be found here. |
If a Tree Falls in the Forest – A Lesson for Grades 3-5
From National Geographic Expeditions
This lesson is connected to geography, social studies, environmental studies, and economics. |
Lesson Plans
From TalkAboutTrees.org
Here are seven complete lesson plans with objectives, skill area, vocabulary, and focus items. The curriculum is designed for grades 4-6, but is easily adaptable for other grade levels. These environmental lessons were developed by the Forest Foundation about California’s forests. |
Tree Diversity Activity
From the National Arbor Day Foundation
“You and your class may have participated recently in the Vote for America’s National Tree, an historic opportunity for the people of the United States to choose a national symbol. While the national tree should represent the history and diversity of our country, the tree that may come to
represent our nation may not be the best trees to plant in your backyard or at your school. Selecting the right tree for the right place is an important part of ensuring a tree's survival for years to come. In this activity you will have an opportunity to design a community forest and discover the importance of tree diversity.” |
Carly’s Kids Corner
From the National Arbor Day Foundation
“The kids section of the National Arbor Day Foundation site integrates fun with learning. It has a great selection of games (with corny names such as ‘Who wants to be a Treelionaire?’ and ‘Treevial Pursuit’), educational articles (‘Trees Make a Difference’), and community activity ideas (‘Kids Make a Difference.’) Clicks not to be missed include ‘What Tree is That?’ (a feature by feature guide to tree identification) and the classroom activities you'll find by moving your mouse over the little red schoolhouse.” |
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An Arbor Day Play
From the National Arbor Day Foundation
"Trees: A Joy Forever is an Arbor Day Play suitable for performance by school-aged children, or a mixed cast of children and adults.
Audiences will learn the origins of Arbor Day when the statue of J. Sterling Morton comes to life and takes two inquisitive youngsters back in time." This play is available in English and in Spanish. |
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Real Trees 4 Kids!
From the National Christmas Tree Foundation
"'Everyone has a story to tell. This is ours. It is a story of cycles ... life cycles, crop cycles, and environmental cycles. We invite you to join us as we journey behind the scenes to see just what tree farming is all about.' The National Christmas Tree Association has lots of facts, figures, charts and even games designed to teach us all about (you guessed it) Christmas tree farming. There are separate sections for elementary and secondary students and teachers, covering grade-appropriate topics in science, geography, language arts and economics." Something for Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12! |
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If Trees Could Talk
From the Forest History Society
“If trees could talk and we could listen, would we be wiser? The Forest History Society believes that we must understand the history of forests and their people in order to shape the future of people and their forests. This 11-module, middle school curriculum gives teachers the opportunity to download social studies activities that are based upon archival materials. The centerpiece of each module is a compilation of primary resources--documents, maps, newspaper articles, oral histories or photographs--from which students will be asked to gather, examine, and analyze information, and synthesize insights.” |
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A Tree for Every Child Learning Guide
From American Forests
“The ‘A Tree for Every Child’ project is a hands-on and flexible environmental education program that allows students to see how practical action can create a better world. The project allows you to teach students the benefits and rewards of planting trees as part of American Forests' Global ReLeaf 2000 campaign to plant 20 million tees for the new millennium.” |
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How Can Your School Recognize Arbor Day?
From Bismarck, North Dakota
Some great facts and resources and the letter by President Theodore Roosevelt to the school children of the United States in 1907. |
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Celebrate Arbor Day
From the Idaho Forest Products Commission
“Other holidays repose upon the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future." J. Sterling Morton
• The History of Arbor Day
• Teddy Roosevelt Proclamation
• 10 Things You Can Do To Celebrate Arbor Day
• 10 Things Teachers Can Do With Their Students To Celebrate Arbor Day
• Tips on Planting Trees
• Arbor Day Scavenger Hunt
• Arbor Day Tree Trivia
• Trees from A to Z Word Puzzle |
Paper University: Where Students and Teachers Explore the World of Paper
From TAPPI
• Hot Topics – Quick Help with Your Burning Questions
• When I Grow Up – Career Opportunities in the Pulp and Paper Industry
• Art Class – Arts and Crafts with Paper
• Links & Resources – Resources for Students and Teachers
• All About Paper – Interesting Facts about Paper, Recycling, and the Environment
• Admit One – Field Trips
• Fun & Games – Interactive Games
• Fun with Science – Science Activities Using Paper |
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A Poem for Arbor Day
From Poetry for Children
"Let’s Plant a Tree" by Aileen Fisher... “Invite the kids to cheer the words 'Let's plant' at the beginning of each stanza; with practice, pairs of kids can each read aloud their own stanza; or create a paper version of pine, maple, cherry, elm, apple, fir and other trees mentioned in the poem and use them as 'props' for the read aloud.” |
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Arbor Day
From the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL
Morton Arboretum is named after Joy Morton, the eldest of J. Sterling Morton’s children, and founder of the Morton Salt Company. "The cultivation of trees is the cultivation of the good, the beautiful, and the ennobling." J. Sterling Morton |
The Lorax in the Classroom
From Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the National Education Association, and Random House Children's Books
"With the goal of educating children early on about doing their part to protect the environment, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the National Education Association, and Random House Children's Books are proud to launch the first-ever Lorax Project Student Earth Day. This annual event encourages educators and students to celebrate the Lorax's message and act on their own pledges to beautify and conserve their school environment and beyond." |
Lorax Activities
From Dr. Suess Enterprises
The Lorax's Save the Trees Game and The Lorax Sticker Game can be found here. They require the latest version of Shockwave. Enjoy the music! |
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Illinois Native State Tree
From netstate.com
The Adoption of the Illinois Native State Tree - voted by Illinois school children in 1907.
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Bird Day for Kids: Progressive Conservation in Theory and Practice
From the History Cooperative
This article by Kevin C. Armitage examines the relationship of progressive education and conservationists. |
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Bird Day - May 4
From Holiday Insights
>"Bird Day is the oldest of the days set aside to recognize birds. According to the U.S. Library of Congress, Bird Day was first observed on May 4, 1894. It was started by Charles Almanzo Babcock, superintendent of schools in Oil City, Pennsylvania. By 1910, Bird Day was widely celebrated, often in conjunction with Arbor Day. Bird Day and Arbor Day events are focused upon conservation training and awareness." |
Teaching Older Children and Youth About Trees
From the Arbor Day Foundation
Fun and learning for your students. This site contains links to "Online Games & Activities" and "Downloads for Parents & Educators."
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