Science investigations: a tree walk

The gorgeous weather this week made for so much fun when we started our first science unit - on trees! We talked about what scientists do (several kiddos want to be scientists when they grow up!) and then I gave them their official science journals. We brainstormed what we already knew about trees, including, but not limited to...

• they make amber [she meant sap, but it was not worth getting into the difference]
• they are fun to climb
• they have green leaves that let us breathe, and...
• I have a big one in my yard

Here are the science journals that the kids have now. I encouraged them to write and draw anything they saw with their scientist eyes.

Then we took off on our first of two tree hikes! In the first grove of trees, we found tons of berries, pinecones, and cicada shells! Then we walked around the school and noticed all the different types of trees. It was very exciting and the kids took some awesome notes. We'll continue to study trees for the rest of the month. At the end of September, a tree sapling will be delivered to the kindergarten classrooms and we'll plant it on the school property!

Here are our scientists in action: