Meet a treeA collection of tree activities to use together or individually…

Poetree

Gather the group around an interesting treeExplain that they need to make a word picture of the tree by each person describing their views or thoughts on the tree in their own wayAll contributions are recorded and ordered into a group poem

Leaf slides

Invite the group to a slide show - as an entrance fee they should each collect an interesting leafAt a pre-arranged site, meet the group, check their leaves on entry and issue each person with an empty slide casingThe ‘transparencies’ are assembled by clipping a section of leaf between the two plastic slidesThe slides are numbered and then the group arranges the slides numerically in an outward circle, so they are stacked in order in the ‘carousel’The slides are held up to be admired then passed on clockwise at the signal of a clickerWhen the leaf slide arrives back with its owner, the contents are removed carefully and kept, the casings can be reused

Leaf graves

Find a shady spot to discuss the ultimate fate of all leaves – how they slowly recycle back to soilSpend a moment considering the leaf’s life and what it has achieved – who it may have supported, shaded, fed etcExplain that to help the leaves on their way to decomposition we could give them a decent burialEach leaf is appropriately named according to it’s use

A suitable epitaph is composed in recognition of the leaf’s useful and worthy lifeThe leaves can be placed under logs and any decorations addedThe epitaphs are recited solemnly whilst the logs are slowly lowered over the graves

Tree stories

Give each participant a small canister of water and a petri dish – all they need to create a play called ‘My Tree’s Life Story’Any other props required must be collected from outsideAllow 10-20 minutes ‘gathering time’Choose a pleasant outdoor spot to lay out the props for the story telling Each child weaves a story around the props and tells it to anotherThe water is used to sprinkle as rain to promote growth

Variation

Use the props to tell fairy stories or their own stories