Adopt a Tree We All Need
Get out those mittens, hats, boots and coats; it’s time to go outside! It is the heart of winter and time to explore the great outdoors in the snow. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Adopt a Tree” and “We All Need Trees” to explore the wonder of trees in the winter. Take a winter walk around the schoolyard or backyard and have each student choose a tree to “adopt”. Have students make observations about their tree and/or take measurements of height, girth etc. Take a picture of each student with their tree. Make plans to visit the trees during the spring. Then, have each student learn more about their tree. Can they figure out what kind of tree it is? What animals use their tree for food or shelter? Do we use their tree for food or what products do we get from this kind of tree? Explore and learn more!

Young Child Extension
Take young children out to explore the schoolyard and let them “adopt” a tree! Encourage them to learn all they can about their tree. What does it feel like? Smell like? What animals do they think might use their tree? Once back in the classroom have children draw pictures or write stories about their tree. Discuss different ways in which we use trees. Eat fruit or nuts from trees or make hot cocoa which comes from trees!

Book List

Grades PreK-2
Barasch, L. 1993. A Winter Walk. Ticknor & Fields.
Behn, H. and J. Endicott. 1994. Trees. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Berger, M. 1995. What Do Animals Do in Winter?: How Animals Survive the Cold. Ideals Publications.
Bunting, E. 1994. The Night Tree. Voyager Books.
Burns, D. and L. Garrow. 1998. Leaves, Trees and Bark (Take-Along Guide). NorthWord Books for Young Readers.
Canizares, S. and P. Chanko. 1997. Look At This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Canizares, S., D. Moreton and B. Chessen. 1997. Who Lives in a Tree? Scholastic, Inc.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Charman, A. 2003. I Wonder Why Trees Have Leaves and Other Questions about Plants. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Costian, M. 2001. Life in a Tree: Focus, Habitat. Tandem Library.
DePalma, M.N. 2005. A Grand Old Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Evans, L. 2002. Winter: An Alphabet Acrostic. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Finnegan, M.P. 2002. Winter: Signs of the Season around North America. Capstone Press.
Freedman, R. 1981. When Winter Comes. Penguin Young Readers Group.
Gackenbach, D. 1996. Mighty Tree. Harcourt Children's Books.
Gaff, J. 2005. I Wonder Why Pine Trees Have Needles and Other Questions about Forests. Roaring Brook Press.
George, J.C. 2001. Winter Moon. HarperCollins Publishers.
Gibbons, G. 1984. The Season of Arnold’s Apple Tree. Voyager Books.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Gove, D. and M. H. Mallory. My Mother Talks to Trees. Peachtree Publishers.
Iverson, D. 1999. My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America. Dawn Publications.
Jones, J.B. 2001. Who Lives in the Snow? Rinehart P.
Lavies, B. 1989. Tree Trunk Traffic. Penguin Group (USA), Inc.
Lawlor, E.P. 1998. Discover Nature in Winter: Things to Know and Things to Do. Stackpole Books.
Llewellyn, C. 2004. Tree. T&N Children's Publishing.
Miller, D.S. and S. Schuett. 2003. Are Trees Alive? Walker & Company.
Sams, C.R. 2000. Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy. Sams, Carl, R. II, Photography.
Thomson, R. 1989. Winter. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Van Laan, N. 2000. A Tree for Me. Random House.
Wildsmith, B. 1991. Animal Seasons. Oxford University Press.
Worth, B. 2006. I Can Name 50 Trees Today!: All about Trees. Random House Publishing Group.
Yolen, J. 2005. Snow, Snow: Winter Poems for Children. Boyds Mills Press.

Grades 3-5
Albert, T. 1998. A Kid's Winter EcoJournal: With Nature Activities for Exploring the Season. Trickle Creek Books.
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Trees. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Bernard, R. 2001. A Tree for All Seasons. National Geographic Children’s Books.
Bourgoing, P. 1992. The Tree. Scholastic First Discovery Books.
Burns, D.L. and L. Garrow. 1998. Trees, Leaves and Bark. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Burton, J. and K. Taylor. 1999. Nature and Science of Winter. Gareth Stevens Audio.
Canizares, S. 1997. Look at This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Dowden, A. The Blossom on the Bough: A Book of Trees. Thomas Y. Crowell.
Garelick, M. & Brenner, B. 1979. The Tremendous Tree Book. Four Winds Press.
George, K. 1998. Old Elm Speaks. Clarion Books.
Gibbons, G. 1984. The Season of Arnold’s Apple Tree. Voyager Books.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Young Readers.
Hiscock, B. 1991. The Big Tree. Atheneum Books-MacMillan.
Iverson, D. 1999. My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America.. Dawn Publications.
Meyer, M.L. 2002. Winter. Smart Apple Media.
Miller, D. 2003. Are Trees Alive? Walker Books for Young Readers.
Oppenheim, J. 1967. Have You Seen Trees. Addison Wesley Longman Publishing Company.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Tresselt, A. 1992. The Gift of a Tree. Lothrop, Lee & Shephard Books.
Wong, H & Vessel, M. 1969. Our Tree. Addison-Wesley.
Yolen, J. 2005. Snow, Snow: Winter Poems for Children. Boyds Mills Press.

Grades 6-8
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot’s Guide to Knowing the Trees. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Garelick, M. & Brenner, B. 1979. The Tremendous Tree Book. Four Winds Press.
Jones, A. 2006. Four Seasons: Uncovering Nature. Firefly Books, Limited.
Santrey, L. 1982. Winter. Troll Communications L.L.C.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Watts, M.T. 1970. Winter Tree Finder. Nature Study Guild.

Grades 9-12
Arnosky, J. 1988. Sketching Outdoors in Winter. HarperCollins Publishers.
Bastedo, J. 2003. Falling for Snow: A Naturalist's Journey Into the World of Winter. Red Deer Press.
Heinrich, B. 1998. The Trees in My Forest. HarperCollins Publishers.
Kershner, B., et al. 2008. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. Sterling Publishing.
Marchand, P.J. 1987. Life in the Cold: An Introduction to Winter Ecology. University Press of New England.
Stokes, D.W. 1979. Stokes Guide to Nature in Winter. Little, Brown & Company.
Trelease, W. 1967. Winter Botany: An Identification Guide to Native Trees and Shrubs. Dover Publications.