Once There Was A Tree

Language: English

This feature book beautifully weaves together the important relationship among all living things, and primarily our dependence on trees to provide food, shelter, and the air we breathe. LeVar explores the magnificent life cycle of trees in the forest and their importance to humans, animals, and the planet, and he explores how photosynthesis works. He also visits a scientist who climbs trees to study them more closely, and a family who harvests maple syrup.

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

Creative Pancakes

This is a great way to start your day. Prepare your favorite pancake batter and have your children help you pour the batter on the griddles to form round pancakes. Then decorate the pancakes with fruit slices and syrup to make funny faces.

Another idea is to help your children pour special shapes on the griddle to resemble animals. For example, pour one large and two small connecting circles to form the head of a bear. Or make a long shape to resemble a lizard and add four tiny circular pancakes to form the four feet. Add raisins or berries for eyes, noses, and mouths.

Pits and Seeds

Help your children make a collection of pits and seeds from food you eat, like those from a peach, plum, avocado, orange, apple, and grapes. Place the seeds in a container with water. It’s a good idea to write on masking tape the name of the food from which the seed came and attach it to the side of the container. Place the seed in a sunny spot, adding water as needed. You must be very patient, but soon the pits and seeds will split and sprout. At that point you can plant them in soil or leave them in the water.

Sprouting Sponge

You will need:

a new dish sponge
bean sprouts or mustard seeds (found at your local grocery store)
plastic plate
plastic wrap
spray bottle
scissors

Directions:

Use the sponge as is or help your child cut it into a shape, such as a heart, star or triangle.
Soak the sponge in water, squeeze out any excess water so the sponge is still wet but not dripping, and then place it on a plate.
Your child can evenly sprinkle bean sprouts or mustard seeds over your sponge and then place it in a sunny area.
To keep the sponge damp throughout the day, mist it with water in a spray bottle. At night cover carefully with plastic wrap to keep in the moisture.
Continue for two weeks….and see what happens.

Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library:

The Tremendous Tree Book by Barbara Brenner and May Garelick
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
The Tree In The Wood: An Old Nursery Song by Christopher Manson
Trees, A Poem by Harry Behn

READING RAINBOW has a resource library that includes teacher guide materials as well as reading programs for use in the public libraries. You can download these resources from GPN at:
www.gpnresources.com

If you would like more information about READING RAINBOW or if you would like to learn more about other educational products please visit the GPN web site.

Once There Was A Tree

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

Creative Pancakes

Pits and Seeds

Sprouting Sponge

Activity title goes in this space

Activity title goes in this space

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Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library:

Once There Was A Tree

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

Creative Pancakes

Pits and Seeds

Sprouting Sponge

Activity title goes in this space

Activity title goes in this space

Activity title goes in this space

Activity title goes in this space

Check out some of these books on your next trip to the library:

Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library: