Preschool Stewardship Lessons
Introduction
Along with helping students develop a sense of connection with trees and a stewardship ethic toward them, teachers can also connect lessons in science, math, and environmental literacy to stewardship tasks. These hands-on lessons can help turn abstract concepts into real and engaging activities for students. We have gathered lessons and activities here that were developed by established organizations and practitioners in the field of outdoor education.
There are also many wonderful opportunities for nature play as young children care for their forest, whether it is jumping in a pile of raked leaves, playing with sparkling water drops, or turning pruned branches into flagpoles and wands.
Click on the links below to navigate directly to each subject area or scroll down to browse.
© Ayesha Ercelawn
Watering
Build A Tree — Green Schoolyards America
This classic role-play activity can be used to focus on the function of the roots and trunk as a plant takes up water.
Plants Need a Drink! — Green Schoolyards America
This role-play activity teaches young students about plant water needs and how to notice wilted versus well-watered plants. Note that this activity applies to broad-leaved species rather than conifers.
Puddle Scientist — Learning withOutdoors
Students study puddles after rainstorms or heavy watering, exploring their size, shape, depth, and generally having some splashy fun!
Weeding
Nature Paint Brushes — PBS Kids
Roots, leaves, and twigs can all be bundled together to make a variety of paintbrushes. Explore these brushes with paint, water, or mud and nature pigments.
Parts of a Plant — Learning through Landscapes
Students use an uprooted weed to study the parts of a plant.
Mulching
Critter Playground — Learning withOutdoors
Young children love playing with loose natural materials. Woodchips, together with other objects, can be used to make a critter playground for real or imaginary bugs on the schoolyard.
Outdoor Tic Tac Toe — Housing A Forest
Students use chalk to color individual wood chips and twigs. These can be used for a game of tic-tac-toe, checkers, or to create an art piece.
Simple Outdoor Checkers Game — Housing A Forest
Students use chalk to color individual wood chips and twigs. These can be used for a game of checkers.
© Ayesha Ercelawn
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Schoolyard Forest System℠
The Schoolyard Forest System℠ Resource Library is a set of practical tools for schools and districts working to increase tree canopy on public school grounds to shade and protect PreK-12 students from extreme heat and rising temperatures due to climate change. Funding for the first phase of this initiative was provided by a grant administered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Urban and Community Forestry Program, and private philanthropy.
