Free Art Lesson Plans: Tree Identification

DRAWING NATURE: Tree Identification

Drawing the natural world is a wonderful way for children to learn about nature. When we draw an image, it is like inscribing it on our minds. A favorite project that we have taken up in our home school is to create a “Tree ID” for every tree on our property.

Supplies:

* Tree Identification Sheet
* Tree identification guide book (or use this online guide)
* A tree to identify
* Crayons
* White paper
* Scissors
* Glue stick
* Colored Pencils

Get a new, FREE project in your email box each month by signing up for the "Teach Art at Home" newsletter.

Directions:

1. Take a piece of white paper, a brown crayon and a pair of scissors out to the tree.

2. Lay the paper over the bark and rub over it with the brown crayon. Be sure to rub hard and get a good-sized sample.

3. Clip off a few leaves, seeds and flowers, if available.

4. Go back inside to a table and identify the tree using your field guide.

5. Fill in the data for the tree on the Tree ID sheet:

a. Name of tree
b. Bark Texture
c. Bark Color
d. Type of Leaf
e. Name of Seed

6. Create the following for the bottom half of the Tree ID sheet:

a. Leaf print: There are 2 ways to do this (choose one):

i. Collect a leaf or two and place under a piece of white paper. Rub over them with a green crayon (or other appropriate color like yellow or orange in the Fall). Cut out the rubbings and glue to the section on the Tree ID where it says, “leaf print”.

ii. Spread out some tempera paint in the leaf’s colors in a paper plate. Carefully rub one side of the leaf in the paint then make a print on a piece of white paper. Let dry, cut out and glue to the section on the Tree ID where it says, “Leaf print”. (This can be an art project of it’s own! Get creative with lots of prints on a page in different colors! )

b. Drawing of Seed:

i. In pencil, draw a small sketch of the seed.

ii. Color in with colored pencils.

c. Bark Rubbing:

i. Cut out a square from the sheet that was used outside to rub the bark.

ii. Glue to the Tree ID sheet.

d. Drawing of Flower:

i. In pencil, draw a small sketch of the flower.

ii. Color in with colored pencils.