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Trees as Habitats

Elementary

Description

This learning experience takes students outside to explore the fascinating world of forest ecosystems. Trees provide food, water and shelter for a huge diversity of living organisms. Students will increase their awareness of the types of animals and plants that depend on tree habitats by becoming nature detectives who investigate the mysterious world of local trees as they:

  • Identify and describe plants and animals living on and around a tree.

  • Consider how structural features of a tree help these woody plants survive in their environment.

  • Compare and contrast habitat features of a tree to their own living space.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This resource supports elementary science curriculum relating to habitats and ecosystems. Plant growth concepts are included by having learners make connections between form and function of tree structures like leaves. The activity also provides the opportunity for students to become mindfully connected to trees and nature.

 

This educational experience could be extended by having a class examine micro-habitats on a tree such as an area of lichen on the north side of the trunk where there is less sun exposure or a decaying branch which has insect larvae living under the bark.

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

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  • Alberta
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    • Grade 2
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions
    • Grade 3
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions
    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Investigating change and the diversity of Earth’s systems helps us to develop understandings of the conditions necessary to sustain life.
  • British Columbia
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    • Kindergarten
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science: Plants and animals have observable features
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 1: Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Local Communities:: We shape the local environment, and the local environment shapes who we are and how we live.
    • Grade 2
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 2: Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment
    • Grade 3
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
  • Manitoba
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    • Kindergarten
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      • Science
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        • Trees
      • Social Studies
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        • Being Together:The World and Me
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        • Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
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        • My Environment
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      • Science
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        • Growth and Changes in Plants
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitat and Communities
  • New Brunswick
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    • Kindergarten
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      • Health Education
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        • Explore Your World: Diversity and Social Responsibility
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        • Explore Your World: Diversity and Social Responsibility
    • Grade 3
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      • Science
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        • Our Local Environment : :Scientific Literacy
        • Our Local Environment : Learning and Living Sustainably
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
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    • Kindergarten
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        • Exploring Our World: STSE and Knowledge
      • Social Studies
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        • Place
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        • Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
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        • Animal Growth and Changes
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      • Science
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        • Habitats
  • Northwest Territories
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    • Kindergarten
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        • Life Systems: Senses & the Body
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        • The World and Me
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      • Science
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        • Life Systems: Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
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        • Connecting and Belonging: My Environment
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      • Science
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        • Life Science: Growth and Changes in Animals
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      • Science
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        • Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants
    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
  • Nova Scotia
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    • Kindergarten
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Primary Science: Living Things
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      • Science
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        • Science 1: Needs of Living Things
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      • Science
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        • Science 2: Animal Growth
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      • Science
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        • Science 3: Plants
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: Habitats
  • Nunavut
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    • Kindergarten
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Senses & the Body
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Being Together: The Land: Place & People
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Connecting and Belonging: The Land: Place & People
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Science: Growth and Changes in Animals
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants
    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
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    • Kindergarten
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        • Exploring the World Using Our Senses
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        • Units/ Outcomes
    • Grade 1
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      • Science
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        • Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
      • Social Studies
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        • Interactions: Environments
    • Grade 2
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      • Science
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        • Air & Water in the Environment
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      • Science
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        • Plant Growth & Changes
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      • Science
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        • Habitats
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Units & Outcomes
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Needs & Characteristics of Living Things
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Animal Growth and Changes
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Plant Growth and Changes
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitats and Communities
  • Yukon Territory
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science: Plants and animals have observable features
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 1: Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Local Communities:: We shape the local environment, and the local environment shapes who we are and how we live.
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 2: Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment

Themes Addressed

Ecosystems (2)

  • Appreciating the Natural World
  • Biodiversity

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