Tree Homes: SquirrelsActivity: Students construct a large paper tree which becomes a “home” for squirrels. The teacher creates two paper bag puppet squirrels for role play activities. Each student is given a scarf to use for role play as the teacher guides them through squirrel activities. Materials needed: Materials to make a large paper oak tree with branches and leaves using brown and green paper, markers - [draw a large hole in the tree and glue a nest of paper scraps]; scarves, one for each student (ideally, brown, but any color will do); five acorns per student (or use paper ones - be sensitive to nut allergies); the script for the teacher guided activities; the book: “Squirrels Family Tree” (there’s a short summary below if you don’t have the book)Script: One day, dad and mom squirrel tell their children they will learn how to gather and bury nuts. [use the paper bag squirrels to talk to the children] “Sometimes you will forget where you bury them, but that’s okay because those nuts will start to grow into new oak trees and provide food for new squirrel families. Now, when I call your name, get up and gather 5 nuts from the tree and come back and sit down. Put the nuts in front of you and pretend to dig holes for them with your front paws. [teacher can demonstrate how to do this] Put the nuts in the pretend holes and cover them with your scarf [dirt]. When I give a signal, take out 3 nuts and leave the rest. [wait until all have removed some]. Now what will happen to those that didn’t get eaten? [they will grow into trees] Is that a good thing? Yes!”Directions: Display the tree with the parent squirrels on the wall. Remind students of the story the “Busy Tree” in which the tree provided homes and food for many animals. Read “Squirrels Family Tree” if you have a copy. If you don’t have this book, explain that squirrels and oak trees have a special relationship. They cooperate to keep each other alive. Squirrels collect the acorns from the oak tree, eat some and bury the rest. They often forget where they bury their nuts. Ask them what they think happens to those acorns? Describe how they grow into new trees that will provide food and shelter for future squirrel families. Explain: “Today we’ll learn about how a tree provides a home for a squirrel family. I’ve made a paper tree and posted it on the wall, with mother and father squirrel puppets on either side of a hole that has become their home. Inside the hole are twigs and straw [made of paper] that they use to make a nest. You will turn into squirrel children who live in this tree with your parents. Now you will each get some pretend dirt [a scarf] and some nuts. You can act out the story while I read.” Give each student a scarf and 5 paper nuts (or real ones if you have them). Use the squirrel puppets and read the script while students act it out as they sit in a circle on the floor. Wrap-up: “Squirrel families and oak trees are good friends, aren’t they? Can you explain how they help each other? [listen for responses] Let’s try to follow their example and help each other. Can you think of ways we could do that here at school? [listen for responses]
Tree Homes: SquirrelsActivity: Students construct a large paper tree which becomes a “home” for squirrels. The teacher creates two paper bag puppet squirrels for role play activities. Each student is given a scarf to use for role play as the teacher guides them through squirrel activities. Materials needed: Materials to make a large paper oak tree with branches and leaves using brown and green paper, markers - [draw a large hole in the tree and glue a nest of paper scraps]; scarves, one for each student (ideally, brown, but any color will do); five acorns per student (or use paper ones - be sensitive to nut allergies); the script for the teacher guided activities; the book: “Squirrels Family Tree” (there’s a short summary below if you don’t have the book)Script: One day, dad and mom squirrel tell their children they will learn how to gather and bury nuts. [use the paper bag squirrels to talk to the children] “Sometimes you will forget where you bury them, but that’s okay because those nuts will start to grow into new oak trees and provide food for new squirrel families. Now, when I call your name, get up and gather 5 nuts from the tree and come back and sit down. Put the nuts in front of you and pretend to dig holes for them with your front paws. [teacher can demonstrate how to do this] Put the nuts in the pretend holes and cover them with your scarf [dirt]. When I give a signal, take out 3 nuts and leave the rest. [wait until all have removed some]. Now what will happen to those that didn’t get eaten? [they will grow into trees] Is that a good thing? Yes!”Directions: Display the tree with the parent squirrels on the wall. Remind students of the story the “Busy Tree” in which the tree provided homes and food for many animals. Read “Squirrels Family Tree” if you have a copy. If you don’t have this book, explain that squirrels and oak trees have a special relationship. They cooperate to keep each other alive. Squirrels collect the acorns from the oak tree, eat some and bury the rest. They often forget where they bury their nuts. Ask them what they think happens to those acorns? Describe how they grow into new trees that will provide food and shelter for future squirrel families. Explain: “Today we’ll learn about how a tree provides a home for a squirrel family. I’ve made a paper tree and posted it on the wall, with mother and father squirrel puppets on either side of a hole that has become their home. Inside the hole are twigs and straw [made of paper] that they use to make a nest. You will turn into squirrel children who live in this tree with your parents. Now you will each get some pretend dirt [a scarf] and some nuts. You can act out the story while I read.” Give each student a scarf and 5 paper nuts (or real ones if you have them). Use the squirrel puppets and read the script while students act it out as they sit in a circle on the floor. Wrap-up: “Squirrel families and oak trees are good friends, aren’t they? Can you explain how they help each other? [listen for responses] Let’s try to follow their example and help each other. Can you think of ways we could do that here at school? [listen for responses]
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