This document provides a paired text guide for the books "Maple" by Lori Nichols and "The Magic & Mystery of Trees" by Dr. Jen Green. It includes summaries of the two books, pre-reading activities to engage students with plants and trees, bulletin board ideas, discussion questions, connections to science standards, and teaching ideas related to the content. The guide is designed to support elementary students in learning about trees and plants through interactive lessons and discussions of the paired texts.
This document provides a paired text guide for the books "Maple" by Lori Nichols and "The Magic & Mystery of Trees" by Dr. Jen Green. It includes summaries of the two books, pre-reading activities to engage students with plants and trees, bulletin board ideas, discussion questions, connections to science standards, and teaching ideas related to the content. The guide is designed to support elementary students in learning about trees and plants through interactive lessons and discussions of the paired texts.
This document provides a paired text guide for the books "Maple" by Lori Nichols and "The Magic & Mystery of Trees" by Dr. Jen Green. It includes summaries of the two books, pre-reading activities to engage students with plants and trees, bulletin board ideas, discussion questions, connections to science standards, and teaching ideas related to the content. The guide is designed to support elementary students in learning about trees and plants through interactive lessons and discussions of the paired texts.
This document provides a paired text guide for the books "Maple" by Lori Nichols and "The Magic & Mystery of Trees" by Dr. Jen Green. It includes summaries of the two books, pre-reading activities to engage students with plants and trees, bulletin board ideas, discussion questions, connections to science standards, and teaching ideas related to the content. The guide is designed to support elementary students in learning about trees and plants through interactive lessons and discussions of the paired texts.
Further Reading.....................................................................13
Other Books on the Topic.....................................................14
Other Books by these Authors.............................................15
Maple By Lori Nichols This book is about a young girl named Maple who has a tree grown by her parents in her honor. As the book progresses, both Maple and the tree's growth are shown together side by side, showing the changes and growth that come with time. This book is appropriate for ages 4-8, which is about the same age range as Maple herself, Nichols, L. (2014). Maple. New York: making the story perfect for lower Nancy Paulsen Books. 32 p. elementary grades.
The Magic & Mystery
of Trees (M.M.T) By Dr. Jen Green This book is an excellent nonfiction book on different types of trees around the world. This is great for a multicultural class because it looks at different trees around the world as well as the types of animals that benefit from said trees. The illustrations and the way the book is worded is definitely appropriate for second graders, and it also teaches them great nonfiction text features (such as indexes Green, J. (2019). The Magic & and glossaries). Mystery of Trees. Illus. by Claire McElfatrick. London: DK Children. 80 p. Pre-Reading Activities that will "leaf" the students interested!
Plants and trees are all around us, especially around the school grounds. Before starting any reading lessons, taking the students out of the classroom and into a more authentic, real life scenario can help students better understand what they are about to learn and make it more meaningful to them.
Here are some of the materials that are needed for this activity: "Plant and Tree Observations" Worksheet (hard copy or digital) Pencils Crayons/Colored Pencils iPads (optional if worksheet is done digitally) Seesaw App (optional if worksheet is done digitally)
To get started, start a conversation with the students about the different types of plants and trees they have seen near their homes. Some questions that can be asked include: Where around your home do you see plants? What kind of plants have you seen and can you name them? Why do you think some animals like to make plants and trees their homes?
Once this discussion is complete, proceed with taking the students outside to start their 15-minute observations of the plants and trees on the school grounds. Have the students complete the worksheet named "Plant and Tree Observations" (see page 4) and take a pencil with them while they are outside. Once students complete the activity outside, they will complete the coloring portion inside the classroom using crayons/colored pencils.
If the activity is done with iPads, students can use Seesaw to take pictures of their observations to go with the digital worksheet, record themselves talking about their observations, and uploading them to Seesaw for teacher approval. Name:___________________________________ Date:_______________________
Plant and Tree Observations
Directions: In this activity, you will go outside and make observations about the different plants and trees around you. Find 3 different plants or trees, write your observations, and draw the plant or tree you observed.
iPad and Seesaw Directions: Take pictures of your three different plants and trees that you observed. With each picture, describe your observations by recording your answers to the questions on this worksheet. When you are done, upload it to Seesaw.
_______________________________________________________________ Bulletin Board Ideas that are great for elemen"tree" students!
In this classroom, we're ready to grow!
This bulletin board idea is great for displaying student work in the classroom! 24 leaves with student's work taped or stapled on top are fitted for this example, however, more or less can be added to adjust to your specific classroom's needs.
Reading is taking "root" in this class!
Maple by Lori Nichols
The Magic & Mystery of
Trees by Dr. Jen Green
This bulletin board idea can be used to introduce the books that are included in this guide. It makes for a great visual for the students to see so that they have an idea of what to expect in their classroom for the next couple of days or weeks. Discussion Questions What's a tree's least favorite month? Sep"timber!"
Maple Why do you think Maple’s parents planted a tree in her honor? What happened to the tree as Maple grew? Why do you think that the tree is so special to Maple? If you were Maple, what would you do with the tree? When Maple becomes an adult, how tall do you think the tree will be?
M.M.T. Why do you think trees and other plants are so important? What do you think animals use plants and trees for? Name some of the places in the world where trees can be found. What were some of the animals mentioned in the book that live in trees? If you were an animal, what tree would you want to live in?
For both texts
Why do you think trees are so tall? What kinds of products can you get from trees and plants? Why do you think trees are so special to people and animals? Are there any places that you can think of where trees DON'T grow? How long do you think it takes for a tree to be fully grown? SOLs and Teaching Ideas Science Virginia SOL for Science:
2.8 The student will investigate and understand that plants produce oxygen and food, are a source of useful products, and provide benefits in nature. Key concepts include a) important plant products are identified and classified; b) the availability of plant products affects the development of a geographic area; c) plants provide oxygen, homes, and food for many animals; and d) plants can help reduce erosion.
Idea 1: Caterpillars into Butterflies
One authentic, real life lesson that can be done in the classroom is growing caterpillars into butterflies. This particular lesson will take an extended amount of time to do, but it will demonstrate why animals heavily rely on plants (i.e., plants are food AND shelter for the caterpillars). Along with this lesson, students can record their observations either with paper or on Seesaw with pictures and voice recordings. Worksheets that revolve around this lesson can displayed on the class bulletin board.
Idea 2: Experiment with Plants and Dirt
For this idea, students can participate in an experiment that tests erosion on dirt with plants and dirt without them. One container can have plants and dirt in it while the other only has dirt, and it's up to the class to make a conclusion about what happens with the dirt when water runs through both containers. An excellent example of this experiment has been done by funsciencedemos on YouTube, and the link can be found in the "Helpful Websites" page of this guide (pg. 11).
Idea 3: Identifying Products of Plants
In this lesson idea, students can try to figure out what products that they see and use everyday come from plants. This can include their clothes, the types of food that they eat, and the things that they use around them. When these products are identified, students can complete a sort of where these different objects come from as a whole group, in small groups, or for individual work. To aid them, online resources such as PebbleGo and BrainPop can be used. SOLs and Teaching Ideas Language Arts Virginia SOLs for Language Arts:
2.7 The student will expand vocabulary when reading.
a) Use knowledge of homophones. b) Use knowledge of prefixes and suffixes. c) Use knowledge of antonyms and synonyms. d) Discuss meanings of words and develop vocabulary by listening and reading a variety of texts. e) Use vocabulary from other content areas.
2.12 The student will write stories, letters, and simple explanations. a) Generate ideas before writing. b) Organize writing to include a beginning, middle, and end for narrative and expository writing. c) Expand writing to include descriptive detail. d) Revise writing for clarity.
Idea 1: Storybooks Have students create story books depicting a made up creature and a made up tree or plant! Their job is to write a story about how their imaginary creature benefits or uses a tree or plant. The teacher may set different require the use of different vocabulary that they have learned from the MMT book to help aid them.
Idea 2: Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt
Using different online resources such as PebbleGo and BrainPop, students can go on a vocabulary scavenger hunt for words that relate to the science SOLs presented in pg. 7. They can also practice their vocabulary skills using Quizlet once they find all of their words, and use the gaming feature in Quizlet to practice their words and share it either with a small group of their peers, or share it with the teacher for the whole class to play as a review game!
Idea 3: Tree/Plant and Animal Research
For this idea, students can engage in a small research project that involves one animal and a tree or plant that they use, whether they use it for shelter, for food, or for another purpose. Various types of resources, both online and tangible, can be used for this project. Teachers can set various parameters around the research and the criteria for success. SOLs and Teaching Ideas Fine Arts: Visual Art Virginia SOL for Visual Art:
2.4 The student will create works of art inspired by a variety of concepts, themes, and literary sources.
2.5 The student will identify and use the following in works of art: 1. Color—secondary 2. Form—three-dimensional (cube, cylinder, sphere, pyramid, cone) 3. Line—vertical, horizontal, diagonal 4. Shape—geometric, organic 5. Pattern—complex alternating and repeating
2.9 The student will create works of art from observation.
Idea 1: Storybook Cover and Illustrations
This lesson idea is related to the lesson idea from Language Arts (pg. 8). Students will be tasked with creating a book cover for their story that they've written, complete with a picture of their imaginary creature and trees/plants, their name, and the title of the story. "Maple" and MMT can be used as inspiration for their illustrations!
Idea 2: Observational Drawings of Caterpillars
For this lesson idea, students can create observational drawings of the caterpillars mentioned in "Idea 1" of the Science section of this guide (pg. 7). These drawings can then be posted on the classroom bulletin board (pg. 5) for everyone to see and can be changed periodically to document the caterpillars growth and evolution into a butterfly!
Idea 3: Children and Trees
For this idea, students can make their own tree that they've "grown" with, just like Maple! Using bulletin board paper, students will measure their height from their head to their toes, and create a tree that is the same height as them on that piece of paper. They can customize the tree as they see fit, and they will draw the types of animals they think lives in it and the environment the tree lives in. Library Connection "Branching" out of the classroom
Students can utilize several different books from the library to give them inspiration on any of the lesson ideas that was provided in pages 7-9. For example, students can research the different types of trees, plants, and animals that they would like to add into their storybooks, or if students are completing the vocabulary scavenger hunt, students can use the resources found at the library to help them find their information and also increase their literacy skills.
For the experiment ideas provided on page 7, different books relating to
those topics can be read to the students in the library. In doing this, the students can be prepared for the types of experiments they will participate in. It also gives the teacher a chance to look for the appropriate books that can be brought back to the classroom so that students may use them for reference.
The lesson idea that would probably benefit the most from going to the library is idea 3 from page 8. Librarians can show the students what researchers do when they want to find information, and it can help teach students about non-fiction text features. Along with research, students can be taught on how to write the research like most scientists do, along with teaching them how to prperly cite and credit information. Helpful Websites that will make students g"leaf"ul!
BrainPop on Science: https://www.brainpop.com/science/diversityoflife/ PebbleGo on Science: https://www.pebblego.com/science Seesaw website and app for iPads: https://web.seesaw.me/ PowToon (Alternative to hand written storybook): https://www.powtoon.com/home/? Three-toed Sloth video by Nature on PBS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTp8W251aiQ How Beavers Build Dams by PBS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJjaQExOPPY How Animals and Trees Help Each Other by AnimalWonders Montana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJVo_fewmcM Erosion and Soil Video by funsciencedemos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im4HVXMGI68 Author Information
Lori Nichols Dr. Jen Green
Lori Nichols is the author Dr. Jen Green is the author
and illustrator of the book, of the book, "The Magic & "Maple." She grew up in Mystery of Trees." She was Western Pennsylvania, born in England and which allowed her to be received her doctorates in surrounded by the English from Sussex wonders of nature that University. She has 15 would ultimately lead her years of experience in to writing her fictional publishing and is now a full story books. Nichols has time writer. To date, she also written a sequel of has written over 300 "Maple" called "Maple & nonfiction books for both Willow Together," which children and adults. Her follows a similar storyline books revolve around to the first book, only this science, natural history, time with Maple's younger and animals amongst many sibling, Willow. As a result other topics, and she has of her work, she has won written for illustrious numerous awards and networks such as National honors for her books. Geographic. Further Readings
The Bear and the Fern by Jay Miletsky,
Illustrated by Mary Manning The Fruits We Eat and The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins, Illustrated by Jill McElmurry If You Hold a Seed by Elly MacKay We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines, illustrated by Julianna Swaney Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner, Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal Other Books on Trees and Plants
Trees: Kings of the Forest by Andy Hirsch
Deep Roots by Nikki Tate I Can Name 50 Trees Today! by Dr. Seuss Because of an Acorn by Lola Schaefer A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Aston The Reason for a Flower: A Book About Flowers, Pollen, and Seeds by Ruth Heller Gardening Lab for Kids: 52 Fun Experiments to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play, and Enjoy Your Garden by Renata Brown Other Books by these Authors
Lori Nichols Dr. Jen Green
The Orq. Why Should I Recycle? Maple and Willow Why Should I Protect Together Nature? Maple and Willow Apart Big Fantastic Earth Maple and Willow's Women in Science Christmas National Geographic No, No, Kitten! Countries of the World Go Sleep in Your Own Series Bed Oceans in 30 Seconds Shine, Baby, Shine Weather in 30 Seconds
