TR E E T RA I LS
Tree Trails 2-1
SECONDARY
Tree Structure and Function
Trees are living organisms with many specialized structures – leaves, roots, wood, and the living cells
that connect them. Understanding how trees are constructed and grow is essential to care for trees
and calculate the benefits that trees provide.
Goal and Objectives
Goal: Students will explain how tree parts are structured to function for the tree.
Objectives: Students will
1. Differentiate tree structure parts and explain their function.
2. Describe how a tree grows, produces food and distributes it.
3. Demonstrate how a tree grows, produces food and distributes it throughout the tree.
Materials Time and Internet Links
General Instructional Time: 2-3 sessions, 45 minutes each
• Tablet(s) or computer(s) with internet access
• Projector and screen • Trees of Texas, How Trees Grow
[Link]
• White board or chart paper and markers
• Keep America Beautiful Student and Leader Guides
• Tree Trails Portfolio, Student Learning Log/Journal
The Social Blast lesson
Handouts [Link]
• Tree Parts eader-learning-guides
Activity Materials
• Materials for video set construction
• Cameras or camera phones
1
Instructional Procedures
I. Engage/Excite
1. Provide students with the Tree Parts handout to take with them outside as they observe the parts of
their trail tree; specifically observe the crown, leaves, branch, flowers/seeds, trunk, bark, and roots.
They should take pictures and/or make drawings of their tree.
2. When they return to the class with their pictures, drawings and notes, they should label the parts
and discuss their specific Tree Trail tree functions.
3. Ask students what they Want to know about tree parts and list on a whiteboard/chart or in their
journal.
II. Explore
1. Select student volunteers to draw a large tree outline on bulletin board paper. Divide the “tree”
into sections: a. crown, b. leaves, c. branches, d. flowers/seeds, e. trunk, f. bark, g. roots including
lateral roots and root hairs.
2. As a mnemonic device, students may give alternate names to their trees parts; i.e., its hands, its hair,
its feet, its shoes, etc.
III. Explain
1. Divide the class into seven groups to expand their research of the seven sections of the tree
drawing. They may use the Trees of Texas website and click on How Trees Grow to research their
assigned part. They will need to pay particular attention to the underlined words and definitions.
2. Then each group should present their findings. Each group should develop and include an
assessment to check other students understanding of their research. It may be a question and
answer session, a checklist, a fill in the blank, etc.
IV. Extend/Elaborate
1. To extend their research, students will produce a video skit or another media genre found in the
Keep America Beautiful Leader Learning Guide lesson “The Social Blast.”
2. Ask students what positions of responsibility are needed to produce a video skit or other media
genre. List their responses and ask for volunteers to assume the responsibilities. For the skit, prompt
2
IV. Extend/Elaborate continued
them to include these kinds of roles: 1. Skit writers, 2. Rap or song writers for lyrics and music, 3. Set
designers, 4. Prop constructionist, 5. Materials assemblers, 6. Producer and Director, 7. Video
Recorders, etc. Develop a similar list for other media genres.
3. Write the skit and song about what each part does. The skit should be the performance of the part
while the students are singing their song. The music and lyric composition of the song may be
determined by the students.
4. Have students present the video skit and invite guests as deemed appropriate.
V. Evaluate
1. Have tree trail groups ask questions to the rest of the class about their tree’s part and its function
such as: “Can you name my part that carries water from the roots? Can you tell how I make food?”
Other groups can chime in with additional or corrective responses.
2. Ask students to draw a tree, label the parts and name the function of the different parts. Have
students share in pairs or triads and add or correct the drawing. Have students save their drawings
and descriptions in their portfolio and/or learning logs.
3. Ask students what they Learned and list on the whiteboard/chart or in their journal.
VI. Extra Mileage/Attention
Extra Mileage: Have students draw a tree, label the part they would want to be and write a
paragraph about why they want to be the part.
Extra Attention: Have students work in small groups to compare a tree to a factory, such as an auto
manufacturing facility, and list the likenesses and differences.
Tree Trails curriculum was developed by Texas A&M Forest Service in cooperation with Texas Urban Forestry Council
and was supported by grants from the USDA Forest Service and Keep America Beautiful.
