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This Rhythm Game is perfect for using during the Harvest season. It's a great way to practice note recognition while enjoying the simple pleasures of the Autumn. This rhythm game is excellent for encouraging speech development in toddlers, who love reaching into the bag and recognising and naming the fruit and vegetables (they also like [...]

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Trees make a great theme or unit study for a variety of ages. Trees can be studied at any time of year, although spring and fall are probably the most popular times with Arbor Day in the spring and apples and changing leaves in the fall. I've included many of those themes in my post today with free tree songs and educational videos, focusing on parts of a tree, apple trees, and seasons of a tree.

There are educational videos and songs here for a variety of ages ... perfect for homeschool or classroom!

This post is part of my series of free songs and rhymes for circle time! See a full list of my song posts at the bottom of this post.

Free Educational Tree Videos

If you'd like more information to share with children about trees, here are some helpful YouTube videos for a variety of ages:

Free Song Videos - Learn about Trees

The Green Grass Grows all Around - Kids-Songs.TV

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes for Trees! - Mr. R.'s Songs for Teaching

Tree Song- Learn about Trees! Roots, and Trunks, and Leaves! - Mr. R.'s Songs for Teaching

Parts of the Tree Song

If I Were A Tree (Tu B'shevat Song) - Jason Mesches Music ( The New Year for Trees - known as Tu Bishvat)

Grow Little Tree by Andrea Ramsey - 1080p - HSBtheThird

"Grow, Little Tree" - Soprano - Maximo Music (notice the beautiful lyrics)

In The Trees Song - ParrMr

Family Tree by Tom Chapin
Tom Chapin Family Tree with Signs

Free Apple Tree Song Videos

Apple Tree - musicwithnancy

Way Up High in an Apple - Apple Song for Kids - Children's Song by The Learning Station

Five Apples In The Apple Tree | The Kiboomers

Apple Tree : Kids Yoga, Music and Movement with Bari Koral - Bari Koral

Free Seasons Songs with Tree Images through the Seasons

"The Seasons" by Nancy Kopman

Under The Big Tall Chestnut Free Song - 4 Seasons Song For Kids- ELF Kids Videos

Seasons Song | The Four Seasons Song For Children - Zebra Nursery Rhymes

The Seasons Song | Scratch Garden

Free Tree Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays with Lyrics

More Tree Resources and Activities

All the Posts in My Free Song and Resources Video Series
Free Songs about Skills and Concepts Free Unit Study Songs Free Seasonal and Holiday Songs Free Video Resources Posts
FREE CHARACTER EDUCATION VIDEO SERIES AT MY BITS OF POSITIVITY BLOG

Do you and your child or class have a favorite tree song or resource?

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Free Tree Songs and Educational Videos {Learn about Trees, Apple Trees, and Seasons}

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Trees make a great theme or unit study for a variety of ages. Trees can be studied at any time of year, although spring and fall are probably the most popular times with Arbor Day in the spring and apples and changing leaves in the fall.

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Music is an important part of our cultural experiences, and it can also be a great learning tool! Even today, you could probably remember many songs from your childhood. Not only can music help with language development and memory recall, it can also help increase test scores in English and Math.

When teaching about nature and trees to young children, songs can be a fun way to move and learn inside or outside. If you're musically inclined, you could even pick up a few chords on a guitar for some of these songs and sing them without the aid of these videos.

Use these songs when you're teaching about parts of a tree, numbers, the seasons, or if you simply want to incorporate music into your science lesson.

Parts of a tree

Using these songs, young students can learn the names of different parts of a tree - trunk, branches, leaves, and fruit. Some songs have familiar tunes like "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" and others have their own unique melody.

"Head Shoulders Knees and Toes for Trees!" by Mr. R's Songs for Teaching

"Mr. R's Tree Song" by Mr. R's Songs for Teaching

"If I Were a Tree" by Jason Mesches

"Nature Songs - What Are the Parts of a Tree?" by Marais & Miranda

Numbers and counting

These songs not only help teach about nature and trees, but also numbers and colors. These songs are a fun way for preschoolers to learn these important skills.

"Five Apples in the Apple Tree" by The Kiboomers

"How Many Leaves?" by ELF Learning

"10 Little Leaves" by Mr. Mike TV

Download a free sample activity from PLT's e-unit for grades K-2: Treemendous Science!

Download now

Seasons

Especially in colder climates, trees can change drastically from one season to the next. Several of these songs use the familiar rhyme "London Bridge is Falling Down," but with their own unique twist to talk about leaves falling down in autumn.

If you're doing a lesson on leaves and the changing seasons, you might also want to check out these leaf activities for young learners.

"I'm a Tall, Tall Tree" written by Lorraine Lee Hammond, sung by Dany Rosevear

"The Leaves on the Tree Are Falling Down" by Songs for Kids

"Autumn Leaves are Falling Down" by The Learning Station

"Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down" by The Kiboomers

"Why Do Leaves Change Color?" by the Treetop Family

"Fall Weather" by Mr. Mike TV

"Leaf Little Leaf" by Music Box Kids

Living in a tree

Trees are home to many types of living things - mammals, birds, insects, and even reptiles! Even a quick walk around the school grounds can be a great learning opportunity to observe animals and birds living in trees in your own environment. You might also consider using this activity on exploring trees as habitats.

"Who Lives in a Tree?" written by Tom David Barna, music arranged and produced by Musical Youth Productions

"But I Live in a Tree" by the Helen Doron Song Club

Photosynthesis

Explaining how trees and other plants get energy through photosynthesis can sometimes be a tough concept to convey to young students. But this engaging video breaks down the process with a catchy tune that will help them remember how photosynthesis works.

"Photosynthesis" by Two Little Hands TV

Types of trees

Since this song highlights trees found in more tropical areas, it can be a great way to incorporate geography into a lesson about different types of trees. You could also check out these fun facts about 10 trees from around the world.

"A Rhyme About Trees" by Karaditales

Sing-alongs

These two songs don't necessarily have an educational component to them, but nonetheless, they're fun songs to sing about trees!

"Tree Song" by Evie Karlsson

"Green Grass Grows All Around" by The Learning Station

Billy B Sings About Trees

A few years ago, children's performing artist and songwriter Billy B. Brennan teamed with PLT to produce a CD all about trees.

Billy B has been writing and performing children's song and dance shows with environmental themes since 1978. He educates through music, laughter, and audience participation. His energetic live performances get kids moving and making noise, capturing their attention while furthering their understanding of the natural world. Project Learning Tree Presents: Billy B Sings About Trees is his ninth collection of song recordings.

The CD comprises nineteen songs, such as "My Roots Run Deep" and "The Rock and Roll of Photosynthesis." Lyrics for the songs are included with the CD. Each song connects to a PLT PreK-8 classroom lesson.

"I love to engage kids in learning about the environment through music," says Billy B. "Not only will children, parents, and families enjoy this collection of high-energy songs all about trees and forests, but teachers can combine the songs with the Project Learning Tree curriculum materials to enhance student learning in the classroom."

A Gift for the Holidays!

Performer and songwriter Bill Brennan brings to life our love forests. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, or community educator, you can use this fun and educational CD with 19 high-energy songs about trees, forests and people who work the land. Suitable for all ages.

You can purchase this CD from Acorn Naturalists or Amazon, or contact your PLT State Coordinator for a copy.

Which song about trees is your favorite? Do you have any songs you would add to this list? Share in the comments below!

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Educational Children's Songs About Trees - Project Learning Tree

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When teaching about nature and trees to young children, songs can be a fun way to move and learn inside or outside. Teach about parts of a tree, numbers, or the seasons with these songs.

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There is a Tree

This is a short activity/ song sheet which contains the lyrics and directions for the popular music and movement song narration, There is a Tree by Touche' EDI. Perfect for gross motor skills and loads of fun...Kids and adults alike enjoy the simple Yoga-like movements and the surprise ending.

* Use it as a start to your day
* Incorporate it into your classroom study on trees
* Add it to your class song and poetry books...Have students copy the words and illustrate for a Literacy Center activity.
* Use it as a warm up activity for an Open House at your school

If you're interested in ordering the CD (which contains the narration) for your classroom, you can find it here on TPT as a hard good under: Spiders, Bats and Wolves...Oh my!

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There is a Tree {Music and Movement Activity Sheet}

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There is a Tree This is a short activity/ song sheet which contains the lyrics and directions for the popular music and movement song narration, There is a Tree by Touche' EDI. Perfect for gross motor skills and loads of fun...Kids and adults alike enjoy the simple Yoga-like movements and the surp...

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There is a Tree {Music and Movement Activity Sheet} | Music, movement, Movement activities, Movement songs

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There is a Tree {Music and Movement Activity Sheet}

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Use the suggested ideas below to help you plan your preschool leaves and trees lessons!

Would you like a free copy of our lesson plans?

Subscribe to our newsletter and receive a free copy of our plans
(including the one above) delivered to your inbox!

Arts & Crafts Provide your preschoolers with a variety of fall colored play dough this week. Add Tree and Leaf cookie cutters to the art space. You can add Leaf Rubbings and Small twigs and leaves (both real, and paper/silk) to this space as well, and encourage them to incorporate them in their free art.

These coffee filter leaves belong to community member Darlene Santos Gormly. The Children used Coffee Filter leaves (that she cut out herself), eye droppers, and Red & Yellow watercolor paints to create these beauties.

Add some leaf decor and books about leaves and trees to your space.
Pull out leaf/tree puzzles. If you have incorporated a tree into your space-change out your "Summer" leaves into "Fall ones. If you plan on adding a tree to your space, consider adding velcro, so that the children can change out the leaves seasonally.

Dramatic Play: Add a "raking center" in your dramatic play space (you can purchase silk leaves at your Dollar Store or local craft store). Add some plastic rakes and a strip of indoor/outdoor carpet for a fun effect.

This precious Leaf Raking area was created by community member Tamara G. Elemeno Preschool

Construction/Building Area: Encourage kids to create trees for the construction space. Provide them with a variety of recycled items to turn into small trees. You can purchase or paint your own "tree" blocks for this space as well.

Our friends at Erica's Educare Learning Center are using the Pre-K Printable Fun Fall counting mats 1-10 with frame sprinted on vellum on their light table to practice their counting skills.

Member Cheryl shared a photo of one of the leaf sorting activities found inside our Leaves and Trees activity pack

Community member Laura M. shared this DIY leaf letter matching activity created from a felt place mat and
silk leaves from the dollar tree.

Our Friend Veronica wrote a guest post on how to create invitations to play by combining printables and loose parts! Here she set out our uppercase and lowercase sorting mats with wooden letters.

Strong visual discrimination skills help young children help young children spot subtle differences between letters. Your students will have fun building this skill as they search for the fall items inside this Zoom In On Fall Activity from PKPF.

You can turn silk leaves into "Felt Board" activities, or add them to your Sensory Table for some fall fun. You can also turn simple Bulletin Board Leaf Cut-outs into a matching game (if you are unable to procure a variety of leaves in your neighborhood).

Use this free Leaf Specimen printable from PKPF to record and document your leaf specimens. This activity helps young children start to identify different characteristics of living objects. Many discussions can be had about the changing seasons, as well as the similarities of their specimens they have collected.

Learn about the fruits and nuts that are grown on trees,

Community member Laurie Cheney shared this lovely photo! There is something magical about raking fall leaves on a crisp fall morning into a big pile-and of course jumping into them.

Play Dough Activities are great for building fine motor skills! Add your own leaves to these tree mats found inside the PKPF Fall Play Dough Mats Set.

A parachute + Leaves = tons of outdoor fall fun. Check out this activity and other fun fall ideas from Teach Preschool.

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Use the suggested ideas below to help you plan your preschool leaves and trees lessons! Subscribe to our newsletter and receive a free copy of our plans(including the one above) delivered to your inbox! Arts & Crafts Provide your preschoolers with a variety of fall colored play dough this week.

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Learn about Trees for Kids - Children Vocabulary Trees Video for Preschool and Kindergarten

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Seasons present many opportunities to focus on the natural world around us. When exploring seasons and seasonal changes at home or in the classroom, trees are a natural choice. Many trees change regularly with the seasons and can easily represent the annual cycle of nature. This fall or spring (or any season) incorporate these books as you look at trees.

Books About Trees for Preschoolers

Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup
Die cuts in the pages of this book show animals appear (and disappear) around a tree throughout the seasons. Throughout it all, an owl sits in a hole in the middle of the tree.

This Tree Counts by Allison Formento
One tree stands behind Oak Lane School. A class gathers around it and begins to listen. They discover the creatures that live in and around the tree.

Who Will Plant a Tree? By Jerry Pallotta
Seeds are planted in various ways and trees begin to grow. Squirrels bury acorns, bears drop apple seeds, and so forth.

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
From favorite children's author Lois Ehlert, Leaf Man is perhaps my favorite fall book not only because of the beautiful illustrations made from real leaves but also because it provides you with an instant activity- making leaf people!

We're Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger
We're Going on a Leaf Hunt is similar to the classic book Going on a Bear Hunt. This is one of my favorite books not only because it makes for an interactive read-aloud experience as students act out the story as they chant along, but it is also the perfect book to read before going on an actual leaf hunt or nature walk.

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
Another classic from Lois Ehlert, Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf always mesmerizes children with its vibrant colors and cut out pages.

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson
In the style of Press Here, Tap the Magic Tree is the newest member of the interactive read-aloud genre. This fun and playful book invites readers to tap the pages to make the tree change with the seasons- without any mechanical components!

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall
Two kids watch the apple tree in their yard change in the seasons. As the tree changes, they notice the changes with a family of birds, too. Soon they get to the best part - making apple pie.

Explore My World A Tree Grows Up by Marfe Ferguson Delano
This nonfiction book follows the growth of an acorn to an oak with simple text and great photograph.

The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons
Arnold's special place is an apple tree. Throughout the seasons, Arnold visits his tree. He plays and works around it and sees the changes that happen to it.

A Tree Is Nice by Janice May Udry
A tree is nice to have around. Trees give shade and limbs to climb on. They protect houses from sun and snow.

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Books About Trees for Preschoolers - Pre-K Pages

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Seasons present many opportunities to focus on the natural world around us. When exploring seasons and seasonal changes at home or in the classroom, trees are a natural choice. Many trees change regularly with the seasons and can easily represent the annual cycle of nature.

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Trees Study Preschool Worksheets & Teaching Resources | TpT

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Browse trees study preschool resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources.

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Home → Activity Ideas → Preschool Seasonal Activities and Themes → Arbor Day - Tree Theme for Preschool

Tree Songs and Fingerplays

The Apple Tree
Way up high in the apple tree (raise arms overhead)
Two little apples smiled at me (make fists or circles with hands)
I shook that tree as hard as I could (move hands as if shaking something)
Down came the apples (falling motion with fists)
Mmmmmm-were they good! (rub tummy)

Trees(Tune: The Farmer in the Dell)
The trees are growing high,
The trees are growing high.
With soil and rain and sunny days,
The trees are growing high.
The trees are growing roots,
The trees are growing roots.
With soil and rain and sunny days,
The trees are growing roots.
The trees are growing bark,
The trees are growing bark.
With soil and rain and sunny days,
The trees are growing bark.

Tree Art Activities

Tree Rubbing
Have children hold a piece of paper against a tree and use the side of a crayon to make a tree bark rubbing. This can be done in pairs with one child holding the paper and the other child doing the rubbing.

Creative Tree
Give children a cut-out of a tree trunk with branches to glue on a sheet of construction. Provide a variety of art materials - tissue paper, construction paper, pom-pom balls, buttons, etc. and have them create colorful trees any way they would like.

Tape Tree Art
Have kids rip masking or painter's tape into different sized strips. Arrange the tape on cardstock in the design of trees with branches. Let children paint over the tape. When dry, rip the tape to reveal tape tree art.

Family Tree
Create a large tree on the wall with construction paper. Let children bring in pictures of their families and add the pictures to the tree.

Tree Math and Science

Tree Trunk Estimating
Find a tree outside and ask children to guess how long of a string will wrap around the trunk. Have each child cut their piece of string and then see how close they are.

Parts of a Tree
Place different parts of a tree in your science area for observation. You can include: leaves, branches, acorns, bark, pinecones, pine needles, tree nuts, etc.

Tree Motor Skills and Movement

Leaf Dancing
Play some classical music and let the children pretend to be falling leaves and move to the music. Give each child a real or face leaf to hold as they move.

Tree Snacks

Broccoli Trees
Serve broccoli florets (little trees) and dip for a healthy snack.

Cucumber and Pretzel Stick Trees
Allow children to arrange pretzel sticks to make a tree trunk and cucumbers for leaves. Once they assemble their tree, they can eat their snack.

Other Tree/Arbor Day Resources

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Home → Activity Ideas → Preschool Seasonal Activities and Themes → Arbor Day - Tree Theme for Preschool The Apple Tree Way up high in the apple tree (raise arms overhead)Two little apples smiled at me (make fists or circles with hands)I shook that tree as hard as I could (move hands as if shaking something)Down came the apples (falling motion with fists)Mmmmmm-were they good!

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Find more Forest Activities for Pre-K

What we learn about trees:

How trees look: bark, leaves, etc.

Trees as habitats for animals and insects.

Tree products: nuts, fruit (apples), etc.

How trees change during the seasons.

Forests are homes to plant and animal life.

Books

Click here for a complete list of Books about Forest Animals

Leaf Hunt

{Science}
We take a leaf walk around the schoolyard and nearby park to observe and collect various shapes and colors of leaves. We notice the trees they come from. Children put their collections in a ziplock bag.

Leaf Drawing

{Science, Art}
We go on a leaf hunt around the school grounds to collect leaves. Children study the leaves with magnifying glasses, and draw pictures of different leaves with a fine-point black ink pen. I choose one leaf drawing from each child, scan it, enlarge it on the computer, and print them out on white art paper. I print several copies for each child. The children decorated the leaf copies with different materials: watercolor paints, tempera paints, fine point colored pens, markers, and colored pencils.

Big Classroom Tree

{Art}
One year, my class decided on their own to create a huge tree "as big as the wall". They drew the tree on sheets of posterboard, mixed their own paint to paint the tree, and made branches for it. The leaf artwork that children made went onto the branches. Some of the leaves were painted, some were decorated with colored markers and pencils, and some were made with art sand.

Tree Observational Drawing

{Science, Art}
We "adopt" a tree in the schoolyard each year. I chose a pear tree because it has very visible changes in every season: green leaves in summer, red leaves in fall, bare in winter, and white flower buds in spring. Each season we go outside to draw the tree. I take a photo of the children standing in front of it every season.

What Color Leaves?

During one of our group discussions, we made this chart to record our predictions of what colors the leaves on our "adopted" tree might be in the Fall. Our first pear tree drawing is done in the Summer (August) when the leaves are green, and we made this chart then while discussing what we thought would happen.

3-D Trees

{Art}
Children make trees with paper towel rolls and construction paper.

Tree Paintings

{Art}
After we read the book, A Tree is Nice, and talk about different kinds of trees, we paint a picture of a tree. We use a long, narrow piece of paper for our tree painting to resemble the tall shape of trees. (The pages of the book, A Tree is Nice, are also long and narrow.) We have brown, green, red, orange and yellow paint available, and I add pine-scented oil to the paint for fun.

Leaf Graph

{Math}
We graph leaves that children collect outdoors by color and/or type. Each child collects one leaf to graph. Leaves from a single tree can also be graphed when the leaves are changing from green to another color. Some children might collect green leaves, some might collect red, and others might collect leaves that are two-toned.

Leaf Patterns

{Math}
I used a leaf craft puncher to cut out the pieces from construction paper. Children glue the cutouts on the paper pattern strip. You can do AB, AABB, ABC, ABB, AAB, etc. Print the Pattern Grid Sheet here.

Leaf Counting

{Math}
I used leaf craft punchers to cut out the pieces from construction paper. Print out the numeral sheets. Have children count out the correct amount of paper cutouts to glue onto the numeral. Print the Large Numeral Sheets here.

Tree Display

{Science}
This is a set of tree figurines from a Safari Ltd. "Toob". We use them in the science center.

Tree Rubbing

{Science}
Children work in pairs. One partner holds a piece of paper against a tree while the other child makes a tree bark rubbing with the side of a crayon. Then the partners switch roles so that each child has a turn to make a rubbing.

Parts of a Tree

{Science, Sensory}
In advance, collect a variety of things that you find close to one tree (or a few trees that are close together) in the schoolyard: bark, nuts, pine needles, pinecones, leaves, small branches, etc. Bring the children out to that same tree(s), show them each item one at a time, and have them find that item on the tree (or on the ground below the tree).

Owl Activities

Wax Resist Owl Picture

{Art}
After reading the book Owl Babies, we look at the pictures in the book and talk about the art (the owls and the black night painted around them). Children use oil pastels to draw a picture of the baby owls (white) and the mother owl (brown). Some children just draw the owls and some children draw the owls sitting in the tree. They paint over the picture with black watercolor paint, which turns the picture into a nighttime picture.

Owl Listening Activity

{Literacy, Science}
Listening activities help children learn to listen for specific sounds. One child is chosen to be the owl, and turns away from the class. Children take turns being the owl. One child in the group is handed a squeaky toy, and everyone holds their hands behind their back. The "owl" turns around, and tries to find the squeaking mouse. Real owls can hear a mouse squeaking from a long distance away.

Owl Babies Story Retelling

{Literacy}
After reading the book, Owl Babies, children drw a picture to illustrate some aspect of the story. They dictate a "retelling" of the story for the teachers to write on the page. Read the blog post about story retelling.

Bat Activities

Bat Bingo

{Literacy or Math}
Use bat rings to cover the letter/number/shape on the bingo cards. We use these to play alphabet bingo, number bingo, shape bingo, or rhyming bingo.

Mystery Socks

{Math, Sensory}
Children work in pairs. Each pair of children has one sock and 4 bat rings. One child puts 0-4 bat rings into the sock (without the other child seeing), and the other child slips his hand in to count the bats without peeking. Children who have difficulty counting blindly can slip each ring onto a fingertip.

Bear Activities

Bear Paintings

{Art}
We use several shades of multicultural paints and a special "paintbrush" (cotton ball clipped in a clothespin). The children dab the paint onto their paper, making sure to make a body, arms, legs, head and ears. Later we add wiggly eyes, pompom nose, and yarn mouth.

Gummi Bear Sorting

{Math}
Children use a paper plate that is divided into six sections (I drew lines on the plate to make the sections). They sort a bag of Gummi bear candy by color, putting each color into one section.

Bear Sorting

{Math}
This is an activity we do on Teddy Bear Day. After we read Goldilocks and the Three Bears, we sort the children's teddy bears by size (Papa bear, Mama bear and Baby bear).

Bird Activities

Bird Beaks

{Fine Motor Skills}
Cut pipe cleaners into smaller pieces and shape them to make several "worms". Place the worms on a brown carpet square (this represents the dirt). Children use a clothespin as a bird beak and catch the worms with their beak. As they catch worms, they place them in a basket until all of the worms have been collected.

Bird Feeder

{Science}
Children spread peanut butter on a pinecone or a bagel half and sprinkle on the birdseed. We put these in ziplock bags with string so the children could take them home and hang them. If any of the children are allergic to peanuts, we make a bird feeder with a folded paper box or milk carton, which the children can decorate, and scoop the birdseed into the box.

Snake Activities

Spiral Snakes

{Art}
Children decorate a paper plate with a spiral drawn on it. They cut the spiral to make the snake and draw eyes on the snake's head.

Play Dough Snakes

{Fine Motor Skills, Math}
Children roll the play dough to form snakes. They form snakes of different lengths to learn the vocabulary: long and short.

Model Magic Snakes

After practicing with the play dough, children also make snakes with Model Magic and paint them.

Mouse Count

{Math, Literacy}
Each child in the group has a jar of mice (beans painted and decorated to look like mice). We read the story, Mouse Count, and count the mice into the jar just as the snake does in the story.

Edible Snakes

{Cooking}
We use an edible play dough recipe and form it to make snakes. We add mini M&M's for eyes.
Nutty Putty (Edible Playdough Recipe)
3 1/2 cups peanut butter or Sunbutter*
4 cups powdered sugar
3 1/2 cups corn syrup or honey
4 cups powdered milk
chocolate chips (optional)
Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips. Divide mixture into 15-20 portions, place into plastic bags and refrigerate. Children mold dough, add chocolate chips for decorations, and eat.
*Substitute Sunbutter in place of peanut butter if any children in the classroom are allergic to peanuts.

More Activities

The Mitten

{Literacy}
Children assemble the mitten and cut out the animals from Jan Brett's website ( "Put the Animals in the Mitten" activity). The children put each animal into the mitten as the story is read to them. As a group, children try to recall the order of the animals.

Brown Bear Book

{Literacy}
After reading the book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, we make our own version. Children choose a color and a forest animal to draw on the page. "[Brown bear, brown bear], what do you see? I see a [red fox] looking at me."

Nature Walk

{Science}
We go on a nature walk to find things, such as sticks, leaves, acorns, pebbles, birds, squirrels, etc. Children mark a checklist when they find each item. The children are also given a small ziplock bag to collect items they find. Read about and print the Nature Walk Checklist here.

Leaf Bingo Stamping Game

{Math or Literacy}
Read about and print the Leaf Bingo Game here.

Forest Animal Pattern Blocks

{Science}
Read about and print the Forest Animal Pattern Blocks here.

Camping Prop Box

{Dramatic Play Center}
Sleeping bags, Sticks, Maps, Back packs, Flashlights, Small tent, Cooking utensils, Play food, Butterfly net, Logs made out of rolled brown paper with red, orange, and yellow tissue paper for pretend fire, Binoculars, Compass, Canteen, Paper plates, First-aid kit

Rhymes

Nursery rhymes that go well with a Forest Theme:

Fall the Leaves

I Had a Little Nut Tree

Look for printable posters of these rhymes on the Nursery Rhymes Page.

Songs

Find more Forest Activities for Pre-K

Links

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Find more Forest Activities for Pre-K What we learn about trees: How trees look: bark, leaves, etc. Trees as habitats for animals and insects. Tree products: nuts, fruit (apples), etc. How trees change during the seasons. Forests are homes to plant and animal life.

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Trees are all around us. They come in many different shapes, sizes, and even colors. Some remain green throughout the year, while others have leaves that change colors and fall to the ground. Tree theme preschool activities can be a fun topic to explore year round. Here are some fabulous resources for planning your preschool tree theme. Most of these activities are designed for kids ages 3 through 5, but many can be modified for younger and older kids as well.

WHY IT'S FUN

A preschool tree theme provides lots of opportunity to get outside and explore nature! Studying trees can also lead to discovering habitats and the animals that may call trees "home." Whether you're looking to compare evergreen and deciduous trees, tree habitats, or the seasonal changes that some trees undergo, a preschool tree theme provides lots of fun investigative learning.

WHEN TO TEACH A TREE THEME

A tree theme can be taught any time of year. In some places, trees change throughout the year and can be incorporated into any seasonal learning theme. You may choose to explore trees during spring as new growth occurs or in fall as the temperatures are shifting and the leaves begin to fall.

TEACHING TIPS & MAJOR CONCEPTS KIDS WILL LEARN

If you're planning a preschool tree theme there are many possibilities for incorporating meaningful early learning skills.

These are just some of the concepts kids can learn about during a tree theme:

parts of a tree and what each part does

trees as animal homes and habitats

seasonal changes of trees

coniferous and deciduous

leaves

You can also use real leaves or sticks as manipulatives for many learning activities to teach math and literacy concepts.

ITEMS TO COLLECT AND REQUEST IN ADVANCE

If you get parents, friends, and family involved you can enrich the experience kids have during your preschool tree theme.

Collect or ask people to help you collect:

sticks and leaves for an investigative science center or sensory bin

small tree limbs

seeds

You might even invite special guests (or go visit if you can) to come and share about fields and hobbies related to trees. You could include:

a dendrologist (tree scientist)

an arborist (tree surgeon)

a tree trimmer/landscape specialist

a tree nursery worker

an apple/peach/orange/cherry tree farmer

PRINTABLE TREE THEME LESSON PLANS

Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we've provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.
This set currently includes active hands-on learning ideas and the following printables:
1) Uppercase and Lowercase Alphabet Matching Tree Activity
2) Colorful Trees Sorting Mats
3) Tree Color Word Building Mats
4) Tree Addition Game
5) Tree Beginning Sound Sort (for sounds /t/, /r/, and short /e/)
6) Tree Dice Game
7) Uppercase Tree Alphabet Cards
8) Lowercase Fruits, Seeds, and Flowers Alphabet Cards
9) 0-35 Tree Number Cards
10) Shape Cards (for hands-on shape activities)
11) Tree Word Family Sort (for -an, -op, -it, and -ug)

GET YOUR LESSON PLANS
Home Preschool Tree Theme Lesson Plans Preschool Classroom Tree Theme Lesson Plans
Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

INDIVIDUAL TREE ACTIVITY IDEAS ON FANTASTIC FUN AND LEARNING

Here on Fantastic Fun and Learning we've shared the following ideas to go along with a preschool tree theme.

Try out this fun alphabet tree craft to represent the letter "T." Kids will love scraping forks across the cardboard tree trunk to make it look like real bark!

Grab some pipettes and food coloring to make a fall tree crumpled art creation. Kids will love getting to crumple up paper and squirt fall colors.

Show off some vibrant fall colors and create a tissue paper fall tree with some bleeding tissue paper.

Create a healthy tree snack that is sure to be a hit with some pretzel sticks and grapes.

Add a fall twist to this create your own tree snack by substituting the green grapes for red and yellow cherry tomatoes.

Welcome spring with this fun spring tree art project.

Continue learning about signs of spring with this spring tree play dough set.

Practice counting, addition or subtraction with this free printable tree math activity.

Create a loofah painted fall tree craft project.

Experiment with stamp painting in this fall tree art project.

Gather loose parts and tree branches for this decorate a tree art project idea.

Apple Tree Activities

This tissue paper tree art uses bleeding tissue paper and red pom poms to create a hands-on apple tree craft.

This hands-on sensory invitation to create an apple tree will fill your room with sweet hints of cinnamon too, as you use cinnamon sticks for the tree stumps.

Grab some natural materials and some playdough and create some apple trees in this hands-on way.

Go for a nature walk and collect some twigs. Use them to create this winter tree art project.

MORE ACTIVITIES FROM CREATIVE EDUCATORS

Check out these tree activities for children that include 45 science investigations, sensory play, literacy activities, and math!

Add some science to your tree theme with these forest science activities.

INFORMATIONAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS

PBS Parents provides some useful tips and tricks for identifying trees while hiking with children.

Learn about different types of trees, leaves, and seeds with Curious George.

Discover what a tree needs and the different habitats they live in.

Be an evergreen detective and discover how to identify various evergreen trees.

Learn how evergreens grow and how some survive harsh weather conditions.

YOUTUBE SONGS

Learn about the parts of a tree while singing to the tune of Head Shoulders Knees and Toes.

Kids will love watching the seasonal transformation of trees.

The Green Grass Grows All Around helps teach parts of a tree.

Learn about trees, roots, trunks, and trees.

OTHER ONLINE RESOURCES

Finger plays and action rhymes are a great addition to your preschool themes. Here are a few terrific options to go along with a tree theme.

Create some acorn finger play props to sing and enact 5 Little Acorns Sitting in a Tree.

Down by the Tree Farm is a catchy song and action rhyme sung to the tune of Down by the Bay and featured by Growing Book by Book.

This tree songs and fingerplays resource from Pre-K Fun has lots of great tree themed fun to choose from.

If you'd like to supplement your hands-on learning with some online games you might try:

Play a game of tree memory from National Geographic Kids by uncovering and matching trees.

Test your knowledge on trees with these fun games about trees from the Arbor Day Foundation. You'll find fun and challenging games such as Treevial Pursuit, ConcenTREEtion, and jigsaw puzzles to name a few.

These tree games will have you learning about the parts of trees, identifying trees by their leaves or fruits, and matching wildlife that may inhabit them.

FAVORITE TREE BOOKS

Affiliate links included.

There are a ton of wonderful books to read for your tree theme preschool activities. Below are some of our favorite picture books for a tree theme.

MORE TREE BOOKS

Check out some of our favorite books about trees that include fictional stories and poems about trees that are sure to enhance your tree theme.

If you're looking for books about fall during your tree theme, some of our favorites include great books that touch on leaves and the change that trees go through during this season.

Exploring the rain forest habitat? You may find this book list about the rain forest helpful in your tree theme as you explore the different types of trees that host animals for their homes.

OTHER PROPS AND TEACHING TOOLS

Reinforce learning with these hands-on materials for your tree theme. They can be used for sensory bins, crafts, and learning activities.

FREE PRINTABLES

This roll and color math printable is great for adding small numbers or practicing doubles. It fits in perfectly with a fall tree theme.

Practice fine motor skills and basic math skills with this apple tree fine motor math activity from Fun-A-Day.

POSSIBLE FIELD TRIPS OR ADVENTURES

go on a nature walk

visit a tree farm

have a picnic under a tree

WHAT NEXT?

As you wrap up your tree theme preschool activities take note of what the kids were most interested in throughout the theme. Continue on by investigating one of those concepts more in depth. Below are some possible suggestions. Themes we have printable lesson plans for include links after them.

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Tree Theme Preschool Activities - Fantastic Fun & Learning

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Tree theme preschool activities can be a fun topic to explore year round. Here are some fabulous resources for planning your preschool tree theme. You'll find hands-on activities, free printables, lesson plans, videos, songs and more to help you teach kids about trees.

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These printable Leaf Visual Discrimination Games help kids practice the skills needed to distinguish between similar letters and numbers in Pre-K, Preschool, and Kindergarten.

Visual discrimination skills are so important for young children because it helps them to be able to identify letters and numbers. This skill helps children distinguish between similar letter shapes such as p, q, b, d, as well as similar numbers and shapes.

These are free downloadable printables.

Look here for more Visual Discrimination Printables! Find more Fall Activities here.

Prepare the Sets

To prepare the sets, print them onto card stock paper (download button is below), and laminate if you choose. You will need to print it twice, so that there is a set to match.

What to Do

Children will spread out the cards and find the leaves that are exactly the same. I added these cards to our Science Center because these are photographs of real leaves and children are using observational skills to notice differences in nature.

Download the Printable Leaf Matching Cards:
Download: Leaf Matching Cards
Note: This is a free printable, just click to download.

Prepare the Set

To prepare the sets, print the cards onto card stock paper (download button is below), and laminate if you choose. Cut the cards apart: there are four cards per sheet. I recommend cutting the cards apart, because leaving all of them on one mat would be visually confusing for children.

What to Do

Each card has four pictures: 3 pictures are the same and 1 picture is different. Children will choose a card and carefully look at each picture. They will find the picture that is different and mark it with a manipulative. The cards have varying levels of difficulty. For beginners, start with the cards on the first page.

There are lots of options for manipulatives to use for marking the answer on the cards.

Manipulatives to use:

Clothespins

Plastic chips

Unifix cubes

Marker caps

Table scatter

Mini erasers

Flat floral marbles

Download the Printable Leaf Same and Different Game:
Download: Leaf Same and Different
Note: This is a free printable, just click to download.

You might also like these Fall Activities ...

Post originally published on Oct 7, 2008. Updated.

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Leaf Matching & Visual Discrimination Games

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These printable Leaf Visual Discrimination Games help kids practice the skills needed to distinguish between similar letters and numbers in Pre-K, Preschool, and Kindergarten. Visual discrimination skills are so important for young children because it helps them to be able to identify letters and numbers.

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Black rocks with nature items sensory bin

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Black rocks with nature items sensory bin

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Getting "worms" from the dirt with yarn and clothespins

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Getting "worms" from the dirt with yarn and clothespins

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fine motor draw vertical lines with trees

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STEM and STEAM challenges with simple supplies are FUN in Preschool and Kindergarten, but they also invite kids to critical thinking in order to find a solution to a basic inquiry. The fall STEAM challenge invites preschoolers to engineer a free-standing tree with leaves. Whether your own kids are in childcare, in a Preschool or Kindergarten classroom or at home, they will love designing their own fall trees with leaves.

Lesson Objective: to invite kids to use STEAM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math) to construct a free-standing fall tree with leaves from simple supplies.

Disclosure: this post and others within the blog contain affiliate, distributor, and/or sponsored content and links. To view our updated Disclosures and Privacy Policy, please see here.
Materials needed:
Prior to the Fall Free-Standing Tree with Leaves challenge, discuss the STEPS to STEM SUCCESS with your students.
Challenge Inquiry to Solve:
Kids are asked to design a free-standing fall tree with leaves using only the 3 given supplies.

Preschoolers will ask questions about how to design their trees. Try to guide the kids through the steps above with open-ended questions to allow them to use critical thinking skills. Remind students there is no wrong or right way to construct their trees. The trees with leaves must stand on their own without the aid of the kids when finished.

Integrate technology and invite kids to take photos of the design process and final constructions for the free-standing tree with leaves challenge. The photos can be shown to parents through an online slideshow or they can be printed and make into a class book (note: these books are awesome to share with parents during fall parent-teacher conferences and to document skills). Kids also get new ideas and potential solutions for simple inquiries when they have a chance to look at photos of what worked during the challenge and any modifications to original designs that were made.

Student Construction #1 - in the tree and leaves construction above, the student used play dough to hold the large craft stick upright. Smaller craft sticks became the branches. Initially, the construction toppled over with the weight on top. The student went back and placed another large craft stick behind the construction to support the tree (although a little hard to see in the photo above, it's there).

Student Construction #2 - the student began with a "tee-pee" design to the base of her fall tree. Each of 4 large craft sticks support the weight of the smaller craft sticks and the leaves on top.

It's awesome to observe preschoolers thinking, talking, designing, creating, and improving their fall tree and leaves constructions. Engineering with simple supplies leads to big learning opportunities through play. We hope your own kids will enjoy the challenge this fall.

Books About Fall Trees and Leaves for Preschool and Kindergarten:

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

TREE: A Peek Through Picture Book by Britta Treckentrup

Tell Me, Tree by Gail Gibbons

Trees, Leaves, and Bark (Take Along Guides) by Diana Burns

The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni

The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak

We're Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson
For MORE STEM/STEAM Activities to try this fall with your own students, please see: Exploring TESSELLATING Shapes in Early Childhood Apple Science for Kids: Exploring the Inside of an Apple from Buggy and Buddy Baking Soda Science and Art from Mosswood Connections Apple Taste Test with Editable Printables and Place Cards from JDaniel4's Mom Weighing Pumpkins Center Activity from Something to Offer Fall Leaf Scavenger Hunt (free printable) from KCEdventures Fall Rock Painting (using Force and Physics) by From Engineer to Stay at Home Mom Create a Recycled TOY BOT STEAM Challenge from Artsy Momma Erupting Volcano and Apples Exploration from Little Bins for Little Hands Exploring Gravity with Apples from Little Bins for Little Hands
Fall Theme for Preschoolers

For an entire month of learning through play, the Fall Thematic Unit is available for immediate digital download right here on the blog. It is a one-stop theme for trees and leaves, pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns, general fall, and Non-Scary Halloween activities across all learning areas for use at home or in the classroom.

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FALL STEAM Challenge: Engineering Free-Standing Trees with Leaves

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STEM and STEAM challenges with simple supplies are FUN in Preschool and Kindergarten, but they also invite kids to critical thinking in order to find a solution to a basic inquiry. The fall STEAM challenge invites preschoolers to engineer a free-standing tree with leaves. Whether your own kids are in childcare, in a Preschool or [...]

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Interactive tree wall for the snowflakes, flowers, and different kinds of leaf board

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Interactive tree wall for the snowflakes, flowers, and different kinds of leaf board

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An interactive board for matching the same colored leaves.

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Interactive Learning the parts of the tree

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Interactive Learning the parts of the tree

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Interactive Tree board with different items the children can add to their tree

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Interactive Tree board with different items the children can add to their tree

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Snowflakes, different kinds of leaves, and flowers.

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Christmas STEM Activity Using Magna-Tiles & Jingle Bells

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Post by andnextcomesL.

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Learning different parts of the tree wall

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Learning different parts of the tree wall

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Leaf Light Table made out of a bin and lights

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Leaf Light Table made out of a bin and lights

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Make apple science FUN and hands on in your classroom using science units made just for little learners! Use a small table or a small bookshelf to create an engaging science center full of hands on materials for students to explore and investigate using the included printables, vocabulary cards, book, anchor charts, and discovery pages (science journal pages)! Included is a read aloud book for circle time, anchor charts, and a suggested book list. There is even a half page note you can send home to families, so they can continue the learning at home and strengthen the home school connection.

Bundle and SAVE! Get this product along with ALL of my other little learner science units in the Little Learners Science BUNDLE!

What's included: Labels for Organization

* Teacher Instruction Strategies

* Science Center Set Up (with real classroom photos of the center in action)

* 15 Apple Vocabulary Cards (four to a page)

* Apple Activity Charts (sort, measure, weigh) & Mini Experiments (can also be used for worksheets)

* Parts of an Apple Anchor Chart, One Page Poster, & Worksheet

* Life Cycle of an Apple Anchor Chart, One Page Posters, & Worksheet

* Apple Taste Test Anchor Chart & Worksheets (2 options)

* Apple Investigation Anchor Chart & Worksheet

* All About Apples! Read Aloud Book

* Apple Journal & Writing Pages (2 covers options and 3 discovery page options)

* Home School Connection Note Home (half page)
Check out MORE science units!
► Being a Scientist

► All About My 5 Senses

► All About Apples

► All About Leaves and Trees

► All About Pumpkins

► All About Plants

► All About Butterflies

► All About Insects

► All About My Pet Fish

► All About My Body & Teeth

► All About Rocks

► All About Shells

► All About Trash and Recycling

► All About Space, Sun, and Moon

► All About Ice & Snow

► All About Weather

► All About Colors & Color Mixing

► All About Building

► All About Magnets

► All About Ramps

► All About Force and Motion (a study of balls)
Click the green star to follow me to receive 50% off all new products for the first 24 hours a new product is posted! Visit my store Pocket of Preschool Let's Connect!
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Sign up for my newsletter and you will receive a HUGE family theme writing center filled with word cards, writing paper, write the room, a teacher page with tons of ideas on how to use it the classroom, and real photos of it in action in a classroom for FREE!
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Pocket of Preschool™️. By purchasing and/or downloading this electronic file, you agree to the following terms. For personal use/single classroom use only. No part of this document may be distributed, posted on the internet, placed on a school server or shared drive, copied, edited, or resold. ALL contents of this document are under copyright protection including all content, text, fonts, and graphics, Thank you for respecting my hard word as well as the hard work of the artists whose work helped create this product.

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All About Apples - Science for Little Learners (preschool, pre-k, & kinder)

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Make apple science FUN and hands on in your classroom using science units made just for little learners! Use a small table or a small bookshelf to create an engaging science center full of hands on materials for students to explore and investigate using the included printables, vocabulary cards, boo...

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Apple Activity with Math and Science included

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Apple Activity with Math and Science included

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Original shows and popular videos in different categories from producers and creators you love

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Tree Activity in Block Area- Stacking with cups and leaves

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Tree Activity in Block Area- Stacking with cups and leaves

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Tree Study Counting with sticks and Toilet Tube

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Gave them pictures of trees and they picked their favorite pictures to resemble their favorite trees

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Gave them pictures of trees and they picked their favorite pictures to resemble their favorite trees

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Use tape and allow them to decorate it!

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Board with apple parts and the different kinds of Apples

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Board with apple parts and the different kinds of Apples

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Donations for the Classroom for Tree Study...

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Donations for the Classroom for Tree Study...