Homeschool kindergarten life science is one of the most fun sciences to teach. Grab my other kindergarten tips on my kindergarten homeschool curriculum page.
Too, with a fun nature tree study you don’t need expensive equipment or curriculum.
Add a few interesting books, a fun item or two. a backyard or a great tree filled park.
From books to videos, I’m sharing some of my favorite resources for introducing simple botany lessons to your preschooler or kindergarteners day.
Books are always the best place to start with any unit study whether you purchase them or grab a few from the local library.
Books about Trees
Look at these beautiful books for young learners.
9 Tree Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To
You'll love using one of these books as a science reference or to use for art to inspire life science lessons.
Some trees have lived many lifetimes, standing as silent witnesses to history. Some are remarkable for their age and stature; others for their usefulness. A bristlecone pine tree in California has outlived man by almost 4,000 years; a baobab tree in Australia served as a prison for Aboriginal prisoners at the turn of the twentieth century; and a major oak in England was used as a hiding place for Robin Hood and his men (or so the story goes…).
The fourteen trees in this book have earned the title "Celebritrees" for their global fame and significance. Both in fact and in legend, these fascinating trees remind us not only how much pleasure trees bring, but what they can tell us about history.
Spectacular illustrations rendered in oil paint, and a rhyming text that describes a tree’s activities from its roots to its branches, introduce young readers to the amazing activities that go on in a tree. Acorns nibbled by chipmunks, ants scurrying across a trunk, a spider spinning a web, leaves “breathing out air for all to breathe in”—everything adds up to a “busy tree” for all to “come and see.”
This is a fantastic reference book to have on hand for tree studies.
It has great illustrations and covers everything from how a tree “eats and drinks” to types of trees, seeds, how they change in the seasons, why we need them and more
Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world.
An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife.
Tree Full of Wonder is a vibrant, rhyming, educational and unique picture book showing the unbreakable bond between people and trees. For children ages 3-8. Kids will fall in love with nature and will become Protectors of the Trees.
From the highest branch and leaf down to the complex “wood wide web” of roots, it’s no wonder every part of a tree plays an important role in its own growth and the habitat of the whole forest or woodland. The Magic & Mystery of Trees is a nature book that takes children on a fascinating journey of exploration, showing them just how special these mighty organisms are.
Learn and Play: These figurines provide a fun and educational way to learn about different tree species, promoting environmental awareness and appreciation.
Bringing the world of TREES to your fingertips, FANDEX presents a foolproof field guide. Four visual keys--die-cut leaf, bark pattern, flower, nut or seed, and photo of the full tree--plus descriptions of habitat and more combine to give a complete picture of North America's forest and backyard trees.
In addition, TREES is a cultural history--of the mighty White Oak, California Redwood, Aillanthus, the tree that grows in Brooklyn, and the stately White Ash, as important for the bows of early Native Americans as for the baseball bats of today.
However, the best part of any science for young children are the hands-on activities.
And children this age learn best through hands-on activities.
Hand-on Activities for a Tree Unit Study
Investigate, touch, experiment, draw, and play your way through learning.
First, study each of the trees parts. Study the leaves, their shape, color, and size, use an app or book to help you identify the tree.
Second, investigate the rings on a stump or cut of wood.
Then talk about how the rings indicate how old a tree is and every knot and scar in it tells a story of fires, storms, etc.
Look at what is growing on it.
Next, check out the different types of bark, peek in knot holes, and let them touch and investigate every part they can.
Third, create a science shelf in your home on a designated shelf, coffee table, or even a little wooden crate.
Make it a place your child can store his collections of leaves, pinecones, birds’ nests, and any other items of interest he finds on nature walks or in the yard.
More Homeschool Science K – 2 Ideas
- Homeschool Science Ideas for K – 2
- BEST Free Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum With A Gentle Approach (List)
- 18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids
- 10 Affordable and Complete Homeschool Kindergarten Curriculum
- Homeschool Kindergarten Life Science – Hands-on Fun Nature Tree Study
Fifth, make this Hands on Literature Nature Study Simple Tree Craft
Sixth, create a leaf collection book to gather specimens.
Seventh, Safari Ltd. Toob Trees are the perfect size for little hands and have a variety of uses that make them worth the investment.
They can be used along with blocks and cars in small world play, to create a themed sensory bin, or in a little diorama to give it some dimension.
On a rainy day when you can’t make it outdoors, research the type of trees each one is and learn about it.
Eighth, work in some math by measuring the diameter of smaller trees with a flexible measuring tape.
Too, sort sticks and pinecones into sizes or measure them with a ruler.
Further, use acorns and leaves as counters and manipulatives for simple math problems.
Lastly, make a leaf rubbing by placing leaves under thin copy paper.
Rubbing the side of the crayon across it to bring out the detail for the drawing.
Also, this can be done also do this on the bark of the tree as well.
In addition to this, add videos to your learning day.
Historic Trees Nature Study
However, include your older kids too when you’re doing this kindergarten life science lesson.
I have this fun and free unit study Famous and Historic Trees Fun Nature and History Homeschool Unit Study
Kindergarten Life Science Videos
Not only can videos help a child learn a topic you may be nervous about teaching, but it can give you 10 minutes to work on something else. Your child gains independence.
- Life as a Tree -What Can Rings Tell us
- All About Trees
- Parts of a Tree
- Why Do We Need Trees
- All About Oak Trees
- Why do Tree Leaves Change Color
As well here are some questions to help you teach kindergarten life science.
Because kids are always full of questions, a good place to start with a unit study is ask them a lot of questions like
- For example, what kind of tree is it. Use your books, apps, and google to help you figure it out.
- What do the seeds look like? Are they acorns, pinecones, a pit, a pod, husk, wings, or seed inside a fruit?
Then, what grows on it?
Moss, leaves, fungi, fruit and what kind of things are on the tree including its own parts as well as those that attach themselves to it, why do they do that?
Is it a good thing or bad? Find out together.
Another one is who lives in it.
A tree study can easily take a lot of rabbit holes learning about the birds, bugs, and other creatures that make trees their home.
Ask your child who lives in a tree and let them dictate a list to you, seeing their words written down is a powerful language learning tool.
Lastly, what do we get from trees.
This is another important question that you can ask your child and write down their answers.
Paper, wood, apples, bananas, nuts, gum, wax, and dye just to name a few things.
Draw a tree on a piece of paper or better yet let them draw it and write down your child’s answers all around it.
Moreover, look at some more tips for homeschooling kindergarten. What do you think? Ready to give this lesson a try.
Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum And Crafts
- 40 Awesome Earth Science Movies for Kindergarten
- Growing a Seed Activity For Kindergarten Science Kids Activity
- Native American Activities For Kindergarten Create A Fun Cradleboard Craft
- Rainforest Science Activities For Kindergarten Amazing and Fun Living Terrarium
- Pond Life for Kindergarten Activity Build a Fun Beaver Dam
- Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten
- 4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten
- Native American Crafts for Kindergarten How to Make a Kids Pinch Pot
- 10 Best Homeschool Phonics Curriculum For Kindergarten
- 15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool
- 19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten
- Rainforest Crafts for Kindergarten: Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey
- How to Create the Best Homeschool Schedule for Kindergarten (free printable)
- 60 Favorite Top Homeschooling Materials for Kindergarten
- 10 Affordable and Complete Homeschool Kindergarten Curriculum
- How to Effortlessly Blend Kindergarten Homeschool Subjects & Life
- BEST Free Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum With A Gentle Approach (List)
- Delightful Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Which Promote a Love of Learning
