Enjoy this Do-It-Yourself Storytime on Trees whenever is convenient for your family.
BOOKS:
A Grand Old Tree
• Written and illustrated by Mary Newell
• Published by Arthur A. Levine Books
• Presented by Kara Harlan
This book describes the life cycle of a tree
https://video.link/w/TLHhc
Fun-a-Day has links to several great spring tree craft ideas:
https://fun-a-day.com/spring-crafts-for-preschoolers-blooming-trees/
This Tree Counts
• Written by Alison Formento
• Illustrated by Sarah Snow
• Published by Albert Whitman & Company
• Presented by Reading Rhinos
As Mr. Tate’s class prepares to plant saplings, they hear the giant oak tree in their school yard tell about all the animal life it supports, from one owl to 10 earthworms.
https://video.link/w/qMHhc
Use play dough and small tree and flowers pieces in this great craft from Fantastic Fun and Learning:
https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/spring-tree-play-dough-invitation.html
Pete the Cat and the Tip-Top Treehouse
• Written and illustrated by James Dean
• Published by HarperCollins
• Presented by Storytime Train
Pete the Cat builds an awesome tree house. Will his friends like it?
https://video.link/w/PNHhc
Jessi and Squeaks from SciShow Kids count the rings of a tree to learn about its life in this video:
https://video.link/w/sOHhc
SONGS:
My Four Seasons Tree by Appuseries
https://video.link/w/BOHhc
Beautiful Trees Song by Sid the Science Kids and the Jim Henson Company
https://video.link/w/UOHhc
The Tree Song by Mr. R.’s Songs for Teaching
https://video.link/w/ePHhc
RHYMES AND FINGERPLAYS:
The Parts of a Tree
(tune: Head, Shoulders, Knees and toes)
Roots, trunk, branches and leaves (touch toes and middle, hold up arms, wave hands)
Branches, leaves (hold up arms, wave hands)
Roots, trunk, branches and leaves
Branches, leaves
Buds and fruits and flowers in the breeze (sway back and forth)
Those are the parts of trees
Parts of trees. (clap hands twice)
Head, shoulders, knees and toes (touch head, shoulders, knees, toes)
Knees and toes. (touch knees and toes)
No! Trees don’t have those! (shake head – no)
Don’t have those.
They have roots, trunk, branches and some leaves (touch toes, middle, hold up arms, wave hands)
Those are the parts of trees
Parts of trees. (clap hands twice)
Eyes, ears, mouth and nose (touch eyes, ears, mouth, nose)
Mouth and nose. (touch mouth and nose)
No! Trees don’t have those! (shake head – no)
Don’t have those.
They have roots, trunk, branches and some leaves (touch toes, middle, hold up arms, wave hands)
Those are the parts of trees
Parts of trees. (clap hands twice)
Roots, trunk, branches and leaves (touch toes and middle, hold up arms, wave hands)
Branches, leaves (hold up arms, wave hands)
Roots, trunk, branches and leaves
Branches, leaves
Buds and fruits and flowers in the breeze (sway back and forth)
Those are the parts of trees
Parts of trees. (clap hands twice)
Way Up High in the Apple Tree
(tune: Baa, Baa Black Sheep)
Way up high in the apple tree (hold arms up with fists for the fruit)
Two red apples smiled down at me. (turn your fists back and forth)
I shook that tree as hard as I could (shake your arms and body)
Down came the apples, (make a rolling motion with your arms)
Umm, they were good. (rub your tummy)
Way up high in the apple tree (hold arms up with fists for the fruit)
Two red apples smiled down at me. (turn your fists back and forth)
Way up high in the pear tree (hold arms up with fists for the fruit)
Two green pears smiled down at me. (turn your fists back and forth)
I shook that tree as hard as I could (shake your arms and body)
Down came the pears, (make a rolling motion with your arms)
Umm, they were good. (rub your tummy)
Way up high in the pear tree (hold arms up with fists for the fruit)
Two green pears smiled down at me. (turn your fists back and forth)
(Repeat, naming other fruits that grow in trees)
Trees Are the Kindest Things I Know
by Harry Behn
Tree are the kindest things I know
They do no harm, they simply grow
And spread a shade for sleepy cows
And gather birds among their boughs.
They give us fruit in leaves above,
And wood to make our houses of,
And leaves to burn on Halloween
And in the Spring new buds of green.
They are the first when day’s begun
To touch the beams of morning sun
They are the last to hold the light
When evening changes into night.
And when a moon floats on the sky
They hum a drowsy lullaby
Of sleepy children long ago
Trees are the kindest things I know
