Physical Distancing STEM Break with Ms. Meghan: Adopt a Tree

Did you know that your Galesburg Public Library card allows you to check out e-books and audio books through the Libby app? All you need is your library card and your PIN (your birth date in MMDDYYYY format) and you'll be on your way to reading on your phone or tablet!

I'll be pairing up Libby books for GPL patrons with STEM activities, live webcams, educational programs, and citizen science projects.

So, let's go

Adopt a Tree!

Trees are all around us, and sometimes we can take them for granted. Today we're going to focus on one special tree!

Read: 

There are a number of books about trees available through Libby, including Roots by Marissa Kirkman and Rain Forest Explorer by Rupert Matthews.   

Adopt: Today's activity comes from Project Learning Tree and the Environmental Education Association of Illinois.

Find a tree in your yard or neighborhood to adopt. You'll make observations about it throughout the seasons and see how it changes. Apps like PlantSnap will help you figure out what species your tree is. Once you know what type of tree you have, you can start recording your observations. How is your tree similar or different to other ones around it? Why do you think that is? Why did you choose this tree? What color and shape are the leaves?

Make a sketch of your tree. How do you think it will look different in the fall?

Make a rubbing of your tree's bark and one of the leaves. Do they look different from other trees? Why do you think that is?

Is your tree alive? How can you tell?

How do you think your tree would look from a bird's eye view? From a mouse's eye view?

Do you see any animals on or near your tree? Be sure to look closely for insects and spiders.