Adopt-a-Tree Project
You are about to begin a wonderful adventure into one aspect of the PLANT
Kingdom! Sit back and enjoy the ride as this project lasts the entire school year.
Along the way, you will learn much about the fascinating world of plants and make
some wonderful observations. Become a botanist and begin your journey.
The project starts by selecting a tree near your home. It should be a tree
that is easy to visit because you will be making observations throughout the year,
collecting data, and watching the entire ecosystem of your “adopted tree.” As you
do your study, you will record your data in your plant notebook. It will be
important for you to work on your project throughout the school year because
much of the information to be collected is seasonal.
Keep your notebook in a safe place and add material to it as you work on your
project. The project will be your own creation that will have required parts, which
are listed below. Your project will count as a test grade during the last nine weeks
of school; however, there will be other grades taken to check on your progress
throughout the year. It is important to do your best work!
The project will end with a culminating activity where students will place a
tag with identifying information about their tree on a Google Map. The map will
show where different kinds of trees are located on the school property and at
students’ houses. Now hop on a limb and enjoy one aspect of the world of plants!
Requirements
1. All material in your project must be typed. Pictures should be in color.
2. Your project must be in a notebook and neatly organized by season using
dividers.
3. Project quarterly due dates will be announced.
4. Daily/Quiz grades will be earned quarterly culminating in a final test grade
fourth quarter.
5. Your project will include labs, journal entries, data sheets, and graphs related to
the tree.
Organization of Your Tree Notebook
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Organize your notebook into five sections. (Four seasons and Summary)
Use five dividers to separate each required section.
Reporting in each section should follow the format below:
REQUIRED AREAS EXPECTATIONS
1. Scientific Classification: Identify the type of tree you have adopted. List
the scientific classification name (genus and species names) of your adopted
tree along with the common name of the tree and the adopted name you have
given your tree. For example, a Red Maple (common name) is called Acer
rubrum scientifically, but you might name your tree Bob.
Four Seasonal Sections:
1. Visual Observation: Make visual observations by writing a descriptive
paragraph about your tree. In addition, take pictures of your tree such as
the entire tree, close-up of the canopy, a leaf, and the bark during each of
the four seasons. Examine your leaf under a microscope or stereoscope and
draw what you see. Be sure to record the date of each picture. All
observations and work must include the DATE, TIME, DAY of WEEK, and
the WEATHER your observation/work was done. Look for signs of symbiotic
relationships in and around your tree.
2. Scientific Measurements: Make seasonal measurements of your adopted
tree. Use the enclosed data sheet to record accurate measurements of the
tree. Use the metric system for all measurements. Make the measurements
at the same time of day during each of the four observations and use the
same three branches. You may need to tie a string or ribbon around those
branches to remind yourself which ones you are measuring.
3. Journal: The journal entry is a record of your emotional connection with
nature. Each season, write a paragraph describing your feelings about your
tree. Include observations of your tree’s special characteristics to provide
evidence for your feelings. Express your feelings, especially as the tree
experiences seasonal changes throughout the year.
4. Leaf Collection: Collect one or more leaves of your tree each season. You
may scan the leaf and save the picture on a computer to be printed out and
included in your notebook, or you may mount and laminate the leaves each
season and place them in your notebook. Label each leaf with the season,
date, and time of the collection. Take pictures of the cells in your leaves
using our Microscope Video Camera or draw images of the cells labeling parts
such as chloroplasts, vacuoles, cell wall…etc.
5. Ecosystem Study: Make seasonal observations of the life that inhabits your
tree. Observe your tree for at least 30 minutes and list all of the organisms
you observe. Draw a sketch or your tree and list or draw the different
organisms at the various levels of the tree: canopy, understory, and ground.
Make sure to include plant, animal, and fungi that you observe. Also, inlcude
the abiotic (nonliving) factors affecting your tree (water, light,
temperature, space, etc.). Date your observations. Identify evidence of the
symbiotic relationships your tree might have with arachnids, insects,
annelids, nematodes, platyhelminths, animals, and other plant species.
Summary Section:
1. Teacher Handouts: This section will contain teacher handouts. A Gizmo
lesson on measuring a tree.
All handouts must be completed and turned in
with the final project in June.
2. Seasonal Comparisons: Seasonal comparisons will be made using graphs and a
Venn Diagram. On a spreadsheet, compare all four seasons in the following
five categories: number of leaves, length of leaves, circumference of trunk,
circumference of branches, and length of new growth. Be sure to use the
averages for each season. On a compare/contrast graphic, such as a Venn
diagram, compare how the tree was the same over all four seasons, then
contrast the differences.
3. Research: Use encyclopedias, the Internet, books available in your school or
public library, or other sources to find information about your specific tree
species. You can include areas where the trees are most often found,
climates where this species grows best, human uses of the tree’s products,
average size of growth, distinguishing characteristics, diseases that invade
this species, etc. Your report must be at least two double-spaced, typed
pages and include an accurate bibliography with at least three sources. One
source must be a book. You may be creative and add to your project in any
manner. Keep all your typed data saved on a computer as backup or to be
printed out at a later date and placed in your notebook on the assigned due
dates. Keep your notebook in a safe place, also. I hope you enjoy your
journey into “plant parenthood”!
CHECKLIST/DUE DATES FOR ADOPT-A-TREE PROJECT
__________
Scientific Name of Tree
Due: September 8th or 9th
Summer: (August to September 22nd)
__________
Visual Observation
__________
Scientific Measurements
__________
Journal Reflection
__________
Leaf Collection
__________
Ecosystem Study
Due: September 22nd or 23rd
Fall: (Sept. 22nd to Dec. 22nd)
__________
Visual Observation
__________
Scientific Measurements
__________
Journal
__________
Leaf Collection
__________
Ecosystem Study
Due: December 15th and 16th
Winter: (Dec. 22nd to March 22nd)
__________
Visual Observation
__________
Scientific Measurements
__________
Journal
__________
Leaf Collection
__________
Ecosystem Study
Due: March 22nd or 23rd
Spring: (March 22nd to June 22nd)
__________
Visual Observation
__________
Scientific Measurements
__________
Journal
__________
Leaf Collection
__________
Ecosystem Study
Due: May 17th or 18th
Summary:
__________
__________
__________
__________
Due: May 24th or 25th
FINAL PROJECT:
Teacher Handouts
Seasonal Comparison Graphs (5)
Seasonal Comparison Venn Diagram
Research
DUE: May 31st or June 1st
February 8, 2016
RE: Adopt-a-Tree Project
Dear Parents:
Please read and sign the form below. Return the form to your child’s science
teacher. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s
teacher by calling the school at 571-252-2030 or sending him an email. Thank
you for your support!
Sincerely,
Thomas Dahlinger
Life Science Teacher
Smart’s Mill Middle School
We have read the project requirements and understand that the Adopt-a-Tree
Project is a year-long project. We understand that our son/daughter will need a
notebook in which to keep his/her tree project information and a measuring
tape. We also understand that our child will make scientific measurements
outdoors. The final project will be due in June and several photographs of the
tree during each season will need to be taken.
Student _____________________________ (Please print)
Parent/Guardian ____________________________
ADOPT A TREE PROJECT SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENTS
Season:
Date:
Measurements to be taken
Time:
Location 1
Weather:
Location 2
Circumference of tree trunk at 3
heights
(0.5 m, 1m 2m)
Circumference of 3 different
branches (*use same branches each
season)
Number of leaves on same 3
branches
(FALL: % of leaves that have
changed color)
Length of 3 different leaves
Length of new growth (green area
at tip, on same 3 branches)
Color of 3 leaves
Smell of the leaves, bark, and
branch
Estimated height of the tree
Flowers? (yes/no, describe)
Buds? (yes/no, describe) dimensions
Shape of the tree
Shape of the leaves (dimensions of
petals, tapered?, parallel,
alternating?)
Description of bark thickness(mm)
Types of Evidence showing
Symbiotic Relationships
Tallies of different organisms
found around/in your tree
Drawings from microscope viewings
Other unique findings
Other unique measurements
Websites for tree identification:
http://www.treelink.org/whattree/index.htm
http://www.dof.virginia.gov/trees/index.shtml
http://www.ornithology.com/identification.html
http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=4
http://www.backyardnature.net/insectid.htm
Location 3
Average
(mean)