Trees are great to study any time of year. With both Earth Day and Arbor Day, April is an especially perfect time for a tree unit, whether your unit is a full month, two weeks, one week, or even one day. Today, I’m sharing lots of resources for a tree unit: tree activities and free tree printables, including our new Montessori-inspired tree pack (subscriber freebie)!
In addition to our new tree pack, I have a special instant download from The Montessori Company with a hand-painted tree culture card!
The links are for free tree printables for preschoolers through 1st graders. To keep my list manageable, I don’t share coloring pages unless a page has a specific educational purpose related to trees. If you’re looking for apple tree printables, check out my post with free apple printables. For Christmas tree activities, check out my post with free Christmas tree printables. For leaf printables, check out my post with free leaf printables.
Free Printables + Materials Used in the Pictured Tree Activities for Preschoolers-First Graders
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Montessori Shelves with Tree-Themed Activities
My shelves with tree-themed activities include a free tree culture card designed by The Montessori Company. You’ll also find Montessori-inspired tree numbers, letters, and and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)
I always have related books available throughout a unit. On my top shelf, I have Tree by Britta Teckentrip, The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-ups, Tell Me, Tree, and Trees, Leaves and Bark. These books are all Montessori friendly and great resources for a variety of ages. I have a number of other tree books for the theme that I’ll tell about in an upcoming post at Living Montessori Now.
You’ll see the handmade My Tree Book (My Tree Book by Elizabeth Hall- Kickin’ it in Kindergarten at Teachers Pay Teachers) on the top shelf. We used that for our nature walk about the theme. I’ll share more about it in an upcoming post at Living Montessori Now!
You could mix your tree-themed activities among your shelves according to curriculum area. Or you could have a special tree-themed area something like the one pictured. My shelves this month have a mixture of skill levels. Many of the activities can be adapted for a variety of levels. If you’re a homeschooler, just choose the activities that work for your child’s interests and ability levels. If you don’t have room for all the activities you’d like to do, simply rotate them.
Tree Culture Card with Tree Book by Britta Teckentrup
Tree Culture Card with Tree Book by Britta Teckentrup
Along with the the gorgeous Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup, I’m happy to share with you this lovely tree culture card from The Montessori Company. I’m hosting the free printable as an instant download at Living Montessori Now. You can always access the free tree culture card here.
The description says: “Trees grow tall and strong with leaves that reach for the sunlight. They can grow fruit, flowers and nuts, depending on the type..”
Parts of a Tree Puzzle, Cards, and Booklet-making Materials
Free Printable: Montessori Parts of a Tree (subscriber freebie) from Trillium Montessori
This activity uses the Montessori tree puzzle (ours is from the awesome Montessori By Mom Shoots and Sprouts Toolbox, the free printables for parts of a tree matching and booklet making, and a Montessori Services basket.
Montessori By Mom has some great extensions for the Montessori tree puzzle. (Sample video from their Shoots and Sprouts Toolbox)
Reading Parts of a Tree Cards after Matching Tree Puzzle Pieces to Cards
My 4-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, loves the puzzle, so I enjoy finding new variations for her. Renae from Every Star Is Different uses this variation in her “Tree Activities for Tots and Preschoolers.” I like that it’s a different way to use 3-part cards. Zoey laid out each puzzle piece under the matching card and then read the card labels before putting the puzzle back together.
The Life Cycle of an Oak Tree and the Life Cycle of a Pine Tree
Free Printable: Oak Tree Life Cycle Sequencing Cards from PreKinders
Free Printable: The Life Cycle of a Pine Tree from The Teacher Couple at Teachers Pay Teachers
This activity uses a real acorn and pinecone along with the printables. The child can lay out the life cycle cards in order and use the booklets to check his or her work.
T is for Tree Salt Tray, Object Basket, and Movable Alphabet Work
Free Printables: Tree Letters for tree writing tray and object basket (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)
For the salt tray, I used the wooden tray from the Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace Shapes. You can use whatever tray or container work best for you, though. I added a couple of Safari Ltd. trees from the Trees TOOB for interest.
For the movable alphabet work, I used a traditional small wooden movable alphabet. I also used Montessori Services language objects tub, top, and tag, and number “10” as words for spelling with the movable alphabet. For children working on their phonetic sounds, the /t/ objects could be used in an object basket.
If you would like help with introducing phonetic sounds, introducing objects with sounds, or beginning phonics in general, check out my DIY Beginning Montessori Phonics with Preschoolers.
Tree ee Phonogram Card and Booklet
Free Printables: “ee” tree font cards (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)
Free Printable: “ee” Sound with Letters from MontessoriSoul
I love the simplicity of this! It was so easy to prepare, yet it isolates the “ee” phonogram very well. I have a post and video on how to introduce words starting with phonograms, even with very young children.
DIY Maple Tree Cards and Counters
Free Printables: Maple Tree Numbers (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)
Note: I’ll change to another tree-themed math activity with free printable (Free Printable: Summer Palm Tree Hundreds Chart Mystery Picture from Mrs. Thompson’s Treasures at Teachers Pay Teachers) in a week or so.
I love making DIY themed cards and counters to introduce odd and even and add interest and variety to cards and counters. I used maple leaf acrylic pendant. You need exactly 55 leaves if you want to do the numbers and counters 1-10. For Zoey and other kids who are already comfortable with symbol and quantity, I’ll use the cards and counters for hands-on addition, subtraction, and other mathematical operations. (See some of my other themed posts for ideas.)
We use a Montessori Services rug for our floor work.
Conifer and Deciduous Tree Match Ups
Free Printable: Deciduous and Conifer Tree Matchups from Every Star Is Different (Go to Free Printables tab at the top of the Every Star Is Different blog, then to Holiday Activities, then to Thanksgiving, and then to The Giving Tree Family Thanksgiving Unit)
This is another super easy activity to prepare. I used a Multicraft tray, printables condiment cup to hold the small cards. You could use just the deciduous or conifrer matchups on the tray. I have both combined on this tray.
Fingerprint Trees through the Seasons
Free Printable: Seasons and Trees from Jessica Steffel at Teachers Pay Teachers
For this activity, I just used the printable on a Multicraft tray along with a washable stamp pad for kids to use to make fingerprint “leaves” for each season of tree.
Free Tree Printables for Preschoolers-First Graders
Montessori-Inspired Tree Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber)
- Montessori Parts of a Tree (subscriber freebie) from The Natural Homeschool
- Tree Printables from The Pinay Homeschooler
- Tree Template for Autumn Tree Craft from DLTK’s Crafts for Kids
- Tree Patterns (could use for pin punching) from Pattern Universe
- Word-Family Trees from RelentlesslyFun, Deceptively Educational (see my activity)
- Math Fact Family Trees from The Educators’ Spin on It (see my activity)
- Tree Printables from KidZone Science
- Tree Printables from Education.com
- Tree Study and Lapbook from Homeschool Share
- The Giving Tree Printables from Homeschool Share
- Educational Resources (see Previous Activities for printables) from Arbor Day Foundation
- Tree Playdough Mats 1-10 (subscriber freebie) from Life Over C’s
- Autumn Tree Craft from DLTK’s Crafts for Kids
- Tree Printables from Teachers Pay Teachers
More Tree Activities and Resources
- Free Tree Songs and Educational Videos {Learn about Trees, Apple Trees, and Seasons}
- Free Seasons of an Apple Tree Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- How to Make a Tree Book Featuring Real Parts of a Tree
- Free Tree Printables and Montessori-Inspired Tree Activities
- Free Tree Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Montessori-Inspired Arbor Day Activities
- The Ultimate Guide to Montessori-Inspired Leaf Activities and Resources
Leaf Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Autumn Leaf Unit
- Free Leaf Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fall Leaf Activities
- The Ultimate Guide to Montessori-Inspired Leaf Resources and Activities
- Free Tree Printables and Montessori-Inspired Tree Activities
- Easy, Colorful Chalk Marker Leaves for Any Climate
- Fall Leaf Sensory Bin with Parts of a Leaf Scavenger Hunt and Activities for Babies and Toddlers
- Free Fall Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fall Activities
- Free Fall Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Fall Songs and Educational Videos
- Free Fall Cutting Strips ( Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Autumn Leaf Unit Study Pinterest Board
Earth Day Activities and Resources
- Free 3-Part Recycle Cards
- Montessori-Inspired Earth Day Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Activities for Earth Day Every Day
- More Montessori-Inspired Earth Day Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Lorax Activities
- Free Earth Day Printables and Montessori-Inspired Earth Day Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Arbor Day Activities
- Free Recycling Printables and Montessori-Inspired Recycling Activities
- Free Recycling Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Recycling Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Conservation Songs for Home or School {Character Education Resources}
- Free Earth Day Songs and Rhymes for Circle Time
- Free Tree Printables and Montessori-Inspired Tree Activities
- Free Endangered Animal Songs and Educational Videos {Save the Animals}
- Thank You for Planet Earth (or Thank You, Planet Earth) Mindfulness Cards and Booklet
- Free Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Printables and Activities for a Montessori-Inspired Earth Day Unit
- Free Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Phonics Download)
- Free Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Endangered Animal Printables and Montessori-Inspired Endangered Animal Activities
- Free Endangered Animals Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Endangered Animal Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Montessori-Inspired Earth Day Printables for Preschool Through Elementary
- Kids’ Earth Day Every Day Pinterest Board
If this is your first time visiting Living Montessori Now, welcome! If you haven’t already, please join us on our Living Montessori Now Facebook page where you’ll find a Free Printable of the Day and lots of inspiration and ideas for parenting and teaching! And please follow me on Instagram, Pinterest (lots of Montessori-, holiday-, and theme-related boards), and YouTube. While you’re here, please check out the Living Montessori Now shop.
And don’t forget one of the best ways to follow me by signing up for my weekly newsletter. You’ll receive some awesome freebies in the process!
Leave a Reply