Celebrate Arbor Day with your student!
Trees provide humans not only with vital, life-giving oxygen (one mature tree produces enough oxygen for two people for a whole year*), but trees also give us shade, timber, food, less pollution, paper, support for other animals and ecosystems, erosion prevention, and beautiful landscapes.
Trees come in over 200 varieties and forests cover about 1/3 of the United States. Because trees are such an important resource to life, Arbor Day was created over 135 years ago to raise the awareness of tree planting during the spring season and also in observation of the founder J. Sterling Morton’s birthday.
To pass on the importance of trees to your student, here are a few ways to celebrate Arbor Day:
- Plant a tree. If you don’t have a place to plant a tree, look into local community events to participate in town tree planting. If your town doesn’t plant trees, start an annual program for community members and get businesses to support your event.
- Recycle paper. The average American uses 750 pounds of paper per year.* Recycling paper can reduce waste, deforestation, and encourage companies to use recycled paper in their products.
- Go for a tree walk. Visit a park or forest and record the types of trees present. Do a school assignment or personal project focused around trees like a science experience, art drawing, photography, poetry, or essay.
- Take a gardening class. – Learn how to properly plant and care for trees and plants in your geographical area by attending a local gardening class. Get tips from local landscapers or agricultural centers, or country extensions.
Have you ever planted a tree with your student? What tips do you have for tree planting?
*http://www.savatree.com/tree-facts.html