Why trees matter: thinking about a fable
Trees matter for many reasons. They give shade on a hot day. Birds make nests in them, and many animals find shelter there. Trees give fruit and nuts. They also clean the air. A tree has parts: the roots take water from the soil, the trunk holds the tree up, the branches hold the leaves, and the leaves use sunlight to make food. Read the fable ‘The Travelers and the Tree’ on pages 40–41 of your Student Book. We do not retell it here.
| Part of a tree | What it does |
|---|---|
| roots | take water from the soil |
| trunk | holds the tree up |
| branches | hold the leaves |
| leaves | use sunlight to make food |
Why do we need trees?
They give shade, and birds make nests in them.
They give fruit too, and they clean the air.
Then we should be thankful. Let us plant a tree!
There is a big old tree in our village. It gives shade to the children, and birds build nests in its branches. In summer we sit under it and eat our lunch. Last year we planted a small tree next to it. The small tree does not give much shade yet, but it grows every year. We are thankful for our trees.
Plant a tree. With a grown-up, plant a seed or a small tree in a pot or in a garden. Write the date. Water it every week. Say what the tree gives us: shade, fruit, a home for birds. Draw the tree and label the roots, trunk, branches and leaves.
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