How a Seed Becomes a Tree!

Did you know that trees can grow almost anywhere? The fun and fact-filled science book, Tell Me, Tree; All About Trees for Kids by Gail Gibbons, gives a detailed look at the life cycle and characteristics of many types of trees. It is a perfect guide for children that want to learn many facts about tree growth, leaves, and various types of trees. It closely examines how a tree begins as a seed, how a root can produce fruit, and how leaves are not just for show; they help the trees to grow. Each page begins with, “Tell Me, Tree…,” and follows the life of a tree with specific examples of types of seeds, bark, leaves, and fruits. The first page explains what nutrients trees need to grow, and how they grow in all types of different climates and environments.  The next page reads,

 “Tell me, Tree… All trees, even the biggest, begin their lives as seeds. These seeds come in different shapes and sizes.”

                 

This wonderful illustration shows fourteen different species of seeds, and an adjoining illustration labeled with the root, stem, and leaf of a tree. This page is a great instructional tool to introduce plant life cycles that relates to the second grade GPS standard, S2L1. Students will investigate the life cycles of different living organisms; c. Investigate the life cycle of a plant by growing a plant from a seed and by recording changes over a period of time.

Below is a nice illustration that shows the growth of the tree, the roots that “anchor” it, and how the “stem becomes hard enough to be called wood.”   The next several pages continue with a marvelous view of the interior layers of a tree, and an underground look at how the roots soak up water and minerals from soil.  It even gives a simple explanation on photosynthesis, and how trees are so helpful to humans. It describes how the leaves mix water with carbon dioxide to feed the tree, and the leaves then release oxygen into the air that we use to live and breathe.

The next page describes the continuous life cycle of a tree. “Trees use food from their leaves to grow new wood, branches, twigs, buds, leaves, seeds, nuts, and fruit. The fruit of trees is often sweet from the sugar the leaves make. Trees need their food to stay alive and renew their growth.”

 This is a perfect, basic explanation of the progression that second graders will understand. The next several pages have great descriptions and illustrations for identifying different trees and their leaves. It concludes with the many ways trees are used; from providing wood for building houses and furniture, to providing homes for many birds and animals.

Tell Me, Tree, is a wonderful book to introduce the life cycle of a tree to students because of the excellent, simple descriptions and the detailed illustrations. Since the second grade standard referred to previously requires the students to record changes of a growing plant over a period of time, students could use this book as a reference book or dictionary to assist them with assignments or projects. The author completes this resourceful book by providing a great activity with instructions for students to create their very own tree identification book. Overall, this book goes above and beyond the expectations of an elementary level science content book.  We feel it would be a great asset to any classroom.