Basic Activity: - Design an energy-wise community using trees (One 60 minute class period)
Learner objectives: - Students will be able to:
- Recognize the interdependent role trees play in conserving energy
- Describe several ways appropriately placed and planted trees can conserve energy
- Demonstrate the best planting locations for different types of trees to conserve or produce energy
Subjects – see TEKS correlations Key Vocabulary Words - Energy
- Renewable and Nonrenewable
- Biomass
- Deciduous
- Transpiration
- Conifers
- Fossil Fuels
- Diversity
- Heat Island Effect
- Windbreak and Wind Row
Assessment: - Assessment opportunities are provided on page 12 and the rubric is provided on page 13
- GET OUTSIDE! Have students use the Tree Planting for Energy Conservation Guidelines Handout to evaluate real plantings around the school building, area homes, or business sites. Have them determine if efficient use of tree planting was made to conserve energy. They could select areas on the grounds where new trees might be planted on Arbor Day.
Extension Activities - Conduct temperature and transpiration experiments (Two or more class periods)
- Discover how trees produce energy (One 30-minute class period)
Create a Poster: - Students will create a poster that reflects their understanding of the important role trees play in energy conservation. Bonus points are awarded to posters that display local or Texas themed artwork.
- Students must illustrate an understanding of the lesson presented in the activity!
- The theme should be clear and easy to read from a distance.
- Poster Contest rules are provided on page 23. Each year we disqualify 25-75 posters because they do not meet the basic requirements. Set your students up for success and go over the rules.
Local Contest and Mail in Poster: - Only one poster per school will be accepted. If you are a local sponsor and work with multiple schools, you may mail in more than one poster.
- Postmark deadline is – Friday, December 18, 2009
- Mail posters to:
- Texas Arbor Day Poster Contest
Texas Forest Service
301 Tarrow, Suite 364
College Station, TX 77840-7896
Who May Enter the Contest? - Posters must be created by a Texas student currently enrolled in the fifth grade.
- Home-schooled students must be learning at the fifth-grade level in science, must be 12 years old or younger and may only participate in the contest once during their school career.
- Local home-school associations should conduct the contest for their eligible students and send one winning poster as their "school winner."
Judging:
Once we receive your posters, the scanning process begins for online judging. The online judging is held in February 2010. The top three posters are selected from each region of the state. Final judging is held in March 2010 where the top regional winner is selected and the state winner is chosen. The state winner is due to the National Arbor Day Foundation by April 1, 2010 for the National judging. PRIZES!
This is the best part! Prizes are awarded to the students and teachers for the state and regional winners. - State prizes include a $500 savings bond, and fun, educational prizes for the winning student, teacher, and class! The state-winning poster is automatically entered in the National Arbor Day Poster Contest representing the State of Texas.
- National prizes for the student include a $1,000 savings bond and a trip to the National Arbor Day ceremony in Nebraska with his or her teacher and parents or guardian! The national winner’s teacher receives a $200 check and a tree is planted in the winner’s honor.
For questions please contact: Erin Chastain-Harris, Coordinator of Special Projects
Email: postercontest@tfs.tamu.edu
Phone: 979-458-6650
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