CfE Es and Os   Writing LIT 1 -26a and LIT 2-26a

Tree Poetry is a great way to engage with nature, to learn more about the trees around you and to develop writing skills.

This lesson can be done individually in school grounds or can be done at home by families in their gardens or out on walks in their local area. This activity can support learning about poetry, similes, metaphors and descriptive language and learning intentions can be easily differentiated across levels.

Pick a tree in your local area and get to know it using your senses…touch it, smell the leaves, look at it, measure it, listen to the noises it makes…

At First Level, the aim of this activity is to write a poem describing what a tree looks , feels, sounds and even smells like.  The finished poem will be a description of how the tree appears to you from close up and from a distance.  It will describe the top of the tree and the very bottom, down to the roots.   Use two describing words (adjectives) in each line and two naming words (nouns).  For a more detailed explanation see Poem Template and Example.

In this video, aimed at Second Level, Aly shows you how to create your own tree poem using simile and metaphor.

Have a look at the lesson plan for Second Level here: Tree Poetry Grid

Read Aly’s poem:  My Tree.

Once written out, your poem could be illustrated with bark rubbings taken from the tree (OPAL Bark Art shows you how) or with your own drawings.

You could also explore your tree further by using the following activities:

To find out how tall your tree is, follow the instructions here: How Tall is That Tree

You can download an app to help you to identify trees from the Woodland Trust here: Tree ID App

This lesson was inspired by Activity 6 Angles in Summer Woodland Activities from the Outdoor and Woodland Learning website.