TREE FEST KIDS ACTIVITY PAGE!
Welcome to the ‘Kids Section’ of our 2020 Virtual Tree Fest! In this section you will find simple, family friendly activities that are intended to help build and/or deepen your child’s understanding of the importance of trees
Bigger or Smaller? (Ages 3+)
Adapted from: Canadian National Art – A-continent- to -explore
Materials: A sheet of paper, coloured pencils
View the artistic video, in order to explore the concept of perspective. Then, take a nature walk with your child. During your walk, have fun identifying objects, from smallest to largest. Make comparisons: are you bigger or smaller than a rock, a tree? And if you were the size of an ant, how would that tree look to you? And if you flew over your neighbourhood like a bird, what would it look like?
Back at home, draw something from the viewpoint of the ant (near) or the bird (far). Grab your coloured pencils! Then send us a photo of your drawing, and check back to this site to see it posted (see “how to submit” below).
Scavenger Hunt (Ages 3+)
Adapted from Focus on Forests
Materials: Printed game card (*see link*), pencil
Help your child explore nature with this seek and find nature hunt!
Go on a nature walk with your child. Point out items that have fallen to the ground (e.g. leaves, branches). Help your child collect only the items that have fallen and observe others that are still on the trees. Fill out or sketch as many items on the game card as you have found together. Then share a photo of your filled out game card, and check back to this site to see it posted (see “how to submit” below).
Naming Trees (Ages 6+)
Materials: Notebook, pencil, camera
Check out the Ontario Tree Atlas here: Tree Atlas
Write down a few details to help you identify trees, for when you are out looking at trees (or, take a phone with you). Note the features that make them distinctive. Then, take a nature walk and focus on the trees you see. Try to find their names by looking for clues such as the shape of their leaves or thorns and the texture of their bark. You’ll find other helpful identification keys here: Tree Identification help
Colouring Page (Ages 3+)
Adapted from Focus on Forests
Materials: Printed colouring page (*see link for colouring page*), pencil
Colour in this nature scene using whatever colours you like! Share a photo of your drawing, and check back to this site to see it posted (see “how to submit” below).
Nature Word Searches (Ages 6+)
Adapted from Focus on Forests
Materials: 2 Printed Word Search pages (*see link*), pencil
See how many nature words you find! Share a photo of your completed word search pages, and check back to this site to see it posted (see “how to submit” below).
Leaf it to Memory (Ages 7+)
Adapted from Focus on Forests
Materials: 4 Printed Tree Identification Photo pages – you’ll need 2 identical sets (*see link*), 4 stiff construction-type paper pages or bristol board pages
Glue each of the 4 memory card pages to a construction paper page (or bristol board), in order to provide a sturdy backing. Cut the cards out. To play, lay all cards face down in a symmetrical-ish shape (eg a square), and the first player starts by turning over 2 cards. If they are a match, the player takes the cards. If they are not a match they are flipped back over and the next player repeats, in a quest to find matching pairs. Continue until all cards are matched, and the player with the most matched cards wins. Share a photo of your family/friends (or your bubble!) playing the game, and check back to this site to see it posted (see “how to submit”).
**For a list of more wonderful activities for all ages, please visit:
Forests Ontario – Activities