Trees Work for Our Community Activity 2: What are Trees Worth in My Community?

Activity 2 Objectives Students will be able to justify their choice of tree for a yard, neighborhood or community. Students will be able to determine which species of tree is best for a yard, neighborhood or community.

Missouri Trees—What Makes These Trees Unique? (Steps 1 & 2) For each Missouri Tree featured in the following slides (slides 4-12), identify what is different and unique about each tree. Use your Missouri Trees chart to write down what you see that is unique about each tree.

Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus

Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana

Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida

White Oak Quercus alba

Green Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Sugar Maple Acer saccharum

Sycamore Platanus occidentalis

Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis

Sweet Gum Liquidambar styraciflua

Which trees would be good in my community? (Steps 2 & 3) Look back at the tree slides, if needed. Would you would want this tree in your yard or community? Why or why not? Be prepared to explain your thinking.

Big Trees or Small Trees? (Step 5) Next, consider the size of trees to plant in a yard. What are the benefits of planting big trees? Of planting small trees? What are the drawbacks of planting big trees? Of planting small trees?

Where do we plant a tree? (Steps 6 & 7) The next decision is where to plant a tree in your yard, school area or community. What places are good for planting a tree? Why are these places good for planting? Go back to your drawing of your yard or school yard from Activity 1 and identify a good place to plant a tree.

Right Tree in the Right Place (Step 8, if you have time) There are resources that can help you decide what kind of tree to plant and where to plant it in your yard, school yard, neighborhood or community. https://extension2.missouri.edu/g5006 https://mdc.mo/gov/sites/default/files/downloads/right-tree-right-place.pdf