The Life of Douglas-fir (Grades 3-5)

Categories: Primary Literacy , Agriculture , Plants , Science

Students will explore the life cycle of a Douglas-fir Christmas tree through this fun craft learning the various stages of growth.

Part 1: The Story of Christmas Trees
1. Read the book Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray.
2. After reading the book, ask students the following questions:
a. What caused some of the trees to be “lost”?
b. What kind of care did the trees need throughout the year?
c. What age were the trees when Wilma sold them to customers?
3. Tell students they will be learning about how Christmas trees grow in Oregon.

Part 2: Introduction to an Oregon Christmas Tree Farm
1. Explain to students that they will be watching a short video to learn more about how trees are grown on a farm in Oregon.
2. Watch Christmas Tree, How Does it Grow? by True Food TV: https://youtu.be/lcmVOcCWbQg
3. After the video, ask students the following questions:
a. What tools did the Christmas tree growers use to harvest and care for the trees?
b. How do Christmas tree growers care for the trees?
c. What happens to the Christmas trees after they are cut at the Noble Mountain Tree Farm?
Part 3: The Life of Douglas-fir Activity
1. Provide students with a set of materials: a life cycle card, Christmas tree booklet and a 3.5”x3.5” paper jewelry box.
2. Read through the Christmas tree reader as a class or individually. After, instruct students to fill in the life cycle card with the following stages of growth: pinecone, seedling, young tree and finished tree. Then, in the circles above the labels on the life cycle card have students sketch the growth stages based on the pictures in their booklets.
3. After students have completed their life cycle card, have them glue it inside the paper jewelry box on the bottom piece.
4. Then, provide students with a wooden Christmas tree, green paint and a paintbrush. Have students glue the wooden Christmas tree to the top of the lid of the jewelry box.
5. Instruct students to paint the tree to represent a Douglas-fir Christmas tree like they saw in the video.