Make Tree Bark Rubbings

• paper (construction paper, butcher paper, any kind of paper you have)

• crayon

• masking tape

Place the paper over an area of tree bark
and tape it in place with the masking tape.
Rub the crayon (holding it on it's side for maximum
coverage), over the paper.
Dark colored crayons work best.
Try different kinds of trees for different textures.
Use the rubbings as gift wrap, or collect them in a
notebook and identify from what
type of tree they came.

Keep a Tree Journal

 Choose a tree close to where you live and let it be
"your" tree. Keep a notebook of
observations about your tree.
How does it change as spring comes?
Are there any animals or insects living on it?
Does it lose any branches in a storm?
Make a bark rubbing from your tree on
one of the notebook pages.

What are the leaf characteristics
of your tree?

Press a leaf from your tree and put it
in your tree journal.

Mark the dates when your tree changes,
if its leaves change color or fall off,
for instance.

After your tree has gone through all
the seasons, write about your tree
and what you have observed.