Lesson video

Hello everyone.

My name is Ms. Voyle, and welcome to our new Local and Global Geography Unit: Why are trees and forests important? Our first lesson is titled, "The Benefits of Trees." That means the advantages or good points of trees.

I'm really looking forward to teaching you this lesson.

The learning outcome for today's lesson is I can identify some common British trees and map some in the local area.

Here are the key words for today's lesson.

Let's have a go at saying them.

My turn, your turn.

Native.

Climate change.

Broadleaf tree.

Biodiversity.

Great job.

Well done.

Let's take a look at their definitions.

Native refers to native species, which are those already growing in a place and not introduced there by humans.

Climate change is a large scale and long-term change in the planet's climate, including weather patterns and average temperatures.

A broadleaf tree has flat leaves and produces seeds inside of fruits.

And biodiversity means all the living things in an ecosystem or area.

There are two parts to today's lesson.

In the first part, we will be looking at why trees are so important.

And in the second part, we will be exploring which trees are in our own local areas.

So let's begin with why are trees important? Trees are important.

Why do you think this is true? Pause the video and have a think or discuss with your partner.

Sam says, "I think trees are important because they look lovely." Andeep says, "I think trees are important because we use their wood for building and fuel." These are two great answers, but there are lots more reasons too.

Can you think of any? Here are seven more reasons why trees are important.

Supporting biodiversity, combating climate change, reducing urban temperatures, preventing flooding, reducing pollution, food production, and improving health and wellbeing.

Let's take a look at each of these in a bit more detail.

Supporting biodiversity.

Trees provide important habitats for nature.

They are a source of food and shelter for thousands of species, from mammals and reptiles to birds and butterflies.

An oak tree like this one can support up to 2,300 species, 326 of which are entirely dependent on oak for their survival.

Let's check your understanding.

Why are trees important for biodiversity? A, they provide a habitat for animals, B, they look nice in a park, or C, they provide food for animals.

Pause the video and select the correct answers.

The answers are A and C.

Well done.

Trees are important for biodiversity because they provide a habitat for animals, which is their shelter, and they also provide food for animals.

Combating climate change.

Human activities are contributing to climate change in changing earth's natural greenhouse effect by dramatically increasing the release of greenhouse gases.

Scientists agree that extra greenhouse gases released by humans are the main cause of global warming.

Gases like carbon dioxide act like a blanket and trap heat in Earth's atmosphere causing temperatures to rise.

To prevent this from happening, we need to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide there is in the atmosphere.

Woods and forests absorb atmospheric carbon and lock it up for centuries in a carbon sink.

Trees use carbon dioxide to make their own food.

Reducing urban temperatures.

Trees help to keep temperatures cooler on very hot days in urban areas.

Trees do this by reflecting sunlight back into the sky with their leaves.

They also shade the area underneath the canopy of leaves.

This can cool down the temperature by two degrees Celsius.

Trees can save lives during heat waves and hot summers.

Preventing flooding, climate change has increased the likelihood of extreme rainfall events.

Floods can damage property and put people in danger.

Trees can help to reduce this risk.

Trees can intercept rainfall and slow down the effects of a storm.

This allows the water time to evaporate, rather than cause a flood.

Reducing pollution.

Trees are critical in protecting us from air pollution.

Air pollution has harmful effects on the health of humans, wildlife, and our environment.

Trees efficiently remove harmful pollutants from the air while supplying us with clean oxygen at the same time.

Food production.

Humans and animals eat the fruit and nuts produced by trees, foods like apples, mangoes, and coconuts.

Trees shelter livestock from our increasingly wild weather and offer them shady spots for relief from heat.

Trees also improve soil health and prevent soil erosion, all important parts of food production.

Improving health and wellbeing.

Woods and trees can improve our health and wellbeing in many ways, including reducing stress, improving mood, and boosting the immune system.

Research has shown that chemicals released by plants and trees strengthen our immune, hormonal, circulatory, and nervous systems. When we breathe them in.

It's time to check your understanding.

Tell your geography buddy as many reasons as you can to explain why trees are important.

Pause the video and discuss and share with your partner now.

You had such great answers.

Let's take a look at them.

Trees provide natural resources.

Trees support biodiversity.

Trees help to combat climate change.

Trees help reduce urban temperatures.

Trees are an important part of preventing flooding.

Trees help to reduce pollution.

Trees are an important part of food production, and trees help to improve health and wellbeing.

Lots of really important functions.

It's time for your first task.

Order the reasons, starting with the one that you think is the most important.

I will read them to you.

Trees support and encourage biodiversity.

They provide natural resources for building and fuel.

They help to combat global warming caused by climate change by storing carbon.

Trees reduce urban temperatures.

They help to prevent flooding after extreme weather and storms. Trees produce food and medicine.

They reduce air pollution, making the air cleaner.

Trees look beautiful.

Trees improve the health and wellbeing of humans.

Pause the video now and cut these reasons out and order them to show which you think is the most important.

Welcome back.

How did you get on? I wonder which reason you thought was most important.

Let's take a look at some answers I had.

Sam said, "I think the main reason that trees are important is because they fight climate change." Andeep, on the other hand, said, "It was hard to decide because they are all good reasons, but I think the fact that trees encourage and support biodiversity is the most important." Well done for discussing all of the different reasons that trees are important.

Now we understand why trees are important.

We can start to think about which trees are nearest to us in our school and local area.

Did you know that the UK has at least 50 species of native trees and shrubs? Remember, native species are those already growing in a place and not introduced by humans? Like this native ash tree, which is one of the most common trees in the UK, but, unfortunately, is suffering from dieback.

There are many more species of introduced non-native trees, like this non-native horse chestnut tree.

If you have ever picked up a shiny conker or see their spiky shells, then you've seen a horse chestnut tree.

You may think that all trees look the same.

When you look at this photo, can you tell which trees they are? But each species is different.

All trees have clues and features that can help with identification.

You just need to know what to look out for.

To help us identify a species of tree, we could look at its overall appearance, size, shape, and bark, its location, the leaves and needles on the tree, and any fruits or seeds coming from the tree, for example, conkers.

Let's start thinking about the overall appearance, size, shape, and bark of a tree.

These are probably the first things you would notice as you walk up to a tree.

Some trees have a distinctive look that can help to identify them if you are looking at them from a distance.

Like this Douglas fir tree with its conical shape and thick branches.

When we compare it to this native oak tree with its broad and spreading crown, the top of the tree, we can see that they have a very different appearance.

The appearance, texture, markings, and colour of the bark can also help us to identify a tree once you get up close to it.

This cherry tree has bark with reddish horizontal stripes, whereas this white birch has white bark that peels off like tissue paper.

Making them very different from one another.

You may also get some clues about the species of a tree by noticing where it is growing.

Some species are more likely to grow near water, like this willow tree, while others grow in scrubland, parkland, or in woodland.

The location of a tree affects its appearance and shape.

Trees in woodland often have narrower crowns compared to trees in parks with lots of space around them.

The leaves or needles of a tree can also be a big help in identifying which tree it is.

These are also often the most obvious feature, particularly in spring and summer.

The needles and scales of conifers are also considered types of leaves.

In broadleaf trees, trees that grow more slowly and have harder wood, There are different types of leaves.

We have simple leaves.

These are leaves that are whole and are not divided right to the central leaf vein, like the leaf of an apple or birch tree.

The edges of some simple leaves can be indented or lobed, such as sycamore, field maple, and hawthorn.

So take care not to mistake these for compound leaves.

Compound leaves fall into one of two categories, pinnate and palmate.

Pinnate are feather-shaped where leaflets are attached in pairs along the central vein.

you can find pinnate leaves on trees like rowan, ash, and elder.

The second type of compound leaves are palm-shaped, like the outstretched fingers of a hand.

Horse chestnut has palmately compound leaves.

Being able to identify the type of leaf can help differentiate between similar trees and can be useful if you are using an identification sheet with examples of each leaf type.

Let's take a look at some examples.

This is an example of a simple leaf, belonging to a birch tree.

This is an example of a compound pinnate leaf belonging to a rowan tree.

And this is an example of a compound palmate leaf belonging to a horse chestnut tree.

Let's check your understanding.

Which of these leaves is a compound palmate? Take a look at them closely.

Is it A, B, or C? Pause the video to decide your answer.

The answer is B.

Well done.

Did you remember that A is a simple leaf and C is a compound pinnate leaf? So that means B is our compound palmate leaf.

This is in fact the leaf of a horse chestnut tree.

If a tree doesn't have simple or compound leaves, it may have scales or needles.

If the foliage on the tree is needles or scales, then you are probably looking at a conifer.

These include trees in the pine, fir, cypress, larch, and spruce families.

These are faster growing trees and have softer wood.

At the right time of year, fruits and seeds can help with tree identification.

However, they might not be there at the time when you investigate.

It depends on the season.

Broadleaf trees have lots of different kinds of fruit.

They include samaras, nuts, catkins, berries, stone fruits, apples or pears, capsules and cones.

Conifers have a fruit that is known as a cone which contains seeds.

Let's check your.

Which of these features could help to identify a tree, A, fruit, B, the leaves and needles, C, when it was planted, D, the location it is growing? Pause the video and select all of the correct answers.

The answers are A, B, and D.

Well done.

Did you realise that all three of these are useful for identifying a tree? Knowing when a tree was planted doesn't usually help with its identification.

It's now time for your task.

Identify and map some trees in the local area.

Plan a safe route around your local areas where there are trees.

Using a tree identification key or app, identify the type of trees that you find and record this information on your map.

There are some great resources on the Woodland Trust website.

They even have a free tree ID app that you can download.

Remember, there are lots of features that give you clues to what species it is.

Look at the leaves or needles.

Is it a broadleaf, usually deciduous, or is it a conifer, usually with needles or scales? Different features will be visible through the seasons.

In winter, for broadleaf trees, you'll have to use twigs, leaf, buds and bark.

Take notice of the surrounding area, such as hedges, fields, parks, woodland, or whether they're close to water.

Some species are more likely to grow near water, in scrubland, parkland or in woodland.

Piece the clues together, including the overall shape and size of the tree, bark, leaves, or needles, flowers, fruits, leaf buds, and twigs.

The more features you can see, the more accurate your identification will be.

How will you record this information on your map? Maybe you could design a key that would be quick and easy to use during your field work.

Good luck and have fun finding all the different types of trees in your local area.

Welcome back.

Did you find out which trees are in your local area? Sam went on a walk around their local area, and Sam said, "I used a key for my map to show where each type of tree was found.

I was surprised by how many different types there were." This has made it really easy to spot which type of tree is located in which area of the map, and it is also easy to see which places on the route don't have any trees at all.

Maybe you could make a tally chart or a table of your results to show the most common tree in your area.

I hope you enjoyed your field work today.

The trees that we have found in our local area are very important to use on a local and a global scale.

Today we have been finding out all about the benefits of trees.

We have learned that trees provide a wide range of natural resources that are used by humans and wildlife, that trees absorb carbon, helping to reduce climate change, and that trees have features that can help with species identification, including the location where they grow.

I hope you have enjoyed this lesson.

Please keep your maps in a safe place as we might be using them later on in the unit.