Arbor Day is a special day when we celebrate trees and how important they are to our world. Let’s learn about where Arbor Day came from, why it’s important, and why trees are so amazing!
The name “Arbor Day” comes from the Latin word “arbor,” which means tree. Arbor Day usually happens in the spring, which is a perfect time to plant new trees because the ground is not frozen. People all over the world, in countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, and the United States, celebrate this day.
The first Arbor Day was way back in 1594 in a place called Mondoñedo in Spain. But the idea of Arbor Day as we know it started in 1805 in another Spanish town, Villanueva de la Sierra. A priest named Don Juan Abern Samtrés thought trees were important for health and beauty, so he started a festival for planting trees.
In the United States, the first Arbor Day was on April 10, 1872, in Nebraska City. On that day, people planted an amazing one million trees! This idea spread to other countries thanks to a man named Birdsey Northrop from Connecticut.
In the early 1900s, people started caring more about nature. President Theodore Roosevelt, known as the “Conservationist President,” helped protect many forests. In 1907, he made a special announcement to teach kids about the importance of trees, making Arbor Day even more special.
Let’s have some fun identifying mystery trees:
Here are some fun ways to celebrate Arbor Day:
Arbor Day is a great time to think about how important trees are in our lives. By learning about their benefits and joining in tree activities, we can appreciate these wonderful parts of nature even more. Happy Arbor Day!
Tree Observation Journal: Start a tree observation journal. Pick a tree in your backyard or neighborhood and observe it over a week. Draw pictures of the tree, its leaves, and any animals you see living in or around it. Write down any changes you notice, like new leaves or flowers. At the end of the week, share your findings with your class or family.
Leaf Rubbing Art: Collect different leaves from various trees around your home or school. Place a leaf under a sheet of paper and gently rub a crayon over the paper to reveal the leaf’s shape and texture. Create a collage of leaf rubbings and label each one with the tree’s name if you know it. This activity helps you learn to identify different trees by their leaves.
Tree Benefits Scavenger Hunt: Go on a scavenger hunt to find examples of the benefits trees provide. Look for things like shade from a tree, a bird’s nest, or a tree with fruits or nuts. Take pictures or draw what you find and discuss how each example shows the importance of trees in our environment.
