HOW IT WORKS
A Peace Forest Grows in Manhattan is an integrated classroom study of trees, forests, and peace. Children study the parts of a tree by looking at trees in their neighborhood. They make bark and leaf rubbings and, back in they classroom, they read fiction and nonfiction books about trees, forests, and peace, and write about these books and subjects. They also learn to identify different trees by their leaves. Technology is used to document and enhance learning. The importance and need of trees will also be studied. Children learn and talk about peace and create their own peace forest with art materials that are displayed in the halls of the school. In the spring, the children plant a tree in the school garden. 

THE STUDENTS
Eighteen Pre-K students participated in this program, which is appropriate for mixed-ability students from Pre-K to third grade. The children work both cooperatively and individually. The program is adaptable for different early childhood grades of varying abilities and is also adaptable for small- and/or large-group work. Some expertise in using digital cameras and computers is needed. The children learn in a variety of settings and groups and with a variety of materials and methods. Projects are set up so that all the children can feel and be successful.

THE STAFF
For the past eight years, Chantal Lindh has been the Pre-K teacher at P.S. 20. Prior to that, she was a Reading Recovery teacher and led literacy workshops for parents and teachers. She has received several grants from the Teacher’s Consortium and has been developing the peace forest curriculum for the past three years. With younger children, the assistance of a paraprofessional is crucial, and help from a computer teacher is invaluable.

WHAT YOU NEED
In order to complete the project, it is necessary to have outdoor access to neighborhood trees, and the use of computers and digital cameras is important. Essential materials are paper, art supplies, fiction and nonfiction books, magnifying glasses, chart paper, and measuring tape. Visits to Central Park and/or the Botanical Gardens would be invaluable as well. The National Arbor Day Foundation’s Web site (arborday.org) is extremely helpful. 

OVERALL VALUE
A Peace Forest Grows in Manhattan is an integrated hands-on program that teaches children how to make observations in their world and how to record information about trees. The students are exposed to a vast array of books that augment their explorations. The literacy skills of the children are developed through writing and reading about their subject matter. Trees are a reminder to children in New York City that even though they live in a predominantly concrete and skyscraper world, they are also still part of the natural world—a world necessary for survival. The creation of the peace forest shows the children that they can work together to create a beautiful, peaceful place.