A Peace Forest
Grows in Manhattan
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. |