Tree Unit
Exploring the Science & Story of Trees: A Hands-On Unit Study for Elementary
Over the past few weeks, our homeschool has been deeply rooted in a subject that continues to surprise and inspire us: trees.
This unit study combined hands-on science, nature discovery, and beautiful children’s literature to explore everything from photosynthesis and fungi to forest ecosystems and seed dispersal. Designed for elementary learners (with toddler-friendly adaptations), our approach balanced meaningful learning with playful exploration—and sparked curiosity in both of my daughters.
In this post, I’ll share an overview of our unit, including our favorite experiments, a curated book list for multiple age levels, and a free printable PDF with simple, open-ended experiments you can try at home or in the classroom.
🌳 Our Tree Unit Spine Books
Our main spine book was Can You Hear the Trees Talking? by Peter Wohlleben, a fantastic resource filled with bite-sized lessons about how trees communicate, survive, and interact with their environment. We paired this with Wohlleben’s adult book, The Hidden Life of Trees, which I read alongside as background and enrichment. Both are deeply informative and beautifully written—highly recommended for any homeschool or nature-based library.
We also incorporated nonfiction, picture books, poetry, and tactile activities to create a multi-sensory experience that engaged both my third grader and toddler.
🔬 Science in Action
From watching bubbles rise during photosynthesis to examining onion skin cells under a microscope, we grounded this unit in real science. Here are a few of the experiments we included (you’ll find full instructions in the free printable at the end of this post):
Photosynthesis Demonstration (Spinach leaves + baking soda + sunlight)
Plant Cell Microscopy (Red onion skin + simple microscope)
Eggshell Seed Starters (A sweet but tricky planting activity!)
Bean Growth Challenge (Can they find the light?)
Root Propagation in Water (Watching cuttings take root)
Growing Garlic Indoors (Surprisingly successful!)
Fungi Discovery in the Garden (We found a stinkhorn fungus—yes, really!)
Not everything worked as planned, and that was part of the magic. Failed experiments offered space for discussion, comparison, and trying again—a core part of any scientific process.
📚 Literature & Read-Alouds
This unit was also filled with books—both for information and inspiration. I’ll be including a full list of our favorite titles below, along with age suggestions and notes on how we used each one in our homeschool.
From poetic classics like Because of an Acorn and One Leaf Rides the Wind, to beautifully illustrated nonfiction like The Tree Lady and The Busy Tree, this collection supported our learning across reading levels and interest points.
We also tied in cultural and historical perspectives (Under the Buddha Tree, Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees) and explored creative extensions through watercolor activities and nature journaling.
🖨️ Free Printable: Tree Unit Experiments
I’ve put together a simple, printable version of the experiments we used, along with supply lists, age suggestions, and notes from our own experiences. You can download the PDF here:
Trees & Plants Eksperiments PDF
Use it as a starting point, modify to fit your learners, and feel free to share it with others who might enjoy a nature-based unit study.
🌳 Core Spine Books
Can You Hear the Trees Talking? – Peter Wohlleben
Our main spine book. Beautifully written for children with bite-sized lessons on tree communication, growth, and survival. Sparked many of our experiments.
The Hidden Life of Trees – Peter Wohlleben
The adult version of the above, read alongside our study. Rich in emotion and science. Highly recommended for parents.
Big Tree – Brian Selznick
A poetic, beautifully illustrated story of two seeds separated from their mother tree. Fictional but grounded in science. A family favorite.
Trees, Leaves, Flowers and Seeds (DK Visual Encyclopedia)
Reference-style visual guide we returned to often. Great for quickly diving deeper into specific topics.
📘 Books We Used
From Seed to Plant – Gail Gibbons
Simple, clear, and beautifully illustrated. A great foundational book for early learners to understand the plant life cycle. We’ve used it in past units too!
Because of an Acorn – Lola & Adam Schaefer
A sweet and poetic little book we read with Madison. It shows how one tiny acorn supports an entire ecosystem—perfect for toddlers and younger readers.
Hidden World: Forest – Libby Walden
This was a fun interactive book with flaps and beautiful artwork. Madison loved peeking underneath each panel to discover forest creatures and facts.
A Year Around the Great Oak – Gerda Muller
Gerda Muller’s art is always a favorite in our home. This book quietly walks you through the seasons of a single oak tree. Gorgeous, gentle, and perfect for slow reading days.
Children of the Forest – Elsa Beskow
A timeless storybook we always return to. We didn’t read the full text this time—just looked at the pictures and talked about the little forest children. Magical for toddlers.
A Seed Is Sleepy – Sylvia Long
Beautiful illustrations paired with lyrical language. It bridges poetry and science, and was a lovely way to talk about seeds with both girls.
Lost in the Woods – Carl R. Sams & Jean Stoick
A photo-based story that blends nature facts with gentle storytelling. We loved the real forest photography and the cozy mood it created.
Animals in the Forest – John Wood
Matilda read this one on her own. It’s an easy reader that tied in nicely with the forest animal section of our study.
Explorers: Rainforest – Anita Ganeri
We used this to dive deeper into rainforest ecosystems after our main book touched on different forest types. Great photos and fast facts.
We Are Fungi – Christine Nishiyama
Playful and poetic! A beginner-friendly intro to fungi with just enough science to spark interest. We read this right after finding a stinkhorn in our garden!
Humongous Fungus – DK
This book was amazing as a spine for fungi—though we didn’t finish it. It’s full of fascinating facts and quirky visuals. Definitely one to revisit in a dedicated fungi unit.
Tree Beings – Raymond Huber
I had planned to include this and still want to! It’s filled with real-life stories of people who dedicated their lives to trees—perfect for older kids or as parent enrichment.
The Secret Life of Trees – Moira Butterfield
This one is full of gentle illustrations and wonder-filled facts. A soft and lovely companion to our core spine.
The Magic and Mystery of Trees – Jen Green
A visual book with vivid illustrations and diagrams. My daughter loved this one—very readable and engaging, almost like a more playful DK-style guide.
📚 More Beautiful Tree Books We Love (but didn’t use this time)
A Leaf Can Be... – Laura Purdie Salas
A short poetic book that explores all the roles a leaf can play. Beautiful for introducing metaphor and nature poetry.
One Leaf Rides the Wind – Celeste Mannis
A counting book wrapped in haiku poetry. It’s delicate and lovely—especially nice for early elementary or a quiet poetry morning.
Tall Tall Tree – Anthony D. Fredericks
Vibrant and fun! This one introduces kids to life in redwood trees with rhythm and rhyme.
The Tree Lady – H. Joseph Hopkins
An inspiring story about tree advocate Kate Sessions. We’ve read it before and loved how it links science, nature, and social history.
Sequoia – Tony Johnston
A poetic reflection on one towering tree’s place in the world. We’ll absolutely pull this one next time.
Under the Bodhi Tree – Deborah Hopkinson
This blends storytelling and cultural history around the Bodhi tree and the story of Buddha’s enlightenment. A lovely global perspective.
Trees, Leaves & Bark – Diane Burns
Not a "living book," but a great reference for identifying tree types. Includes real-world photos and facts.
The Busy Tree – Jennifer Ward
We love this one for younger ages—simple rhyming text and sweet illustrations that show how much goes on in a tree's life.
Watercolor in Nature – Rosalie Haizlett
For older learners or adults, this is a creative companion to tree studies. I planned to use it to build in some sketching time and still might!
From Seed to Plant Workbook – Gail Gibbons
Pairs perfectly with the main book—great if you're looking for light worksheets and early comprehension activities.
Botanicum Activity Book
This one is beautifully illustrated and ideal for artistic learners. Full of pages to color, label, and explore.
One Small Square: Woods – Donald M. Silver
A classic nature study book that zooms in on a square of forest floor. Great for detailed observation exercises.
How Do Apples Grow? – Betsy Maestro
A sweet choice for fall or apple studies, but also lovely for tree life cycle discussions.
Wangari Maathai – Franck Prévot
This book tells the powerful true story of the Kenyan woman who planted millions of trees. A perfect global addition.
Sounds of Nature: World of Forests – Robert Frank Hunter
This interactive book includes sound buttons for each forest biome—fun and immersive, especially for little ones.
Native Plant Stories – Joseph Bruchac
Native American legends centered around plants and trees—great for weaving in indigenous perspectives.
How Flowers Grow – Emma Helbrough
Another science-friendly picture book we like to keep nearby. Simple explanations and charming visuals.
Who Will Plant a Tree? – Jerry Pallotta
We’ve loved this one in past years—great for showing how animals spread seeds in funny, relatable ways.
Eyewitness Tree – David Burnie
A classic DK-style guide for older kids and visual learners. We use this as a research reference. (Would either pick this one or Trees, Leaves, Flowers and Seeds (DK Visual Encyclopedia) you do not need both )
Watercolor With Me in the Forest – Dana Fox
Another lovely resource for combining art and science. If you're doing nature journaling, this one’s a joy.
Download the Tree Unit Book List (PDF)🌱
🌱 Final Thoughts
This was one of those units that didn’t just teach us facts—it deepened our appreciation. We looked more closely at the trees around us. We asked better questions. And we filled our windowsill with jars, seeds, and sprouting roots, each one a small, living reminder of what we’d learned.
I’m sure we’ll return to this topic again and again. Trees have a way of grounding us and pulling us back in.
If you're planning your own tree or forest unit, I hope this post and printable give you a helpful starting point. And if you have a favorite tree-themed book or experiment, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
Warmly,
Maja Sofie Kristiansen
