Unit plans for Grades K-2 and 3-5 are a regular feature of the magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle. The plans draw on articles and resources in a themed issue and are aligned with national science and language arts standards. This unit is designed to provide elementary students with the opportunity to investigate how the annual rings in trees help scientists learn about past climates. It uses hands-on experiences and nonfiction text to answer the unit question: How do trees help scientists learn about the past?

This is a series of lessons exploring what happens to leaves in the fall.

The Champion Tree Program recognizes and celebrates the state’s largest trees. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources began documenting these trees in 1941 with the help of the community. People around the state discovered these trees in the Northwoods, in neighbors’ yards and along city streets. The program has endured as a result of people such as yourself. We invite you to join us in honoring and preserving Wisconsin’s natural resources heritage.