Teaching Sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

25 minutes

Tune In: Meet our local knowledge holders

30 minutes

Find Out: Tree stories

35 minutes

Take Action: Tree planting

1 minute

Reflection

Learning Intentions

Students will:

connect with local knowledge holders to understand the significance of trees
understand the importance of custodianship.

Success Criteria

Students can:

apply local knowledge to tree planting
create a narrative story about the ecological role of a tree
collaborate and connect with others.

Preparation

This workshop requires you to invite local knowledge holders to attend. The local knowledge holders might be your local First Nations community members or other tree experts in your school region. Before facilitating this workshop, you must source trees, saplings, or seeds that you and your mentees will plant, and you might like to identify an appropriate area of the school environment for planting.

Cool.org has developed a Factsheet on engaging with local knowledge holders and where to find specific information on tree planting, which we recommend you read to help you through this process.

Tune In: Meet our local knowledge holders

Step 1

Watch the following video as a cohort:

Planting Trees: Round 2 - (vimeo.com/1017765660?share=copy#t=0)

As mentioned in the video, go outside and find a tree to sit around for ten minutes with your mentees and the local knowledge holder/s.

Once settled, welcome the local knowledge holder/s! Allow them to provide a brief introduction of themselves. Then, provide time for the knowledge holder/s to share stories about the trees in your region. This is the perfect opportunity for you and your mentees to learn about trees and understand their importance to the Country.

Step 2

Invite mentees to move to sit in a circle. Provide a volunteer with a set of Value Cards and ask them to select one card from the pack and read the description. Explain to mentees that they are to use this value as a lens to use throughout the lesson.

For example, if ‘No Shame’ is the value selected, this may prompt them to think about what this value means from the perspective of a tree and will further encourage mentees to challenge how shame affects people, places and things externally.

Step 3

Invite mentees to share their thoughts on the discussion prompts below before asking the local knowledge holder/s for their perspective on each question. This will ensure that mentees aren’t afraid to share their opinions before hearing from the experts.

Discussion prompts:

What is the intelligence of trees?
What can we learn from trees?
What is our role as custodians?
How do we connect to Country?

Reiterate that through storytelling, we can better understand the needs and aspirations of Country and communities.

Find Out: Tree stories

Preparation

You must collate a list of all the tree species you have organised for the mentees and mentors to plant. This Find Out activity depends on mentees using this list to create a written piece.

Step 1

Return to the classroom or workshop space and invite mentees to find a partner. Once in their pairs, provide the species list to them. Your mentee’s task is to write a short poem or narrative story from the tree's perspective.

The written piece should include

Tree's life story: Describe the tree's journey from seedling to maturity. What challenges did it face as it grew?
Habitat: Describe the tree’s environment. Is it in a forest, river, or urban area? How does this environment affect the tree's life?
Interactions: Include the tree's interactions with other living beings – animals, insects, humans or other plants. How do these interactions shape the tree's experience?
Seasonal changes: Reflect on how the tree feels as it experiences different seasons – how does it change in spring, summer, autumn and winter?
Role in the ecosystem: Highlight the tree's contributions to the ecosystem. Does it provide shelter, food or oxygen? How does it feel about its role?
Personal traits: Give the tree a personality. Is it proud, wise, lonely or protective? How does this personality influence the tree's perspective?
Future hopes: Imagine what the tree hopes for in the future. Does it dream of growing taller, spreading its seeds or being visited by specific creatures?
Connection to humans: Explore how the tree views humans. Does it enjoy their presence, fear them or wish to communicate something important to them?

These elements can help mentees craft a rich and imaginative narrative or poem that gives their tree a unique voice and story.

Extension opportunity: Mentees generate QR codes that link to their narrative piece about their tree. This could be placed near the tree so mentees and visitors can learn and understand the stories of our big trees! Use a generator website such as QR Code Generator (qr-code-generator.com/)

Step 2

Ask which mentee pairs would like to volunteer to share their written piece with the cohort. Ensure that praise and positive encouragement are provided, as sharing can be scary!

Take Action: Tree planting

Step 1

Grab your mentees and materials and head back outside to the chosen space for planting.

For tree planting, you will require:

buckets for soil
camera or smartphone for documentation
compost or fertiliser
gloves
labels or tags
measuring tape or rulers
mulch
rakes and trowels
shovels or spades
soil testing kit (optional)
sunscreen and hats (optional)
tree guards or stakes
tree seedlings or saplings
water bottles (optional)
watering cans or buckets

Step 2

Invite the local knowledge holder/s to lead mentees through the process. This is important so you can learn alongside your mentees and create space for the local knowledge holder/s to share their expert knowledge and understanding.

Reflection

Ask mentees to lead a moment of silence to thank all the trees from all time, all future trees, and the ongoing life and prosperity they provide us.

MentorClass: Tree Talks

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