THE MIGHTY OAK TREE 

Mighty Oak Tree will support success at physical effort and en-courage exploration of physical spaces. The Tree will invite explo-rations of life cycles, seasons, and changes over time as children climb to a variety of vantage points and heights. Intermixed with bark, branches and leaves will be habitats of a variety of insects, animals and birds at different stages of life, introducing connec-tions between the tree and other life. 

Messages/Objectives: 

To invite explorations of life cycles, seasons, and changes over time 

To introduce connections between the trees and other life, such as people, animals, birds and bugs. 

To support success at physical effort and encourage explora-tion of physical spaces. 

Activity Area Components will include: 

Pretend Animals throughout – Puppets, stuffed animals, wooden or plastic animals to encourage identification of the Blue, Jay, Bees Nest, Owl, Robin Nest, Gypsy Moth Striped Skunk, Cottontail Rabbit, Deer Mouse, American Robin and Hairy Woodpecker. Habitats, such as the Rabbit or Skunk hole at base of the tree help the animals to have context. 

Lower story of tree — Pretend play in a home environment 

Peep holes provide varying points of view and looking out with binoculars changes perspective. 

Tall Slide, toddler slide and Tree Root climb– encourage movement, climbing up, down and even laterally. 

Clubhouse – Hut-like structure to serve as a destination at the “top” of the tree. Large enough for children to sit peek out a window. 

Tree Rings –View of tree rings for showing annual growth