What is a forest?

 

Tall trees as far as the eye can see, creatures roaming above and below... Who wouldn’t want to explore a forest? The special community of a forest includes plants, animals, and tiny micro-organisms like fungi and algae. Forests even include non-living things such as rocks, soil and water. These living and non-living things are all greatly needed to create a healthy forest environment.  

Some forests occur in nature, and others are planted by people. Forests house many different types of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and critters, such as insects and arachnids. Forest tree types are numerous, from oak and elm to pine and birch. 

Forests can be found in many different types of places, from mountain slopes to glaciers! People depend on the living things in forests for important items such as food, paper and even medicine. However, we must make sure we protect our planet’s forests and the living and non-living things within them!

Now it’s time to create a forest on paper! The leaves of forest vegetation have such interesting textures. Some are thin like needles, while others are wider and more pronounced. Create a painting of forest trees. Begin by using a thin paintbrush and thicker paint (tempera paint works well for this project) to form tree trunks and branches on a piece of white paper. 

With the help of a parent, gather a few items that can be used as “paintbrushes” to create leaves. An old toothbrush ready to be thrown away? A dish scrubber? A comb? Make sure the items are clean and not needed at a later time (a paint-covered comb is not ideal for hair)! Let your imagination and the power of painting accomplish the rest! Mix colors together to vary the shade of green you choose so different trees will stand out. Aren’t forests magical places?!