The Busy Tree

Name: The Busy Tree
Author: Jennifer Ward

A story that explores cooperation and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families

Read the Guiding Questions Find this book →

♥ This book teaches: Cooperation. choosing the group over the self.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition of Cooperation for 4 - 7 year olds: Cooperation happens when two or more people help each other to make something good happen. It can also apply to animals or parts of a whole that need each other and work together. An example of this is the human body – all the parts work together to make you healthy. In a nutshell: Together we can do more. Summary: “The Busy Tree” tells a simple story in poetic format with beautiful illustrations about all the ways in which a tree provides a home and food for many insects, birds, and mammals. The wonderful cooperation that exists within nature is highlighted in the example of the tree that is not only a habitat but a source of pleasure for children as well. Lesson Objectives:

Students gain knowledge about trees as habitats - this encourages them to be more respectful and curious about cooperation within ecosystems.
Students can go deeper when this book is combined with science lessons about trees as habitats. Refer to the activity - “Trees are my Home” on the website.

Guided Questions:

What do the roots of the trees do?
Why is the tree so busy?
Share about two animals that live in the tree.
Who spins a web in the tree?
Why is the woodpecker pecking the bark of the tree?
How does the tree help animals, insects, and birds?
Describe a tree that you’ve seen in your yard or neighborhood. Does it provide a home for living things?
Have you ever found a bird’s nest? An acorn or seed from a tree?
Have you ever climbed a tree? Picked fruit from a tree?
What kind of animals and insects live in the trees where you live?

🌿 Virtue Connection: Cooperation means choosing to contribute to something larger than yourself.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.