Conservation Corner

Petiole? Simple? Compound? Just a few of the new words and concepts Mrs. Fleming's fourth grade class learned the afternoon of September 19, 2023 during their tree walk with Liz Riter and Jessica Beagles of the Powder River Conservation District and Corey Swenson, retired Natural Resources Conservation Service range management specialist.

The students began in front of the elementary school then took a tour around the neighborhood. Using taxonomic guides, they were able to key out and reveal what trees they were seeing. Are the leaves simple or compound? Do they have serrated edges or are they lobed? Does the tree stay green year-round or lose its leaves in the fall?

These key questions and more were discussed and used in identifying the various species of trees.

Though the day was hot, the class was very excited to discover learning can be fun! How many trees do you know? It's time to take a walk through the woods!