For Kids

Autumn is a great time to get outdoors and discover the fun and science of why some trees shed their leaves and why others do not. These pages include drawings of leaves to color or paint, things to do this fall, information about trees and links to learn more.

Leaves for Coloring

Download a coloring page, which includes space to write information about the tree.

• American Chestnut
• Aspen
• Balsam Poplar
• Birch
• Butternut
• Chokecherry
• Elm
• Sassafras
• Sugar Maple
• Sumac
• Sycamore
• Tulip
• White Oak

State Trees Leaf Sheets:

Download a Coloring page, which includes information about the state tree.

• American Elm
• Eastern Cottonwood
• Eastern White Pine
• Flowering Dogwood
• Longleaf Pine
• Magnolia
• Palo Verde
• Sitka Spruce
• Sugar Maple
• Tulip
• White Oak

Let’s Move!

Let’s Move Outside! is part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to help you find ways to be healthy. Find out where to go and what to do!

Discover the Forest

Learn how to make leaf rubbings and about ways to have fun outdoors!

Natural Inquirer

The Natural Inquirer is a free middle-school science education journal. Scientists report their research in journals, which enable scientists to share information with one another. This journal, The Natural Inquirer, was created so that scientists can share their research with middle school students. Each article tells you about scientific research conducted by scientists in the U.S. Forest Service. Here are some editions that focus on trees:

•  FACELook

This first edition monograph series of the Natural Inquirer explores the relationship between carbon, photosynthesis, and roots of trees.

• The World’s Forests Edition

This edition of the Natural Inquirer presents the results of a worldwide effort to understand the world's forests, organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, or FAO.

• Urban Forest Edition

What are urban forests? Urban forests are the trees and other plants that grow where people live, go to school, work, and play. Even if you live in a rural community, the trees in your yard, around buildings, and in parks are called urban forests.

• Read other issues of Natural Inquirer

Investi-gator

The Investi-gator is a free science journal for upper elementary level students.  This journal is created in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the Cradle of Forestry Interpretive Association. The journal focuses on contemporary, Forest Service research and is written in the format of a scientific article. Read the Northern States Edition, which includes articles about why some leaves turn red in the fall and how ozone affects trees in Wisconsin.

The Arbor Day Foundation

Choose from a list of activities for young people, including “Treevial Pursuit,” “Life of a Forest,” and “Majestic Trees of America.”

Animal Inn

What happens when trees die? All kinds of critters move in.

Dr. Arbor Talks Trees

The University of Illinois Extension animated project includes “Tree Basics.”

Natural Resources Careers

Did you know there are forestry and natural resources jobs?