Introduce children to recyclable art as a supplement to the book, "The Lorax." Gather items that might end up in a landfill like plastic bread bag closures, egg cartons and plastic foam cups. Also, provide students with paper and glue and have students use the materials to create a one of a kind tree such as the "Truffula Trees" that are featured in the book. When finished, ask the students to name their tree a creative name in keeping with a Dr. Seuss theme.
Encourage students to learn more about the environment and to express themselves through poetry, as Dr. Seuss expressed himself about the environmental crisis in the book, "The Lorax." Ask students to write a poem about trees and their role in providing clean air and animal habitat or to write a poem about deforestation or another environmental issue. Have students read their finished poems to the class or reproduce and staple the poems together for each student to read and take home.
Provide each student with a seedling for planting. Demonstrate for students how to plant a seedling. Plant the tree on the school ground or plant it in a planter. Then give children a hand-out to take home along with the seedling. The hand-out should explain the importance of planting trees and instructions on how to plant the seedling so children and parents can plant the tree at home.
Teach students the importance of protecting trees by asking each child to sign a pledge to do their part to help keep the environment clean and to protect the trees. Give students a hand-out with a pledge written on it and then provide stickers and craft materials for them to decorate the pledge before signing.
Another tree project that can be used in conjunction with "The Lorax" is to have students list things that are made out of trees such as furniture, paper and toys. Then have students list things that trees provide while they are planted such as oxygen, shelter and a habitat for animals. Have students share ideas as to ways to minimize deforestation such as recycling paper or repurposing furniture items.