Draw the Tree Rings

1. 1

   Gather paper, a marker, and a photo of a tree stump or cross-section. Look at the photo and briefly introduce the tree’s rings.

2. 2

   Draw a stump outline on the paper and invite your child to fill it with rings.

3. 3

   Begin with a small circle in the center: “We’ll take turns. I’ll draw this little ring, and you draw the next one.”

4. 4

   A child’s circle may wobble or have a pointed corner. That is part of learning the movement.

5. 5

   Compare the two without judging: “Your ring has a little point here. Look at this ring—where does it stay round?”

6. 6

   Continue taking turns from the center outward. When the stump is full, count the rings together.

What to notice

• Uses your movement and finished circle as a model for drawing one Imitation and Symbolic Representation and Play
• Counts the finished tree rings with you Emergent Mathematical Thinking

Tips

• The circles do not need to be perfect. Point to one visible difference and let repeated comparison and drawing help your child adjust.

Developmental benefits

• Cognitive: Watching you draw a circle, imitating the shape, and comparing the results gives your child practice adjusting an attempt to look more like a model.