National Service Training Program

Student Activity Sheet Lesson #4

saving trees.
Name:
_________________________________
Section:__________ Schedule:______________
Class number: ________ Date: ______________ Productivity Tip:
Learning Materials:
Student Activity Sheets, water, seedling or baby plant, soil
Learning Unit: Tree Planting (NSTP) (loam, top soil or black soil), shovel, tree guards, fertilizer
Learning Objectives: Learning Resources:
At the end of the module, the student will be able to: https://www.flipscience.ph/plants-and-animals/5-facts-for
1. participate in home-based tree planting activity; ests-philippines/
2. raise awareness on the importance of planting and https://essc.org.ph/content/view/100/

Did you know that the Philippines experienced a staggering drop in forest cover over the last century — from 70% down to a
measly 20%, to be precise? Looking at land use pattern maps and road maps, we can also estimate that we’ve lost about 9.8
million hectares of forest from 1934 to 1988 alone. According to the Forest Management Bureau, by 2022, we will need to
have rehabilitated 1.2 million hectares of our degraded forest lands.

A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW

INTRODUCTION (5 MINS)
In a recent news report on Inquirer.net, air pollution is costing the Philippines P4.5 trillion and causing tens
of thousands of deaths in a year. This was according to a new report assessing air quality since the implementation
of the Clean Air Act 20 years ago. This environmental concern, however, doesn’t end one way. Thanks to the trees,
they can improve air quality in indirect and direct ways. An average size tree produces enough oxygen in one year to
keep a family of four breathing.

Tree planting as an act of care and concern for the environment will empower our NSTP students to make
the environment a safer, greener, and more sustainable place. In relation to the lesson, “The Community,” tree
planting is one of the most environmentally-friendly activities that NSTP students can do for the community. It is
where you can engage in to help not only the environment but also to connect with others to work together to do
something worthwhile for the local community.

Instructions: Reflect and briefly answer the following questions:

1. What type of area do you live in: urban or rural? Describe the natural resources in your community.
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2. Do you think there’s a need to plant more trees in your community? Why or why not?
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B. MAIN LESSON
LESSON PRESENTATION/CONTENT NOTES (15 MINS)
Instructions: Take your time to read and understand all the important information you need to know. Also,
please do not forget to highlight important information to help you remember.

Just like how responsible parents take care of their young children in order for them
to become useful citizens in the future, plant nurturers should also be responsible for their plants for
them to survive. We all know that greeneries play a vital role in our life since they make our body and
the environment healthy.

In order for plants to thrive, one should give them sufficient water regularly at proper
intervals. Summer is fast approaching, and it is best to consider when to keep your plants hydrated. In
the absence of sunlight, it is impossible for plants to grow properly. Photosynthesis only happens in the
presence of sunlight. However, it is good to note that too much heat and cold can be harmful for them.
Potted young plants must be kept away from the intense heat by putting them in a shady area. Finally,
in order for the plants to receive proper nutrients, fertilizers such as manures, water-soluble fertilizer,
and compost fertilizer, among others, are applied.

SKILL-BUILDING ACTIVITIES
Instructions: Read and do the following tasks.

My Seven-Week Challenge to Nurture the Nature

(Note: Please keep the document for each of the tasks for final activity use.)

Week 1 Choosing a seedling

You can contact your Local Government Unit as they already have seedlings prepared to be
planted. You may also obtain it from your backyard, friend or neighbor. In choosing a seedling, avoid the
one that looks over or under watered. Also, avoid the one that shows signs of physical or insect damage.
You may also germinate your preferred seed if you can’t obtain a seedling from your LGU or anywhere
nearby. Don’t forget to take pictures or short videos of your first journey and record your progress for this
week through your journal.

Week 2 Starting your routine

Once you transfer the seedling in another container such as plastic, plastic bottle or pot, you can
mix the soil with enough available fertilizer. Place it in a shady location with good ventilation. Gradually
expose the seedling to sunlight several hours a day. The seedling may need to be watered more than once
a day, so it is better that you check on it regularly. Talk to your plant. You can even name it and consider it
your friend or family member. Don’t forget to take pictures or short videos of this journey and record your
progress for this week through your journal.

Week 3 Fertilizing your seedling

If you have a water-soluble fertilizer, you may prepare the mixture and apply it twice a week. You
may use boiled crushed eggshells, or you can make compost tea to level up your home-made plant
fertilizer. At this time, prepare your location for transplant by removing the rocks and the roots of weeds.
Then, moisten it with water. Don’t forget to take pictures or short videos of this journey and record your
progress for this week through your journal.

Week 4 Transplanting your seedling

Check the moisture of the soil. It should not be soaking wet. Level the surface using a rake or
anything that can do the same. Dig a planting hole that’s a little bit bigger than the plant’s root ball and
 about as deep. Place the seedling in the planting hole at the same depth that it was growing in the pot. You
should be able to cover the seedling with about ¼ inch of soil. Fill in with soil around the rootball. Gently
tamp down the soil around the seedling so there’s good contact between the seedling’s roots and the soil.
Soak the soil around new seedlings immediately after transplanting in order to settle the roots, eliminate
air pockets, and reduce the potential of transplant shock. Don’t forget to take pictures or short videos of
this journey and record your progress for this week through your journal.

Week 5-7 Keeping the plant healthy

The challenge now is to maintain the healthy condition of the plant. Give the seedling a good
amount of fertilizer to ensure that phosphorus - which promotes strong root development - is available in
the root zone of new transplant. Continue watering it at least twice a day. In case your plant is infested
with ants or bugs, wipe it off with cotton swab dipped in alcohol or vegetable oil or spray them with
insecticidal soap. Talk to your plant. Let the plant get to know you more through your constant care.
Explain to the plant its importance to you, your family and to the community. Don’t forget to take pictures
or short videos of this journey until the 7th week.

C. LESSON WRAP-UP

THINKING ABOUT LEARNING (5 MINS)

Instructions: Create a weekly journal about your progress of the challenge. Every clipart will contain your
weekly journal for 4 weeks. To be guided, you may answer two or three of the questions below:

“What have you accomplished this week?”

“What went well this week?”

“What significant progress have you seen this week?”

"What do you appreciate about tree planting?"

“What role do trees play in our lives?”

“How might planting trees benefit the community?”

“What are your hopes for the seedling/plant?”

“What did you name your plant?”

“What did you talk about with your plant?”

 Alternative Activity: (Home Gardening)
Guidelines for home gardening:

1. These are for the students with no enough space in their vicinity to plant a tree.
2. Vegetables should be planted in pots or tin cans or other recycled materials.
3. The area covered by the vegetables should be 1 square meters (6 medium size pots or 9 small pots)
4. Crawling vegetables (string beans, ampalaya, squash) and herbs (lemon grass, oregano) are not allowed

Suggested vegetable seeding for home gardening:

- Petchay
- Pepper
- Eggplant
- Okra
- Tomato

Weekly Activity and Monitoring:

Week 1: Planning, Cleaning, Selection of seeds and Material Preparations

By this week, you are intended to:
- Choose a location of where you are going to place your pots.
- Purchasing vegetable seeds and other gardening materials
- Planning

Question:
Describe the vicinity of your area?
Where is the location of your garden pots?
What vegetable seedling you want to plant?
Why did you choose it?
What materials you think you needed?
What do you think are the possible problems you may face for this week’s activity?

Week 2: Planting seeds in the nursery Taking care of nursery

By this week, you are intended to:
- Plant seeds in the nursery
- Making a nursery of your seeds
- Taking care of the nursery

Question:
Did you follow the seed of your choice or changed it?
What is your experience in gardening?
What do you think are the possible problems you may face for this week’s activity?
At the end of the week, did your seed sprout?

Week 3: Taking care of the nursery

Question:
What challenges did you encounter this week?

Week 4: Repotting of the seedings

By this week, you are intended to:
- Transferring your young plant to a bigger pot
- Assuring the safety of the potted vegetables
- Taking care of the plants
 Question:
What challenges did you encounter this week?

Week 5: Cleaning and Cultivating the area

By this week, you are intended to:
- Putting fertilizers on the vegetables.
- Removing weeds and trimmings
- Taking care of the plants

Week 6: and beyond: Watering and monitoring

By this week, you are intended to:
- Monitor the plants

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

What is photosynthesis?
It is the process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and energy in the
form of sugar.

What is germination or seed germination?

It is the process of seeds developing into new plants.

What is compost?
Compost is a mixture of ingredients used to fertilize and improve the soil. It is commonly prepared by
decomposing plant and food waste and recycling organic materials.

How can I make my seedlings grow faster and stronger?

Heat, light, and fertilizer are three ways to improve seedling vigor and make them grow faster.

How do I protect the trees around me?

I should cooperate with the government to grow more trees and to protect the forests. I should avoid
cutting down trees, especially in the forests. I should also protect forests from fire.

Which tree species best thrive in our land?

Teak grows very poorly in sandy or acidic soils as the tree is known to need a lot of calcium to develop
properly. Honduran Mahogany, on the other hand, is best suited to clay and loam as the tree flourishes in
moist types of soil. Refer to https://essc.org.ph/content/view/100/ for the complete list.

What are the dangers of choosing the wrong location for planting?
Some of the problems that can be avoided by selecting the proper tree for the available planting space are:
Damage to houses through cracked foundations, leaves in gutters or abrasion of tree limbs hitting the
house; Cracked pavement of sidewalks, driveways, porches and patios; Sewer lines or septic tanks clogged
by roots; Dangerous screening by obscuring traffic signs, pedestrians or vehicles; Storm damage and
electrical problems from trees or limbs affecting utility lines; and Blocking scenic views or windows.
The Philippines will celebrate Earth Day 2023 on the
22nd of April. As our call to action and our special
gift to help rehabilitate and save the degrading and
distorted conditions of our land, let us be one in our
pursuit to religiously take care and grow our very
own tree through this activity. This will be the best
way to culminate your NSTP journey to become
active eco-warriors and to be sensitive citizens. This
will be your best gift to the Earth.