How Old Trees Become New Trees. Eventfully, dead trees fall down. Insects, animals and bacteria continue to live in them as they decay. On the ground a dead hollow tree might become a home for a den of rabbits or foxes. Finally the tree decays completely and returns its nutrients to the soil.
Good soil is made up of older plants that have died.
Squirrel, Raccoon, Hawk, Opossum, Bluebird, Black snake, Owl, Bat, Woodpecker, Tree frog, Wood duck, Beetles, Mouse, Flying squirrel. Have pictures of the animals on the bulletin board. Each of these animals uses dead trees. Ask your students to imagine ways that these animals might find a dead tree useful. Students might be assigned an animal and asked to draw or find a picture of it.