Lesson 1 – Trees for Life (Reading)
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Explain why trees are essential for human life.
- Identify global problems related to population and environment.
- Understand how trees help solve environmental and economic challenges.
- Answer comprehension questions from the text.
- Use new vocabulary in sentences.
Content
📖 Trees for Life
The world is facing two major problems:
1. A fast-growing population
More people means more food, more water, and more resources are needed.
2. Environmental damage
If the environment becomes weak, polluted, or damaged, countries cannot produce enough food for their people.
🌳 How trees help solve these problems
Trees:
- Protect the soil from erosion and keep it rich.
- Provide food such as fruits and nuts.
- Give wood for building and firewood for cooking.
- Produce gum Arabic, which is important for Sudan’s economy.
- Give medicine from leaves, bark, and roots.
- Create jobs in harvesting, transportation, and processing.
- Improve rainfall and reduce desertification.
- Support wildlife by providing shelters.
Global Efforts
Countries around the world are planting millions of trees.
Sudan also needs to protect existing forests and plant more trees for future generations.
🧠 Key Ideas
- World population will rise from 5 billion to 8.5 billion.
- Developing countries need a 60% increase in agricultural production.
- Forests provide economic benefits and protect the environment.
- Trees are essential for a healthy and productive planet.
📘 Vocabulary List
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| environment | natural world around us |
| erosion | wearing away of soil |
| malnutrition | not having enough healthy food |
| harvest | collection of crops |
| fodder | food for animals |
| currency | money used by a country |
| productive | able to produce a lot |
| population | number of people in an area |
📝 Comprehension Questions
A. Short Answer
-
Why is a growing population a problem?
→ Because it increases the need for food, water, and resources. -
How do trees help protect the soil?
→ Their roots hold the soil together and their leaves block strong winds. -
List three products we get from trees.
→ Wood, fruits, gum Arabic. -
How do forests help the economy?
→ They create jobs and generate income.
✅ Activity (Classwork)
Group Discussion:
Students list 10 benefits of trees, then each group presents the most important 3.
🏡 Homework Assignment
Write a paragraph (8–10 lines) about:
“Why trees are important in my community.”