Interesting exercise to self-exploration! "Dendrographology"

Tree Drawing : The Interpretation
Tree reading is a new trend in self-exploration that's gaining popularity, allowing a person to learn about them by simply doodling a tree.
This is a good activity to use as an ice breaker or as a warm up activity to stimulate interaction between students and/or fellow teachers or new employees at New Hire Orientation.
Objective:
· Students/employees will demonstrate knowledge in reading and comprehension.
· Students/employees will interpret the drawing of a fellow student based on the guidelines provided in the handout.
· Students/employees will introduce fellow students to the class and will tell some interesting
information about each other based on their drawing of a tree.
Procedure:
· Tell the students/employees you have only three words of instruction for them.
· Post the instructions on the board or screen.
· The only instructions are “DRAW A TREE.” Say no more.
· Students/employees are given 8-10 minutes to draw a tree on a blank sheet of paper.
· At the end of the time limit, take up all of the class drawings in random order.
· Next, distribute the tree drawings to the students making sure that no student receives
their own tree drawing.
· Next, distribute the Tree Drawing Interpretation handout to each.
· Students/employees are to interpret the drawing based on the criteria presented on the handout.
Place a check mark in all the categories that apply to the drawing.
· Follow the instructions that directs each student to summarize their findings by writing a
paragraph about that person based on their tree drawing.
Conclusion:
· Students/employees will take turns orally introducing the person of whom they interpreted the tree
drawing. Students are encouraged to take the findings “with a grain of salt”, however
most will agree that the tree interpretation gives a fairly close description of that person’s
personality.
Materials Needed:
· Blank paper, colored pencils or crayons, timer.
· Approximate time of activity with 28 students is 1 hour.
Tree Drawing : The Interpretation
Tree Drawn By:__________________________________
Interpretation by: ________________________________
SIZE

____ 1. Small in relation to the paper: You are frugal, careful with money and time.

____ 2. Large in relation to the paper.: You are generous to a fault. You tend to take on more than you can.

LINE QUALITY

____ 1. Firm, strong lines: Indicates an aggressive, positive, self-assured person.

____ 2. Light lines: Indicates you are soft spoken and gentle. May tend to be inconspicuous.

TREE PLACEMENT

____1. Tree in top half of paper: You tend to be and up-in-the-air person, an independent spirit who needs

a lot of freedom.

____ 2. Tree at bottom of page: Indicates a down-to-earth person, practical, sensible and reliable.

____ 3. Tree in the center of the page: Indicates a well organized person, good at planning ahead.

____ 4. Tree drawn crosswise on the page: Indicates broad mindedness type of person. Open to new ideas.

DETAIL

____ 1. Few lines or outlined only: You like to work with overall concepts, the big picture, but let others

handle the details.

____ 2. Lots of detail : You like to immerse yourself in the details of anything you do.

VALUE

____ 1. Tree is shaded or darkened: Indicates a serious quality in the person.

____ 2. Tree is light and airy, without shading: You tend to be an easy going person, carefree.

____ 3. One part of the tree is shaded: Indicates a serious concern about one aspect of your life:

Trunk: concerned about home situations.

Roots: indicates a troubled or difficult past

Treetop: indicates concern about the future.

SHAPE

____ 1. Tall: You are a tall-thinking person. You aim high and often inspire others.

____ 2. Pointed top: You are ambitious and like to feel that you are always moving forward.

____ 3. Tree bent as if blowing in the wind: You tend to be restless, full of energy and often get caught up

in the activity around you.

____ 4. Short and wide: You are contented, stable, satisfied with your life. If the tree is wide relative to its

height, you also tend to be protective of those close to you.

BASE

____ 1. Ground included: Indicates a need for security and planning

____ 2. Tree floating in the air: You are perfectly comfortable when things are spontaneous and you function equally well in any surroundings.

____ 3. Earth drawn as soft, graceful line under the tree: You are happy and contented.

____ 4. Tree drawn in a pot: You like to be on-the-go, you can take off on a trip at a moment’s notice.

____ 5. Tree drawn on a hill: You like attention and want to be noticed.

ROOTS

____ 1. Roots included: The past is important to you. It has a strong influence on the way you live and think. Graceful roots suggest a warm feeling about childhood.

____ 2. Tree base is open, without roots: You draw strength from the person you are today. A base drawn in a straight line indicates you have cut yourself off from the past.

TRUNK

____ 1. Wide and sturdy: Indicates strength. You can stand up in adverse circumstances.

____ 2. Slim and narrow: You are flexible and adaptable.

____ 3. Trunk is very straight: You tend to be well organized.

____ 4. Trunk is clear and uncluttered: You are content with your home life. Gnarled, twisted or darkened

trunk indicates an unhappy home situation.

____ 5. Knothole drawn: You are forgiving. And if the knothole is dark, you tend to be forgiving of others weaknesses, but have a hard time forgiving your own.

TOP OF TREE

____ 1. Drawn as fluffy cotton ball – Indicates a warm, gracious person, contented with life and comfortable to be around.

____ 2. Simple, round top: You tend to be private and like to keep to yourself.

____ 3. Winter tree, branches without leaves: You are honest. How things are done is more important to you than the final result.

____ 4. Summer tree with swirls and curves suggesting leaves: Indicates that you care more about the end

` result than the methods used to accomplish the task.

____ 5. Tree without branches and leaves: Indicates a well rounded person who cares both about the end

result and the methods used to achieve it.

____ 6. All branches up: You are forward-looking and more interested in the future than the past.

____ 7. Branches spread out in all directions: Indicates an outgoing person who reaches out to others.

____ 8. Treetop with a lot of lines: Indicates energy and movement. You like to keep busy. If lines are verytangled, you may be confused about where your life is going. Sometimes you

feel like you are just spinning your wheels.

____ 9. Each individual leaf is drawn: You tend to be methodical and like things well organized.

____10. Tree looks cut off at the top: You are holding yourself back and can’t progress in the direction

you want to go.

THINGS DRAWN IN OR AROUND THE TREE

____ 1. Any extra features: You are aware of things going on around you.

____ 2. Fruits and nuts: You want your home to be a comfortable place

____ 3. Grass: You want your home to be a comfortable place.

____ 4. Flowers: Beauty is important to you and you like to fill your home with beautiful things.

____ 5. Birds, animals, people: You are kind, warm hearted and like to be with people.

____ 6. Sun: Indicates an optimistic outlook.

____ 7. Clouds: Indicates expectations of sorrow and disappointment.

____ 8. A swing: Indicates you enjoy life and find fun in all you do.

CONCLUSION:

With the information you have gathered from above, write a paragraph about the person on the back of the tree

drawing. The paragraph should summarize the personality of the person based on your findings from this

checklist. See if you can find the person in the room and return your evaluation to them.

For more details refer to website link below--

www.popehorticulture.com J. Green

Also, for quick reference check the blog link below for quick interpretation of your tree type by selecting your tree out of pictures given on this blog..
http://e-bulgaria.blogspot.in/2007/08/draw-tree-personality-test.html