Good tree cookies will hold-up for years in the classroom. Soon, Christmas will be here and it is the perfect time to get the materials for your tree cookies. Pine trees (evergreens) are the favorite because the annual rings are easily distinguished, the wood is soft and easy to cut and sand, and the supply at Christmas is usually plentiful.
Gather a few discarded evergreen trees (or pick them up cheap the day after the holidays). Use a saw and cut off the branches beginning at the base. Cut the main tree stem into sections about 3-4 feet in length and transport them home. The logs to keep would be those with the diameter of an aluminum soda can.
A vital step in the tree cookie recipe is to dry the wood. If you have access to a lumber kiln, just ask the manager to stick the tree cookie poles in with the lumber being dried for 3-4 days. If you don't have access, just go to the slicing step and worry about the drying later.
The next step is to slice the poles into cookies about 1-2 inches thick.
You can dry the cookies by :
No matter which method, turn the cookies over periodically to allow both sides to dry.
Sand the cookies until you can easily count the rings. It is a dusty job; if possible do it outside under the shade of Ša tree. Coat with polyurethane, which may be brushed, dipped, or sprayed, and the more the better.