One of the standards for life science addressed in the "Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS Lead States 2013) is "Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics" (HS-LS2). A critical concept included in this core idea is biodiversity. To show competency, students are expected to design investigations, collect data, and…

The sugar maple, "Acer saccharum," is projected to decline and die in 88 to 100 percent of its current range in the United States. An iconic symbol of the northeastern temperate forest and a dominant species in this forest, the sugar maple is identified as the most sensitive tree in its ecosystem to rising temperatures and a warming…

The growth of a pine tree is examined by preparing "tree cookies" (cross-sectional disks) between whorls of branches. The use of Christmas trees allows the tree cookies to be obtained with inexpensive, commonly available tools. Students use the tree cookies to investigate the annual growth of the tree and how it corresponds to the number of whorls…

The topic of invasive earthworms is a timely concern that goes against many preconceived notions regarding the positive benefits of all worms. In the cold-temperate forests of North America invasive worms are threatening forest ecosystems, due to the changes they create in the soil, including decreases in C:N ratios and leaf litter, disruption of…

In March 1999, a ca. 45 m tall construction crane was installed in a highly diverse, mature temperate forest near the village of Hofstetten, south of Basel (Swiss Canopy Crane project, Switzerland). The crane provides access to the canopy using a gondola for in situ research. With a new type of FACE technique (Free Air CO[subscript 2] Enrichment),…

This curriculum kit provides students with accurate and up-to-date information on California's forests, forest issues, and forest products in an entertaining and easy to comprehend format. The material in this unit is organized around six lessons, each addressing a different aspect of forest education. Lessons include: (1) "The Web of…

Presented in this manual are 20 activities selected to show some of the properties of wood and how these properties relate to the cellular structure of wood. Each activity includes stated objectives, indicates materials needed, and explains procedures. Illustrations related to the activities, glossary of terms, and photographs of wood structure…

The emphasis of this field study is on the management of natural resources with the specific goal of multiple-use management for a selected woodlot. Working in small groups, students observe, identify, and measure various characteristics of the forest in order to generate a management plan. (LZ)

Describes a simple, relatively inexpensive laboratory activity that allows students to examine the requirements for the fungal decay of wood and devise methods for prevention. (ZWH)

Provides: (1) background information on how forests are managed and some of the problems facing forests around the world; (2) three activities dealing with these topics; and (3) three ready-to-copy pages for student use. Activities include an objective, recommended age level(s), recommended subject area(s), list of materials needed, and…

Ranger Rick's NatureScope is a creative education series dedicated to inspiring in children an understanding and appreciation of the natural world while developing the skills they will need to make responsible decisions about the environment. Contents are organized into the following sections: (1) "What Makes a Tree a Tree?," including…

Described is an activity that uses discarded evergreen trees from Christmas. Tree age and growth characteristics are investigated by looking at the number of whorls and rings of the trunks. Extensions and follow-up activities are included. (KR)

This four-part guide provides suggestions to help teachers and students get the maximum benefit from a visit to the La Mauricie National Park in Quebec Province, Canada. The first part contains introductory comments, program objectives, an overall view of the park (including its features and services available), use of an appended exploration map,…

Describes a four- to six-week minicourse featuring topics from language arts, law, history, sociology, mathematics, art, and woodworking in addition to botany, zoology, genetics, ecology, and evolution. Student study is divided into five phases: tree-ring analysis; forest history; seedling competition; genetic improvement and cloning; and a…

Ranger Rick's NatureScope is a creative education series dedicated to inspiring in children an understanding and appreciation of the natural world while developing the skills they will need to make responsible decisions about the environment. The topic of this issue is "Rain Forests: Tropical Treasures." Contents are organized into the…