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In this very hands-on lesson, learners will investigate dendrochronology (the study of tree rings to answer ecological questions about the recent past) and come up with conclusions as to what possible climatic conditions might affect tree growth in their region. Learners determine the average age of the trees in their area, investigate any years of poor growth, and draw conclusions about the reasons for the years of poor growth. This detailed lesson plan includes background information, evaluation suggestions, and enrichment ideas. Note: materials cost does not include equipment for acquiring core samples or tree cross sections. [Activity is publicly available through a web crawler capture on Archive.org.]
- 5 to 10 minutes
- 2 to 4 hours
- 1 cent - $1 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- band saw or chain saw (if using cross sections)
- increment borer and grooved core holders (if using core samples)
- sand paper
- dissecting microscope(s) and/or magnifying glasses
- dendrochronolog sheets to record tree ring information
- graph paper
- pencils
Subjects
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Earth and Space Science
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Earth Processes
- Weather and Climate
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Earth's History
- Geologic Time
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Earth Processes
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Life Sciences
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Diversity of Life
- Plants
- Classification
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Ecology
- Ecosystems
- Populations
- Human Impact
- Evolution
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Diversity of Life
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Mathematics
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Data Analysis and Probability
- Data Analysis
- Data Collection
- Data Representation
- Reasoning and Proof
- Representation
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Data Analysis and Probability
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The Nature of Technology
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The Design Process
- Problem Solving
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The Design Process
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The Nature of Science
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The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- Formulating Explanations
- Communicating Results
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The Scientific Process
Informal Categories
- Nature and Environment
- Outdoor Activity
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- read
- be mobile
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:
Includes assesments for student learning:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Colberg, Nancy
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Northern Climate ExChange, 2011