The Wild Trees
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Purpose: To develop an understanding of the diversity of scientific research in the context of the story of how researchers learned about the giant redwoods in Northwestern California.
Purpose: To develop an understanding of the diversity of scientific research in the context of the story of how researchers learned about the giant redwoods in Northwestern California.
_Context:
_This project makes use of a book by the same name, The Wild Trees,
written by Richard Preston. This book is one of the winners of the 2008
SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books (you can read about this
prize at: Book Award). SB&F, Science Books & Films, is a project of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Details: Research & Study
_Using The Wild Trees student esheet to guide you, go to Photo Tour: Giant Sequoia to look at a brief slide show of giant redwood trees.
After you have looked at the slide show, consider these questions:
After you have looked at the slide show, consider these questions:
- The oldest giant redwood trees can be over a thousand years old. Do you think there is much for scientists to still discover about them?
- How do you think scientists undertook gathering data about these trees?
- What do you think the tops of these trees are like?
Developement: Read & Document
_Independently read The Wild Trees use the book to consider how scientists investigate phenomena. Using The Wild Trees student sheet keep a reading log in which you summarize what happens
in the chapters with specific reference to the titles and to the
scientific investigations that take place. Specifically, you should
write a few sentences explaining what the original chapter name means;
then you should suggest a new name for the chapter and explain its
significance to the book and to scientific inquiry.
After you have read the book, go to the About Narrative Nonfiction student sheet. Reflect on the information and jot down some notes about the characteristics of The Wild Trees that place it in the narrative nonfiction genre. Then answer the Narrative focus questions.
After you have read the book, go to the About Narrative Nonfiction student sheet. Reflect on the information and jot down some notes about the characteristics of The Wild Trees that place it in the narrative nonfiction genre. Then answer the Narrative focus questions.
Assessment: Communication
1. Write an essay using one of these possible topics:
2. Create a model of a giant redwood and describe organisms found in the canopy, how they relate to the tree and to each other. You can use Redwood Photo Tour on Stephen Sillet's site, to find pictures and descriptions of the organisms that live on these trees._
- Describe what is known and what is yet unknown about giant redwoods.
- Discuss the role of hard work, imagination, and chance in the work of the researchers that study giant redwoods.
- Describe the ecosystem that is found on the redwood tree canopies. What was surprising about some of the things that the researchers discovered?
2. Create a model of a giant redwood and describe organisms found in the canopy, how they relate to the tree and to each other. You can use Redwood Photo Tour on Stephen Sillet's site, to find pictures and descriptions of the organisms that live on these trees._