Be an Expert: Trees      10/10/2008

1. Tree Species Vocabulary     5 Points
Define these words associated with the study of trees.

arborist
broadleaf
conifer
cross dating
crown
increment borer
crossdating
deciduous
cambium
evergreen
petiole
gall
Hardiness Zone
spread
tree rings
lobes
windbreak
dendrochronology

2. National Trees     5 Points
Match the country to their national tree

• _____ Canada                   birch           
  
• _____ Denmark                banyan
  
• _____ Finland                  cedar
  
• _____ India                     maple
  
• _____ Lebanon                 kapok
  
• _____ Honduras               beech

3. State Trees     10 Points
The state tree of Illinois is the White Oak Quercus alba
Identify the state tree of 10 other states.

4. Leaf Shapes     10 Points
Identify these leaf shapes

1. Cross           2. Fan           3. Scale-like           4. Heart           5. Needle-like           6. Oval           7. Lance           8. Round           9. Triangular

5. Be a Landscape Architect     10 Points
Imagine you are helping a new community develop a landscape plan that will result in a healthy diverse community forest.  Look at the Community Landscape Plan Worksheet.   Notice the holes have already been dug. at sites A-J for trees to be planted.   Each of the A-J sites has different conditions and different tree needs. Using the Tree Information Sheets A & B, select what you think is the best tree to plant in each site on the Community Landscape Plan Worksheet.

• Cut out the trees you select and gluestick them in the site locations you choose.
• Be able to explain why you selected each tree and planted it where you did.
• Several different trees may work in some sites.
• Select only ONE tree for each site.

Materials
Design a Community Forest found at: http://www.arborday.org/kids/graphics/poster-contest/activity-guide06.pdf
Pages you will need:

• Tree Information Sheets A & B pages 9-10
• Tree Pictures & Requirements page 11
• Community Landscape Plan Worksheet page 12

Site Requirements

• Site A: a medium-sized tree that will grow well in a front yard
• Site B: a tall tree to provide shade and leave room near the ground for children to play in a backyard
• Site C: a street-side tree that will fit under a powerline
• Site D: an evergreen that holds its leaves year round
• Site E: a tree that can tolerate poor soil and salt from winter de-icing in a parking lot
• Site F: a tree that can help break the wind just west of the farmhouse
• Site G: a medium or tall shade tree under which people can picnic and will also benefit wildlife
• Site H: a tree that will grow in wet soil near a wetlands area
• Site I: a medium-sized tree that will grow in a variety of soil conditions
• Site J: a tree that will attract birds to a narrow space outside a classroom window

5. Tree Products Crossword Puzzle      10 Points
Print out a separate Tree Products Puzzle at http://www.smithlifescience.com/SciTreePuzzle.htn

6. Tree Anatomy     5 Points
Label this tree diagram and explain the purpose of the tree parts

Label the parts of this tree   Explain the purpose of each part Heartwood New Wood (Xylem) Inner Bark (phloem) Outer Bark Cambium

7. Leaf Collection       15 Points

• Collect at least 12 species.
• One species per page
• At least one entire leaf should be used (you may want to use as many as 3-4 per page)
• One each page include the following information
  A. Common Name   ex. Red Maple
  B. Scientific Name  ex. Acer rubrum
  C. Tell whether it is a simple or compound leaf.   ex. Simple leaf
• All tree species must be native to Illinois.
• Do not use ornamental leaves, shrubs, pine trees or fruit trees.
• Broadleaf trees should be used
• Make your collection as neat and attractive as possible.
• A photo album may be used to hold your collection.

8. The Man Who Planted Trees      10 Points
'The Man Who Planted Trees' is an inspiring story about a man who restored a region of France by planting acorns until a forest was born and the land was rejuvenated.

• Read the story The Man Who Planted Trees
• Answer the questions at the end of the story

Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Refer back to the story whenever necessary.
1. The old shepherd sorted through acorns picking out the finest 100.
Why did he take such care that they were perfect?

2. Describe the procedure that the old shepherd used to plant the oak trees.

3. Over three years the shepherd had planted 100,000 acorns.
What percentage of these actually sprouted?

4. Hunters noticed the outburst of little trees, but did not attribute to the man.
Why was he not suspected of being responsible?

5. Why did the author not recognize the town when he returned in 1945?

6. The story stated that 10,000 people now owed their happiness and comfort to Bouffier.
What did he do that caused so much so much changed in their town?

7. Why did the author feel that he had left his mark on the earth when he wrote this story?

The Man Who Planted Trees found at:
http://www.smithlifescience.com/SciTreesManWhoPlanted.htm

9. Adopt-A-Tree      10 Points
Choose a tree in your yard or a park.
use the Adopt-A-Tree Journal to record your information.
Identify the common and scientific name.
Estimate the height of the tree.
Measure the circumference 1 meter from the ground.
Measure the length of a leaf.
Measure the width of a leaf.
Identify any animals you see on or near your tree.
Sketch a leaf.
Sketch the tree's shape.
Sketch the seeds/fruit.
Make a leaf rubbing.
Make a bark rubbing.

Use Adopt-A-Tree Journal found at:
http://sciencespot.net/Media/adopttree2.pdf

10. Tree Rings    5 Points
Use the Tree Cookie to answer the questions.

a. This tree was cut 3 years ago. Write that year:

b. How old was the tree?

c. What year did the tree start growing?

d. Find the ring that grew the year you were born. Was it a wet or dry year?

e. In what year of growth was there the least rainfall?

f. In what year of growth was there the most rainfall?

12. Be a Dendrochronologist      10 points
Use the cross sections of two beams.
The beams came from log cabins in the mountains of western North Carolina.
Cut out the core samples A and B.
The innermost solid line represents the first year's growth.
The students match their core samples to the master sequence depicted at the top of the activity sheet.
They glue or tape the samples from each core onto the master sequence to see how the beams overlap.
Use the master sequence to answer the questions.

• Which beam is the oldest?
  

• How old was Tree A when it was cut?
  

• How many years ago did Tree A start growing?
  

• How many years ago was Tree A cut?
  

• For Tree A, list the number of dry cycles (two or more dry years)?
  

• For Tree A, list the number of wet cycles (two or more wet years)?
  

• How old was Tree B when it was cut?
  

• How many years ago did Tree B start growing?
  

• How many years ago was Tree B cut?
  

• For Tree B, list the number of dry cycles (two or more dry years)?
  

• For Tree A, list the number of wet cycles (two or more wet years)?

13. Making a Clinometer      15 Points
If you want to know how tall a chair or your desk at school is, you can take a meter stick and measure it.
But what if you want to know the height of something really tall like a tree in your schoolyard?
Can you think of a way to measure the height of tall things?
Here is a method that uses the geometry of right-angled triangle to measure the height of tall objects.

• Follow the directions and construct a clinometer.
• Use the clinometer to measure the height of 10 trees.

Making a Clinometer found at:
http://educ.queensu.ca/~fmc/march2004/tree5_01.html

14. Reading the Rings      5 Points
To help figure out what climate the tree grew in and what the environment was like, look at each ring:

• Thickness
  How wide a ring is can tell you if the environment was good or bad for the tree to grow in.
  In years when the amount of rain and temperature were good a tree's rings are wider.
  In bad years a tree's rings are thinner.
  
• Shape
  If rings become thinner on one side than the other it means the tree is leaning over to one side.
  High winds or a big storm can cause a tree to lean.
  
  
• Strange Marks
  Dr. Fir also looks for strange marks, like scars, and other "pieces of evidence."
  Scars can be left by insects or disease. A forest fire can leave burnt marks.

Reading the Rings (continued)
Look at these crosssections and match them to the event that caused them.

ONLINE RESOURCES

Dendrochronology background found at:
http://rla.unc.edu/lessons/Lesson/L204/L204.htm#background

Illinois Trees found at:
http://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/forest/htmls/trees.html

Tree Treasure Chest found at:
http://sftrc.cas.psu.edu/LessonPlans/Forestry/PDFs/TreeTreasureChest.pdf

	Web www.smithlifescience.com