Climate Change, Forest Change, and Tree Ring Analysis Discovery Kit®

$99.95
Item
KIT-22151

Climate Change, Forest Change, and Tree Ring Analysis Discovery Kit®

Tree rings give us insight into climatic conditions and patterns. Scientists have collected evidence that certain regions are experiencing shifts in climate (as seen in increased frequency and intensity of storm events in some regions and drought in other areas). These weather patterns are reflected in tree growth. The kit contains five tree rounds of five diverse species: birch (light rings typical of trees growing in moist conditions), juniper (tight rings typical of trees in arid areas), pine (seasonal wet/dry cycles), sassafras (typical of plants growing in areas with extended wet and dry cycles) and oak (classic rings with ray pattern). Students record information about five rounds and use this information to make predictions about growth conditions. The activities in this kit address the Next Generation Science Standards, specifically middle school life sciences LS1 and middle school earth and space sciences ESS3. Total of 25 tree rounds plus five 3x pocket magnifiers for reading rings, activities, blackline masters, and descriptive information. Recommended for ages 11 to adult (middle school and up). 

#KIT-22151

Introduction (from the activity booklet that comes with this kit):

Scientists have evidence Earth’s climate is undergoing abrupt change. It is marked by rising average surface temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and greater frequency and intensity of extreme storm events. These climatic factors affect our lives. They also affect wildlife, including their migration patterns, as well as the distribution and growth patterns of plants. Since trees in temperate regions produce annual growth rings, we can derive information about each year’s growing conditions from them. Over time, these rings also reveal information about shifting climatic conditions. They help us make connections between the past and present, as well as predictions about the future. As species shift in response to a changing climate, entire ecosystems, including forests, shift as well. This kit features five cross-sections (tree rounds) from each of five species that display a range of growth patterns: juniper, ponderosa pine, sassafras, birch, and oak (total of 25 tree rounds). It also contains five 3x pocket magnifiers for reading rings, four handout masters, and an activity booklet. Collected from branch trimmings, the tree rounds are oven-baked and sanded on one side to make it easier to read the rings. The activities in this kit address the Next Generation Science Standards, specifically middle school life sciences LS1 and middle school earth and space sciences ESS3.

Receive 10% off when ordering 10 or more of this item. Upon checkout, discounts for all items are added together and collectively subtracted from the total.

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