Science Review: Trees and Forests
1. I can identify reasons why trees and forests are valued. (Forests serve as habitat for a variety of living things and are
important to human needs for recreation, for raw materials and for a life-supporting environment.)
Questions:
a) What are some reasons that humans value forests?
Examples: Raw materials (paper, wood, etc.), recreation (hiking, camping, etc.), producing oxygen and
reducing carbon dioxide levels, jobs related to forest industry,
b) What do animals get from the forest?
Forests provide habitat for animals - food supply and shelter (protection).
2. I can describe kinds of plants and animals found living on, under and among trees; and identify how trees affect and
are affected by those living things.
Questions:
a) Identify a producer, consumer and decomposer in the forest.
Examples: producer: grass, pine tree, fern - consumer: deer, squirrel, caterpillar - decomposer: worms,
beetles, fungus
b) How does a tent caterpillar affect a stand of trees in a forest?
Tent caterpillars can eat all the leaves off of a group of deciduous trees making it hard for the trees to produce
food for themselves (through photosynthesis). More than 2 years of caterpillar infestation can kill a tree.
3. I can describe the role of trees in nutrient cycles and in the production of oxygen.
Questions:
a) Draw a nutrient cycle including a tree and at least one animal.
Deer eats leaves  Deer deposits waste  waste nutrients get absorbed by tree roots  Tree grows leaves
b) Explain photosynthesis (how do trees contribute to oxygen production?).
Water + Carbon Dioxide  Oxygen and Food (sugars and starches)
(all this happens with the energy from the sun captured by the green pigment chlorophyll in leaves)
c) Why are forests called “carbon sinks”? (hint: carbon – carbon dioxide)
They need Carbon Dioxide in order to make food through photosynthesis, so they absorb all that CO 2 and are
called “Carbon sinks”.
4. I can identify general characteristics that distinguish trees from other plants, and characteristics that distinguish
deciduous from coniferous trees.
Questions:
a) What makes a tree different from other plants?
Trees have a woody stem (trunk) and are perennials (they come back every year)
b) How are coniferous trees different from deciduous trees?
Coniferous trees lose their needles (leaves) all year round, Deciduous lose theirs in the fall.
5. I can identify characteristics of at least four trees found in the local environment. (at least two deciduous trees and
two coniferous trees)
Examples: types of spruce, birch, poplar, and pine, Mountain Ash
Questions:
a) Describe 2 deciduous and 2 coniferous trees.
b) What is your favourite tree?
6. I can describe and classify leaf shapes, leaf arrangements, branching patterns and the overall form of a tree.
Question:
a) What can you tell me about this leaf sample? (4 things)
Simple leaf
Ovate shape
Smooth margins
Opposite arrangement
7. I can interpret the growth pattern of a young tree, distinguishing this year’s growth from that of the previous year
and from the year before that. (differences in colouration and texture of new growth and old growth, scars that separate
old and new growth)
Question:
a) Colour the part of the diagram that has the newest growth.
b) Describe what might have happened during this trees lifetime.
Year 1-4 normal growth
Year 5-8 competition on one side (something was growing next to it)
Year 9-10 optimal growing conditions
Year 11-13 – possible drought
Year 14 – optimal
Year 15 – mountain pine beetle infestation resulting in death of tree.
8. I can identify human uses of forests, and compare modern and historical patterns of use.
Question:
a) How has our use of the forest changed over the past 150 years? (Give three examples)
We used to use more for heating and transportation. Now we use more for paper than we used to. We don’t
use forest products for medicine much anymore.
9. I can identify human actions that enhance or threaten the existence of forests.
Questions:
a) Describe three human actions that help the forest.
People learn about the forest through educational programs
People join organizations that promote making good choices for forests (cleaning up, fire safety)
People and governments manage forests so that they are a sustainable resource (we control how much we
cut down and replant when we do)
b) Describe three human actions that threaten forests.
Deforestation – when humans take down entire areas of forest without planting new forests.
Forest Fires – caused by reckless human activity
Pollution – air and water pollution can affect the growth and health of forests
10. I can identify an issue regarding forest use, different perspectives on that issue, and actions that might be taken.
Question:
a) A plot of forested land in the mountains is going to be used for a new ski hill. What are four possible
different perspectives for the proposed use of the land?
Ski Hill Owner – wants to use the land, says it will bring people closer to nature
Environmentalist – does not want the resort because it destroys trees
MLA – wants the ski hill because it will bring more people in to visit the area resulting in more revenue
(money) for local business
Land owner near resort – does not want it because it will bring lots of people to the area and they like their
peace and quiet and natural setting.