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  • A Green Bill of Health – Vol. 1 No. 26
Cover for the Green Bill of Health monograph. the background image is of a heavily populated city neighborhood, and the front image is a circular photo of a blooming tree in a lot.
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A Green Bill of Health – Vol. 1 No. 26

  • Monograph
  • High School
  • Middle School
  • Social Science
  • Green space
  • Mental health
  • Nature health benefits
  • Urban Communities
  • Urban Forests
Cover for the Green Bill of Health monograph. the background image is of a heavily populated city neighborhood, and the front image is a circular photo of a blooming tree in a lot.
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This is the first monograph in Natural Inquirer's Nature Health Benefits series. In "A Green Bill of Health," students will learn about how different vacant lot treatments in Philadelphia impacted nearby residents' self-reported mental health.

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Highlights

  • 1 Article
  • 3 Scientists
  • 2 Activities
  • Glossary
  • Featured in Nature Health Benefits LIVE
  • The scientists who worked on this study wanted to focus on the effect of people’s environments on their mental health. The scientists identified vacant lots throughout Philadelphia. They wanted to...

    A Green Bill of Health – Can Vacant Lot Treatments Impact Mental Health?

    • Article
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • 1 Classroom Period
    • Social Science
    • Green space
    • Mental health
    • Nature health benefits
    • Urban Communities
    • Urban Forests
    • Vacant Lots
    The scientists who worked on this study wanted to focus on the effect of people’s environments on their mental health. The scientists identified vacant lots throughout Philadelphia. They wanted to...
    Explore Article Download Article (PDF) Read Distraction Free
    Explore Article Download Article (PDF) Read Distraction Free

    Part Of

    A Green Bill of Health - Vol. 1 No. 26

  • Many scientists, like the ones in “A Green Bill of Health,” are trying to find out the impacts that green spaces and time in nature can have on our mental...

    FACTivity – A Green Bill of Health

    • Activity
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • 1 Week+
    • Recreation
    • Social Science
    • Daily Log
    • Green space
    • Mental health
    • Nature health benefits
    • Observation
    • Outdoor Activity
    Many scientists, like the ones in “A Green Bill of Health,” are trying to find out the impacts that green spaces and time in nature can have on our mental...
    Explore Activity Download FACTivity (PDF)
    Explore Activity Download FACTivity (PDF)

    Part Of

    A Green Bill of Health - Can Vacant Lot Treatments Impact Mental Health?

  • After reading “A Green Bill of Health,” see how much you learned with this eyeChallenge. Each image is from the article; can you explain what each one represents?

    eyeChallenge – A Green Bill of Health

    • Activity
    • Middle School
    • Less than 30 minutes
    • Social Science
    • Mental health
    • Physical Activity
    • Urban Forests
    • Vacant Lots
    After reading “A Green Bill of Health,” see how much you learned with this eyeChallenge. Each image is from the article; can you explain what each one represents?
    Explore Activity Download Activity (PDF)
    Explore Activity Download Activity (PDF)

    Part Of

    A Green Bill of Health - Can Vacant Lot Treatments Impact Mental Health?

Glossary

View All Glossary
  • auger

    (ȯ gǝr): A tool made like a spiral or screw that is used to dig holes or move loose material.

  • collaboration

    (kǝ la bǝ rā shǝn): The act of working together.

  • ecosystem service

    (ē kō si stǝm sǝr vǝs): Any of the various benefits provided by plants, animals, and the communities they form.

  • eligible

    (e lǝ jǝ bǝl): Qualified to participate or be chosen.

  • greening

    (grē niŋ): Rejuvenating or revitalizing an area, especially by adding or tending plants.

  • ordinance

    (ȯr dǝ nǝn(t)s or ȯrd nǝn(t)s): A law set forth by a governmental authority, specifically a municipal regulation.

Classroom Review Board

Ms. Enya Granados’ Environmental Science Class

  • Clarke Central High School
The front of Clarke Central High School in Georgia.

Editorial Review Board Comments

  • “The map was a little confusing because of all the dots clustered together.”

  • “I learned how much not having a clean community can affect people.”

  • “I would like the author to compare different counties’, states’, or countries’ mental health test results to see if there’s a difference.”

  • “I learned about how scientists collaborate with other scientists and how many skills they share.”

  • “Greening can bring jobs to a community.”

View All Classrooms
  • Charles Branas walks across a green field on a college campus.

    Charles Branas

    Professor of Epidemiology

    One of my favorite experiences as a scientist was a few years ago. A group of neighbors approached our study team—we thought they were going to complain about the noise...
    View Profile
  • A headshot of Michelle Kondo

    Michelle Kondo

    Social Scientist

    My favorite science experiences have involved observing the positive things that can come from neighborhood greening. Greening can bring jobs to a community. In addition, learning about trees, participating in...
    View Profile
  • Eugenia South wears a surgical mask and stands in a hospital.

    Eugenia South

    Physician-Scientist

    My favorite science experience was working with an awesome team to study the impact of different urban greening treatments on health and safety, including trees, vacant lot greening, and community...
    View Profile

Jump To

  • Education Standards
  • Educator Guide
  • Project Learning Tree

Standards addressed in this Monograph:

Next Generation Science Standards

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are a set of K-12 science education standards emphasizing inquiry-based learning, real-world applications, and integrating engineering practices, aiming to deepen understanding of science while promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • ESS3.C-H1
    The sustainability of human societies and the biodiversity that supports them requires responsible management of natural resources.
  • ESS3.C-M1
    Human activities have significantly altered the biosphere, sometimes damaging or destroying natural habitats and causing the extinction of other species. But changes to Earth’s environments can have different impacts (negative and positive) for different living things.
  • ESS3.C-M2
    Typically as human populations and per capita consumption of natural resources increase, so do the negative impacts on Earth unless the activities and technologies involved are engineered otherwise.
  • ETS1.A-H2
    Humanity faces major global challenges today, such as the need for supplies of clean water and food or for energy sources that minimize pollution, which can be addressed through engineering. These global challenges also may have manifestations in local communities.
  • ETS1.B-H1
    When evaluating solutions it is important to take into account a range of constraints including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics and to consider social, cultural, and environmental impacts.
  • ETS1.B-M1
    A solution needs to be tested, and then modified on the basis of the test results, in order to improve it.
  • ETS1.B-M2
    There are systematic processes for evaluating solutions with respect to how well they meet criteria and constraints of a problem.
  • LS2.A-M1
    Organisms, and populations of organisms, are dependent on their environmental interactions both with other living things and with nonliving factors.
  • LS4.D-H2
    Humans depend on the living world for the resources and other benefits provided by biodiversity. But human activity is also having adverse impacts on biodiversity through overpopulation, overexploitation, habitat destruction, pollution, introduction of invasive species, and climate change. Thus, sustaining biodiversity so that ecosystem functioning and productivity are maintained is essential to supporting and enhancing life on Earth. Sustaining biodiversity also aids humanity by preserving landscapes of recreational or inspirational value.
  • MS-ETS1-2
    Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
  • MS-ETS1-3
    Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
  • MS-LS1-5
    Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
  • MS-LS1-8
    Gather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli by sending messages to the brain for immediate behavior or storage as memories.
  • MS-LS2-1
    Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.
  • MS-LS2-4
    Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.

Note To Educators

The Forest Service's Mission

The Forest Service’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. For more than 100 years, our motto has been “caring for the land and serving people.” The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognizes its responsibility to be engaged in efforts to connect youth to nature and to promote the development of science-based conservation education programs and materials nationwide.

USDA and Forest Service Logos

What Is the Natural Inquirer?

Natural Inquirer is a science education resource journal to be used by students in grade 6 and up. Natural Inquirer contains articles describing environmental and natural resource research conducted by Forest Service scientists and their cooperators. These scientific journal articles have been reformatted to meet the needs of middle school students. The articles are easy to understand, are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, contain glossaries, and include hands-on activities. The goal of Natural Inquirer is to stimulate critical reading and thinking about scientific inquiry and investigation while teaching about ecology, the natural environment, and natural resources.

Natural Inquirer bee sitting at a desk with paper and pencil

  • Meet the Scientists

    Introduces students to the scientists who did the research. This section may be used in a discussion about careers in science.

  • What Kinds of Scientist Did This Research?

    Introduces students to the scientific disciplines of the scientists who conducted the research.

  • Thinking About Science

    Introduces something new about the scientific process, such as a scientific habit of mind or procedures used in scientific studies.

  • Thinking About the Environment

    Introduces the environmental topic being addressed in the research.

  • Introduction

    Introduces the problem or question that the research addresses.

  • Method

    Describes the method the scientists used to collect and analyze their data.

  • Findings & Discussion

    Describes the results of the analysis. Addresses the findings and places them into the context of the original problem or question.

  • Reflection Section

    Presents questions aimed at stimulating critical thinking about what has been read or predicting what might be presented in the next section. These questions are placed at the end of each of the main article sections.

  • Number Crunches

    Presents an easy math problem related to the research.

  • Glossary

    Defines potentially new scientific or other terms to students. The first occurrence of a glossary word is bold in the text.

  • Citation

    Gives the original article citation with an internet link to the original article.

  • FACTivity

    Presents a hands-on activity that emphasizes something presented in the article.


Science Education Standards

You will find a listing of education standards which are addressed by each article at the back of each publication and on our website.


We Welcome Feedback

  • Contact

    Jessica Nickelsen
    Director, Natural Inquirer program

  • Email

    Contact us here.

Project Learning Tree

If you are a trained Project Learning Tree educator, you may use “Are Vacant
Lots Vacant?,” “Sounds Around,” “I’d Like to Visit a Place Where . . .,” and
“Planning the Ideal Community” as additional resources.

Related Resources from The Natural Inquirer

  • Hoping to learn more about the health benefits of nature? The Forest Service and Natural Inquirer have partnered to bring you Nature Health Benefits LIVE! Learn about a research study...

    Virtual Learning Adventure – Nature Health Benefits LIVE

    • Virtual Learning Adventure
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Upper Elementary
    • 2-3 Classroom Periods
    • 5 Classroom Periods
    • Recreation
    • Social Science
    • Community Involvement
    • Emotional Health
    • Mental health
    • Nature health benefits
    • Physical Health
    • Social Connection
    • Urban Communities
    Hoping to learn more about the health benefits of nature? The Forest Service and Natural Inquirer have partnered to bring you Nature Health Benefits LIVE! Learn about a research study...
    Explore Virtual Learning Adventure
    Explore Virtual Learning Adventure
  • Find 15 minutes this week to go outside and be active. For example, take a bike ride, throw a frisbee, or walk. If you can’t get outside this week, find...

    Activity – Outdoor Challenge 1

    • Activity
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • PreK - 2nd
    • Upper Elementary
    • Less than 30 minutes
    • Recreation
    • Social Science
    • Mental health
    • Nature health benefits
    • Outdoor Activity
    • Physical Health
    Find 15 minutes this week to go outside and be active. For example, take a bike ride, throw a frisbee, or walk. If you can’t get outside this week, find...
    Explore Activity Download Graphic Organizer
    Explore Activity Download Graphic Organizer

    Part Of

    Video - Nature and Your Physical Health (Episode 1)

  • Find 15 minutes at least twice a week to go outside. What do you hear, smell, and see? How do you feel after your observation time outside? If you can’t...

    Activity – Outdoor Challenge 2

    • Activity
    • All Grade Levels
    • Less than 30 minutes
    • Recreation
    • Social Science
    • Emotional Health
    • Mental health
    • Nature health benefits
    • Outdoor Activity
    Find 15 minutes at least twice a week to go outside. What do you hear, smell, and see? How do you feel after your observation time outside? If you can’t...
    Explore Activity Download Graphic Organizer
    Explore Activity Download Graphic Organizer

    Part Of

    Video - Nature and Your Mental Health (Episode 2)

  • Make a list of types of things you currently do when you are outdoors. What types of activities would you like to add to the list? Make a plan to...

    Activity – Outdoor Challenge 3

    • Activity
    • All Grade Levels
    • Less than 30 minutes
    • Recreation
    • Social Science
    • Mental health
    • Nature health benefits
    • Outdoor Activity
    • Physical Health
    Make a list of types of things you currently do when you are outdoors. What types of activities would you like to add to the list? Make a plan to...
    Explore Activity Download Graphic Organizer
    Explore Activity Download Graphic Organizer

    Part Of

    Video - Can Greening Vacant Lots Affect Mental Health? (Episode 3)

  • In this challenge, we want you to think more about how much time you spend outdoors. As a class/group/family, you will track how much time you spend outdoors each day...

    Activity – Outdoor Group Challenge

    • Activity
    • All Grade Levels
    • 3-4 Weeks
    • Recreation
    • Social Science
    • Emotional Health
    • Group Activity
    • Mental health
    • Nature health benefits
    • Outdoor Activity
    • Physical Health
    In this challenge, we want you to think more about how much time you spend outdoors. As a class/group/family, you will track how much time you spend outdoors each day...
    Explore Activity Download Activity (PDF)
    Explore Activity Download Activity (PDF)

    Part Of

    Virtual Learning Adventure - Nature Health Benefits LIVE

Additional Resources

  • USDA Forest Service: Giving city trees a fighting chance

    “City trees are some of the hardest working trees there are. They must live in a built environment with thousands of people,” Erika Svendsen, social scientist with the Forest Service’s Northern Research Station said. In fact, Forest Service research showed that half the trees planted in an urban environment live just 13 to 18 years, with more than 30% dead within five years. Those sobering tree mortality statistics inspired Svendsen and a team of scientists and partners to collaborate on a research article to give city trees a fighting chance.
    Read Article
  • USDA Forest Service: "Soothing the soul: Forest bathing in the tranquility of nature"

    Last summer, a military veteran seeking solace experienced tranquility in an unexpected way. He visited the Bankhead National Forest in Alabama for a guided tour to experience “forest bathing.” Joel Cruz, a retired U.S. Marine who served two tours in Iraq, didn’t know what forest bathing was and wondered if he should pack his swim trunks.
    Read Article
  • USDA Forest Service: "The healing power of nature: Facing a wildfire's past"

    Nature can be damaging and cause fear. Natural disasters like wildfires can change landscapes, communities and lives. But nature can also help us heal — instilling a calmness and peace in a sometimes-chaotic world.
    Read Article
  • USDA Forest Service: Conservation Education

    Through Conservation Education, the Forest Service provides a variety of educational resources and programs for individuals of all ages to learn about the environment and our nation’s forests and grasslands. Through these hands-on, interactive learning opportunities, students, educators, and parents can explore how to become a responsible steward of our natural resources. There are also a variety of resources for teachers and parents to engage youth in environmental education and for exploring careers in conservation.
    Visit Website
  • FIND Outdoors

    Our story is rooted in education about the forest. Our passion is to help people become inspired. Our goal is to help people connect with nature. Our drive is to help people learn through discovery. Through forest-inspired nature discovery, we help people FIND Outdoors.
    Visit Website
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The Natural Inquirer program produces a variety of science education materials for PreK through grade 12. Natural Inquirer products are produced by the USDA Forest Service, FIND Outdoors, and other cooperators and partners.

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