A Green Bill of Health – Vol. 1 No. 26
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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Download PDF of Full Issue
Highlights
- 1 Article
- 3 Scientists
- 2 Activities
- Glossary
- Featured in Nature Health Benefits LIVE
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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?
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...
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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
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... -
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
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?
Glossary
View All GlossaryClassroom Review Board
Ms. Enya Granados’ Environmental Science Class
- Clarke Central High School
Editorial Review Board Comments
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Charles Branas
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 -
Michelle Kondo
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
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
Standards addressed in this Monograph:
Next Generation Science Standards
- ESS3.C-H1The sustainability of human societies and the biodiversity that supports them requires responsible management of natural resources.
- ESS3.C-M1Human 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-M2Typically 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-H2Humanity 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-H1When 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-M1A solution needs to be tested, and then modified on the basis of the test results, in order to improve it.
- ETS1.B-M2There are systematic processes for evaluating solutions with respect to how well they meet criteria and constraints of a problem.
- LS2.A-M1Organisms, and populations of organisms, are dependent on their environmental interactions both with other living things and with nonliving factors.
- LS4.D-H2Humans 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-ETS1-2Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
- MS-ETS1-3Analyze 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-LS1-5Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
- MS-LS1-8Gather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli by sending messages to the brain for immediate behavior or storage as memories.
- MS-LS2-1Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.
- MS-LS2-4Construct 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.
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.
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Meet the Scientists
Introduces students to the scientists who did the research. This section may be used in a discussion about careers in science.
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What Kinds of Scientist Did This Research?
Introduces students to the scientific disciplines of the scientists who conducted the research.
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Thinking About Science
Introduces something new about the scientific process, such as a scientific habit of mind or procedures used in scientific studies.
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Thinking About the Environment
Introduces the environmental topic being addressed in the research.
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Introduction
Introduces the problem or question that the research addresses.
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Method
Describes the method the scientists used to collect and analyze their data.
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Findings & Discussion
Describes the results of the analysis. Addresses the findings and places them into the context of the original problem or question.
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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.
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Number Crunches
Presents an easy math problem related to the research.
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Glossary
Defines potentially new scientific or other terms to students. The first occurrence of a glossary word is bold in the text.
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Citation
Gives the original article citation with an internet link to the original article.
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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
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Contact
Jessica Nickelsen
Director, Natural Inquirer program -
Email
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
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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
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... -
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
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... -
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
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... -
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
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... -
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
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...
Additional Resources
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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