Fire Toolbox – Vol. 1 No. 29
Welcome to the first monograph in the Fire Series! In this research, scientists were interested in understanding the impacts of different forest treatments, like thinning and prescribed fire, on forest conditions. Setting up an experimental design to test these treatments' impacts during a wildfire was impossible, but when a real wildfire burned through the study plots unexpectedly, scientists were able to see how these treatments affected forest resilience.
The monograph also features a spotlight on Smokey Bear and his wildfire prevention message, activities, a glossary, and national education standards correlations.
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Highlights
- 1 Article
- 3 Scientists
- 1st in the Fire Series
- 2 Activities
- Spotlight on Smokey Bear
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In this article, read about a study where scientists were interested in understanding the impacts of different forest treatments, like thinning and prescribed fire, on forest conditions. Setting up an...Fire Toolbox: Reducing Wildfire Severity with Prescribed Fire and Thinning
In this article, read about a study where scientists were interested in understanding the impacts of different forest treatments, like thinning and prescribed fire, on forest conditions. Setting up an...
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By using actual data from the National Interagency Fire Center, you will graph the number of acres burned by wildfire as well as the cost of fighting fires over the...FACTivity – Fire Toolbox
By using actual data from the National Interagency Fire Center, you will graph the number of acres burned by wildfire as well as the cost of fighting fires over the... -
Test your understanding after reading “Fire Toolbox.” Each of the following images represents something from the article. Explain what each image represents. You may write your explanation or hold a...eyeChallenge – Fire Toolbox
Test your understanding after reading “Fire Toolbox.” Each of the following images represents something from the article. Explain what each image represents. You may write your explanation or hold a...
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Learn more about the history of Smokey Bear, the mascot of one of the longest running public service advertising campaigns.Spotlight – Smokey Bear
Learn more about the history of Smokey Bear, the mascot of one of the longest running public service advertising campaigns.
Standards addressed in this Monograph:
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ESS3.B-M1
Mapping the history of natural hazards in a region, combined with an understanding of related geologic forces, can help forecast the locations and likelihoods of future events.
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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.
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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.
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LS2.A-M1
Organisms, and populations of organisms, are dependent on their environmental interactions both with other living things and with nonliving factors.
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LS2.C-M1
Ecosystems are dynamic in nature; their characteristics can vary over time. Disruptions to any physical or biological component of an ecosystem can lead to shifts in all its populations.
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MS-LS2-4
Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
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Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts.
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By the end of grade 8, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 6-8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
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Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; provide an accurate summary of the text distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
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Follow precisely a multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.
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Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6-8 texts and topics.
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Analyze the structure an author uses to organize a text, including how the major sections contribute to the whole and to an understanding of the topic.
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Analyze the author's purpose in providing an explanation, describing a procedure, or discussing an experiment in a text.
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Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).
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Distinguish among facts, reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
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Compare and contrast the information gained from experiments, simulations, video, or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic.
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People, Places, and Environments
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Science, Technology, and Society
What Is a Natural Inquirer Monograph?
A Natural Inquirer monograph is a short publication that focuses on a single research study. Monographs are written for a middle school audience, but they can also be adapted for both high school students and advanced upper elementary students.
Monographs include:
- One article based on a published, peer-reviewed research paper; the article keeps the research paper format (see more below) but is written in language students can understand.
- A FACTivity, which is an activity to complete after reading the article. The FACTivity helps reinforce major science concepts from the article. These activities are designed to be easy to implement, with few material requirements and options for adapting them for your audience or available resources. Some monograph may have two FACTivities.
- A short “Welcome to the monograph” article about key background information and science concepts.
- A glossary of new terms from the article or the introductory materials.
- A list of related Natural Inquirer publications as well as outside references.
- Standards correlations, including Next Generation Science Standards, addressed in both the article and the FACTivity.
Monographs may also include additional essays (called spotlights), other activities (like crossword puzzles or vocabulary challenges), and more.
Reading Modes
Monographs are available in three different formats:
- Hard copies can be ordered from the website and shipped, all free of charge.
- PDF versions of the printed monograph can be downloaded free on the website. The PDF version directly replicates the content and layout of the printed version.
- The “Read Distraction Free” option allows the monograph article to open in its own window, without the rest of the website being visible. “Read Distraction Free” is available on the article version of the monograph, which can be opened under the “Articles” tab. This version allows readers to scroll to particular sections of the article using the sidebar menu on the left side of the screen. This version also has interactive Reflection Sections and Number Crunches. Students can enter their answers, submit them, and then receive the correct answers to double-check their work. Submitted answers are not saved on the website and will disappear once the window is closed.
What's in a Natural Inquirer Article?
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Meet the Scientists
This section introduces the scientists (and others) who worked on the study. In their own words, they each share a memorable science experience, a favorite research project, or something they learned during the course of their education or research.
Use this section to:
- Introduce kids to the variety of people who work in science
- Introduce kids to the variety of scientific fields and give brief descriptions of science-related jobs
- Explore ways that people interact with science every day
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) applications:
- Science and Engineering Practices
- Crosscutting Concepts: Influence of Science, Engineering, and Technology on Society and the Natural World
Note that specific standards for this particular monograph are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
Many of the scientists and engineers featured in this section are also featured on our collector cards. Learn more about their work, how they got interested in their fields, and interesting projects they worked on. Cards can be printed as posters, too.
Thinking About Science
This section briefly describes a concept about science or scientific research. This overview can touch on topics like
- study type (longitudinal study, quantitative vs. qualitative data),
- behaviors of scientists (conducting literature reviews, collaborating with other specialists, replicating earlier studies),
- the practice of science (the scientific method, engineering design, data collection, randomization, controls and variables),
- or other aspects of science (bias, correlation vs. causation).
Use this section to:
- Reinforce steps in the scientific method and the process of science
- Encourage students to think about the practice of science and what it can and cannot tell us
- Consider the many types of scientific study and what information each type can provide
Next Generation Science Standards applications:
- Science and Engineering Practices
- Life Science Disciplinary Core Ideas (depending on topic)
- Most Crosscutting Concepts (depending on topic)
Note that specific standards for this particular monograph are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
You can use key words to search for other or related scientific topics on our website (e.g. “longitudinal study,” “bias,” or “sampling”).
Thinking About the Environment
This section provides a brief overview of a topic or concept in environmental/life science. The topic or concept is directly related to the research study that follows. Examples of topics include the carbon cycle, the water cycle, habitat fragmentation, phenology, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.
Use this section to:
- Provide important background information to help students understand the research study
- Serve as a quick reference during reading or class instruction
- Connect the research article with other activities or media on the same topic
Next Generation Science Standards applications:
- Life Science and some Earth Science Disciplinary Core Ideas (depending on topic)
- Most Crosscutting Concepts (depending on topic)
Note that specific standards for this particular monograph are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
You can use key words to search for more resources on life or earth science topics on our website (e.g. “habitat,” “carbon,” or “genetics”).
Introduction
This section begins the scientific article format. Much like the published, peer-reviewed study this article is based on, the introduction provides background information for the study – what is currently known and what remains unknown. The introduction culminates in the question(s) the study hopes to answer.
The introduction is also the first section with a Reflection Section. This section includes two or three questions to help kids reflect on what they’ve just learned in the Introduction. If they are using the online distraction-free reading mode, they can answer these questions directly on the website.
Use this section to:
- Review important background information that kids need to understand the study
- Connect the study to the concepts addressed in the Thinking About Science and Thinking About the Environment sections
- Understand research questions and hypotheses, including generating their own hypotheses given what they already know
Next Generation Science Standards applications:
- Life Science and some Earth Science Disciplinary Core Ideas (depending on topic)
- Most Crosscutting Concepts (depending on topic)
Note that specific standards for this particular monograph are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
Use one of the guided reading lesson plans to help kids follow the format of a scientific paper.
Methods
This section is the nuts and bolts of the study design – the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the research. Contained within the Methods section are usually maps of the study location or the set-up of study plots, as well as details about what data was collected and how.
The Methods section also ends with a Reflection Section – two or three questions to help students think through what they just read. These questions are interactive on the distraction-free reading mode.
Use this section to:
- Show students how experiments and studies are designed and carried out
- Explore sampling methods and randomization
- Introduce various data collection tools (e.g. camera traps, surveys, insect collection tools, weather stations, etc.)
- Explain bias and how studies are designed to remove bias
- Help students gain experience with map reading
Next Generation Science Standards applications:
- Life Science and some Earth Science Disciplinary Core Ideas (depending on topic)
- Most Crosscutting Concepts (depending on topic)
Note that specific standards for this particular monograph are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
Many Methods and Findings sections contain Number Crunches, which are simple math exercises designed to help students interact with the data from the study.
Findings
This section summarizes the data collected during the study. The Findings section usually includes data tables or graphs and highlights the significant data points from the study. This section often mentions statistical analysis or the use of computer programs to model or analyze the data, though these methods are only discussed generally.
The Findings section also ends with a Reflection Section – two or three questions to help students think through what they just read. These questions are interactive on the distraction-free reading mode.
Use this section to:
- Have students practice reading and interpreting graphs and tables
- Compare results between variables and controls
- Explain the concept of statistical significance
- Discuss how no data or negative results still provide valuable information
Next Generation Science Standards applications:
- Life Science and some Earth Science Disciplinary Core Ideas (depending on topic)
- Most Crosscutting Concepts (depending on topic)
Note that specific standards for this particular monograph are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
Search the website for “map” or “graph” to find activities where students can practice making and reading maps and graphs.
Discussion
This section concludes each monograph article. In it, we summarize the main findings of the scientists’ study. Additionally, we present the scientists’ ideas about the limitations of their study, the big-picture impacts of their research, and the scientists’ plans for future study or action.
The Discussion section ends with a Reflection Section – two or three questions to help students think through what they just read, especially general take-aways from the study. These questions are interactive on the distraction-free reading mode.
Use this section to:
- Discuss what conclusions can and cannot be drawn from the available data
- Explain the difference between correlation and causation
- Explore study limitations and opportunities for further study
- Brainstorm ways the study findings could be applied to real-world situations
Next Generation Science Standards applications:
- Life Science and some Earth Science Disciplinary Core Ideas (depending on topic)
- Most Crosscutting Concepts (depending on topic)
Note that specific standards for this particular monograph are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
Use the “Designing Your Own Study” resource page for videos of scientists discussing their own research studies. The page also includes educator resources to help students plan their own scientific studies.
Additional Resources on the Website
On the website, we pair each monograph with a variety of other resources, as well. Use the tabs on the product page to browse through the following:- Related activities, including the FACTivity for each article
- An “About” essay that gives some larger context for the research the scientists conducted or more information about the science topic from the article
- A glossary of all boldfaced terms from the article
- A “Scientists and Collaborators” page that lists the people involved in the study; click on a researcher to reach their bio page and see what other articles they might be featured in
- A “Related Content” page that lists both Natural Inquirer resources about similar topics and also outside reference materials
Article Selection and Review
Natural Inquirer partners with the USDA Forest Service, so we source research studies by Forest Service scientists that have been peer-reviewed and published in reputable journals. Some of our articles have also been created in collaboration with scientists from other Federal agencies, such as U.S. Geological Survey and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, universities, and other non-profits.
All monograph articles are reviewed by scientists who conducted the original research study to verify scientific accuracy. Monographs are also reviewed by student editorial review boards of middle or high school students before publication. Additionally, all monographs are reviewed by the Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture before publication.
Every monograph article includes a citation of its source study. Many educators pair the original research paper with our article to help more advanced students learn how to read formal research papers. The monograph article then serves as adapted primary literature, bridging the two articles.Lessons
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Background: Natural Inquirer (NI) articles are written at a middle school level; however, the content, format, and focus on the process of science makes these journals a perfect resource for...Natural Inquirer in the High School Classroom
Background: Natural Inquirer (NI) articles are written at a middle school level; however, the content, format, and focus on the process of science makes these journals a perfect resource for... -
Focus student understanding of the main idea of a paragraph in each section of a Natural Inquirer article through a reading and note-taking process. This lesson plan can be used with any...Lesson Plan – Paragraph by Paragraph
Focus student understanding of the main idea of a paragraph in each section of a Natural Inquirer article through a reading and note-taking process. This lesson plan can be used with any... -
A graphic organizer to help kids read and think about a text. This lesson plan can be used with any Natural Inquirer article.Lesson Plan – S.C.A.N and R.U.N.
A graphic organizer to help kids read and think about a text. This lesson plan can be used with any Natural Inquirer article.
Project Learning Tree
If you are a trained Project Learning Tree educator, you may use “Living With Fire” as an additional resource.
Glossary
View All GlossaryClassroom Review Board
Sarah Callaghan’s Forest Management Class
- Cascadia Tech Academy
- Vancouver, WA
Editorial Review Board Comments
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Emily Brodie
I really love field work and data collection. In particular, there are times when the place where you are or the thing that you are measuring just blows you away....View Profile -
Stacy Drury
I focus on plant and fire interactions. I am interested in how fire helps shape the vegetative landscape around us. I have had a long, successful career, so picking out...View Profile -
Eric Knapp
There are many favorite science experiences, including collecting data after the Antelope Fire that occurred in California in 2021. It was fascinating trying to reconstruct how the fire moved and...View Profile
Related Resources from The Natural Inquirer
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The second monograph in Natural Inquirer’s Pollinators series, this monograph explores the connection between fire and native insect pollinators. In the welcome essay, students will learn about the variety of...A Flame Changer – Vol. 1 No. 25
The second monograph in Natural Inquirer’s Pollinators series, this monograph explores the connection between fire and native insect pollinators. In the welcome essay, students will learn about the variety of... -
The “Knock on Wood” monograph explores the complex relationships between carbon, fire, longleaf pine, and the red-cockaded woodpecker. Scientists conducted a study to better understand the trade-offs of managing forests...Knock on Wood – Vol. 1 No. 21
The “Knock on Wood” monograph explores the complex relationships between carbon, fire, longleaf pine, and the red-cockaded woodpecker. Scientists conducted a study to better understand the trade-offs of managing forests... -
This edition of the Natural Inquirer is all about wildland fire. You will learn about the benefits of wildland fire, as well as some of its dangers. You will learn...Wildland Fire – Vol. 4 No. 1
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This journal focuses on wildland fire. Wildland fire is any fire occurring in vegetation areas, regardless of how it was started. In this edition, you will learn about different types...Wildland Fire 2 – Vol. 13 No. 1
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Additional Resources
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National Park Service: "Wildland Fire Behavior"
This article is part of the Wildland Fire Learning In Depth series. It is designed for students who want to learn more about fire.Read Article -
Forest Service: "Through the Fire"
Sometimes out of adversity comes wisdom. That was a lesson Pacific Southwest Research Station Ecologist, Eric Knapp, learned after the 2021 Antelope Fire tore through long-term research plots in northeastern California. When Knapp and fellow researchers took stock of the fire damage, they realized that the fire, unexpectedly, presented a rare opportunity to see how fuel treatments fared in real-world conditions.Watch Video -
"Forest Service's burned research area fuels case for thinning and prescribed burns"
"The U.S. Forest Service says today the aftermath of a Northern California wildfire is fueling its own insights into wildfire recovery. It's providing a side-by-side comparison between natural growth and prescribed burning with mechanical thinning."Read Article -
Forest Service: "Prescribed fire boosts community safety & forest health"
Read a first-hand account of the Antelope Fire (the fire in the research study) from Rachel Smith, the forest supervisor on the Klamath National Forest and Butte Valley National Grasslands since 2020.Read Article -
Flickr: "Klamath National Forest"
Browse photos from Klamath National Forest's Flickr account.View Photos