Standing On the Shoulders of Giants (Time Warp Monograph Series) Vol. 1 No. 13
Big-leaf mahogany is a tree species known for its beautiful wood. Over time, humans have cut down many big-leaf mahogany trees for use in furniture and other products. Because of this regular human use, big-leaf mahogany is considered vulnerable. To ensure that big-leaf mahogany harvesting is sustainable, scientists and land managers must know the conditions in which mahogany grows.
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Highlights
- Part of the Time Warp Series
- 3 Scientists
- 3 Activities
- Glossary
- Spotlight: Luquillo Experimental Forest
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To ensure that big-leaf mahogany harvesting is sustainable, scientists and land managers must know the conditions in which mahogany grows. Therefore, the scientists in this study wanted to examine how...
Standing On the Shoulders of Giants: How Well Do Big-Leaf Mahogany Trees Grow in Different Conditions?
To ensure that big-leaf mahogany harvesting is sustainable, scientists and land managers must know the conditions in which mahogany grows. Therefore, the scientists in this study wanted to examine how...
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The question you will answer in this FACTivity is, “How can I share information with the public about vulnerable species like big-leaf mahogany?” Materials: Markers Paper Books/web resources Graphic organizer...
FACTivity – Standing On the Shoulders of Giants
The question you will answer in this FACTivity is, “How can I share information with the public about vulnerable species like big-leaf mahogany?” Materials: Markers Paper Books/web resources Graphic organizer... -
When you finish reading “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants,” see if you can complete this eyeChallenge! Each image represents something from the article. Explain what each of these images...
eyeChallenge – Standing On the Shoulders of Giants
When you finish reading “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants,” see if you can complete this eyeChallenge! Each image represents something from the article. Explain what each of these images... -
At the end of the “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” article, there is a glossary of terms that were used in the article. Pick four words from the glossary...
Glossary Challenge – Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
At the end of the “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” article, there is a glossary of terms that were used in the article. Pick four words from the glossary...
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Forests provide many resources to society. To provide these resources, forest managers are continually working on tree improvement. Tree improvement is the process of growing trees with the best wood...
Spotlight – Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Time Warp
Forests provide many resources to society. To provide these resources, forest managers are continually working on tree improvement. Tree improvement is the process of growing trees with the best wood... -
In 1908, the Forest Service established a system of experimental forests and ranges (EFRs) to be set aside for environmental research. More than 100 years later, 80 of these areas...
Spotlight – Luquillo Experimental Forest
In 1908, the Forest Service established a system of experimental forests and ranges (EFRs) to be set aside for environmental research. More than 100 years later, 80 of these areas...
Glossary
View All GlossaryClassroom Review Board
Ms. Henderson’s 6th Grade Science Class
- Charles D. Owen Middle School
- Swannanoa, NC
Editorial Review Board Comments
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Elvira Cuevas
I like being a scientist because I get to discover new things about the natural environment. My favorite science experience is working in the field. I can see how the...View Profile -
Ariel Lugo
“My favorite science experience is trying to understand the functioning of natural ecosystems in collaboration with bright people, including high school students.” “[Another] favorite science experience is interacting with other...View Profile -
Ernesto Medina
My favorite science experience is being outside in the field, observing how plants respond physiologically to their environment. I like designing experiments to answer the questions that arise from observations,...View Profile
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
Lessons
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This lesson plan provides students a structured way to compare, contrast, and combine information from two texts. It features a graphic organizer to assist students. This can be used with...
Lesson Plan – Text to Text
This lesson plan provides students a structured way to compare, contrast, and combine information from two texts. It features a graphic organizer to assist students. This can be used with... -
This lesson plan encourages students to think about a particular research topic across time, including past, present, and future. Students will compare and contrast the historical research with a more...
Lesson Plan – Time Warp Monograph Series
This lesson plan encourages students to think about a particular research topic across time, including past, present, and future. Students will compare and contrast the historical research with a more...
Project Learning Tree
If you are a trained Project Learning Tree educator, you may use “Forest for the Trees” and “Soil Stories” as additional resources.