Urban Forest – Vol. 6 No. 1
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What are urban forests? Urban forests are the trees and other plants that grow where people live, go to school, work, and play. Even if you live in a rural community, the trees in your yard, around buildings, and in parks are called urban forests. Calling them urban forests helps you to see that they are different from the kind of forests that grow in large undeveloped areas. Urban forests include trees in community parks and other public lands, along streets, in neighborhoods, around businesses and industry, and just about everywhere in a community. You will find urban forests almost anywhere that you find people living, going to school, working, and playing. Urban forests provide many benefits to people and their communities. Some examples of benefits include reducing noise and soil erosion and providing homes for animals.
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Highlights
- 7 Articles
- 17 Activities
- Lesson Plan and Teacher Guide
- Glossary
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Scientists have known that there is a difference between the sun’s visible radiation and invisible ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ultraviolet radiation is separated into 3 types: UVA, UVB, and...What You See Is Not What You Get: The Difference Between Sunlight and Ultraviolet Radiation
Scientists have known that there is a difference between the sun’s visible radiation and invisible ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ultraviolet radiation is separated into 3 types: UVA, UVB, and... -
The trees that grow along urban streets are called street trees. Some street trees are planted between the street and the sidewalk. Other street trees are planted in a strip...I’ve Got You Covered: The Amount of Pavement Covered by Street Trees
The trees that grow along urban streets are called street trees. Some street trees are planted between the street and the sidewalk. Other street trees are planted in a strip... -
People visit parks to do many different activities, such as play basketball, baseball, sunbathe, swim, walk, picnic, or go bicycling. If park managers know what people like to do in...Social Groupies: How Different Groups Use Urban Parks
People visit parks to do many different activities, such as play basketball, baseball, sunbathe, swim, walk, picnic, or go bicycling. If park managers know what people like to do in... -
Too much carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is mostly caused by two things: burning fossil fuels and the loss of trees. Urban trees help to keep urban areas cooler,...Balancing Act: Urban Trees and the Carbon Cycle
Too much carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is mostly caused by two things: burning fossil fuels and the loss of trees. Urban trees help to keep urban areas cooler,... -
In the past, scientists had estimated how much rainfall is intercepted by trees growing in rural areas. The scientists in this study wanted to know how much rainfall is intercepted by the trees that...Good to the Last Drip: How Trees Help to Reduce Pollution
In the past, scientists had estimated how much rainfall is intercepted by trees growing in rural areas. The scientists in this study wanted to know how much rainfall is intercepted by the trees that... -
The scientists in this study wanted to know if cars parked in shady parking lots emit fewer gases than cars parked in sunny parking lots. If that is the case, it would give...Don’t Be So Fuel-ish! How Much Fuel Is Saved When Cars Are Parked in the Shade?
The scientists in this study wanted to know if cars parked in shady parking lots emit fewer gases than cars parked in sunny parking lots. If that is the case, it would give... -
The scientists in this study were interested in knowing whether the benefits provided by trees are valued by people buying a new house. They also wanted to know how much...Yard Sale! How Trees Affect the Selling Price of Houses
The scientists in this study were interested in knowing whether the benefits provided by trees are valued by people buying a new house. They also wanted to know how much...
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In this FACTivity, you will conduct an experiment to test the different amounts of UV radiation. Compare your results with the results of the scientists in this study.FACTivity – What You See Is Not What You Get
In this FACTivity, you will conduct an experiment to test the different amounts of UV radiation. Compare your results with the results of the scientists in this study. -
In this FACTivity, students will use information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Sun Safety UV Index, formerly known as the Sunwise program. Students will record the daily UV Index...Alternate FACTivity – What You See Is Not What You Get
In this FACTivity, students will use information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Sun Safety UV Index, formerly known as the Sunwise program. Students will record the daily UV Index... -
Test your knowledge of tree canopy and UV radiation with a word search.Word Search – What You See Is Not What You Get
Test your knowledge of tree canopy and UV radiation with a word search. -
The question you will answer in the FACTivity is: Were there more acres of streets or sidewalks covered by street tree canopies in this study?FACTivity – I’ve Got You Covered
The question you will answer in the FACTivity is: Were there more acres of streets or sidewalks covered by street tree canopies in this study? -
In this FACTivity, you will adopt a tree in your schoolyard and keep a tree journal to record your observations.Alternate FACTivity – I’ve Got You Covered
In this FACTivity, you will adopt a tree in your schoolyard and keep a tree journal to record your observations. -
Test your science knowledge with a word search.Word Search – I’ve Got You Covered
Test your science knowledge with a word search. -
In this FACTivity, you will use the findings from this research to design a picnic area.FACTivity – Social Groupies
In this FACTivity, you will use the findings from this research to design a picnic area. -
Test your knowledge of social science and park design with a word search.Word Search – Social Groupies
Test your knowledge of social science and park design with a word search. -
In this FACTivity, you will research different types of native trees in your area and select one that should be planted in your schoolyard.FACTivity – Balancing Act
In this FACTivity, you will research different types of native trees in your area and select one that should be planted in your schoolyard. -
Test your science knowledge with a word search.Word Search – Balancing Act
Test your science knowledge with a word search. -
In this FACTivity, you will work with equations based on things that you see around you. You will convert statements about data into equations.FACTivity – Good to the Last Drip
In this FACTivity, you will work with equations based on things that you see around you. You will convert statements about data into equations. -
Test your science knowledge with a word search.Word Search – Good to the Last Drip
Test your science knowledge with a word search. -
In this FACTivity, you will answer the question: What is the relationship between temperature, the amount of visible sunlight, and the amount of water evaporating from two identical glass jars?FACTivity – Don’t Be So Fuel-ish!
In this FACTivity, you will answer the question: What is the relationship between temperature, the amount of visible sunlight, and the amount of water evaporating from two identical glass jars? -
Test your knowledge of climate and weather with a short word search.Word Search – Don’t Be So Fuel-ish!
Test your knowledge of climate and weather with a short word search. -
The question you will answer with this FACTivity is: According to your own research, do your findings support the findings of this study, that increased tree cover around a home...FACTivity – Yard Sale!
The question you will answer with this FACTivity is: According to your own research, do your findings support the findings of this study, that increased tree cover around a home... -
Test your knowledge of economics and tree cover with a word search.Word Search – Yard Sale!
Test your knowledge of economics and tree cover with a word search. -
Who or What Am I? Test your knowledge after reading the Urban Forest edition! Can you guess who or what I am?
Glossary
View All GlossaryClassroom Review Board
Shelley Master’s 8th Grade Class
- Coile Middle School
- Athens, GA
Editorial Review Board Comments
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Michael Bowker
One of the great joys I receive from being a scientist has been seeing both of my children pursue science degrees in college. My favorite science experience was working on...View Profile -
Ken Cordell
“I like my work and working for the Forest Service very much. My work as a scientist involves studying how people relate to the natural world and what they like...View Profile -
Paul Gobster
My favorite experience as a scientist is talking with people. As a social scientist who studies how people think about and use urban parks, I get to visit some very...View Profile -
Richard Grant
My favorite experience as a scientist is solving a puzzle of why something in nature acts like it does or discovering an explanation for something I have seen many times...View Profile -
Gordon Heisler
My favorite experience as a scientist is getting to understand something about how nature works. I also like to successfully develop or use a method to measure how nature works.View Profile -
Christopher Luley
My favorite science experience is watching a tree go through each season and understanding what is happening to the tree. Each season has its own unique set of changes that...View Profile -
Scott Maco
As a research forester, my curiosity about the natural world is encouraged. I am offered opportunities to explore questions for which answers are not known. My favorite experience with science...View Profile -
Gregory McPherson
My favorite science experience is seeing a paper finally in print or giving a presentation to a large group and sensing their interest and excitement. The process of planning and...View Profile -
David Newman
My favorite science experience is discovering new things that help people to protect our environment and our natural resources.View Profile -
David Nowak
I like being a scientist because it allows me to answer questions that have never been answered before.View Profile -
Klaus Scott
The most fun I’ve had as a scientist was the time I operated a “cherry picker” truck to lift a colleague and me up to the top of some pine...View Profile -
Jim Simpson
One of my favorite experiences in science was to participate in a meteorological field study in western Colorado. We camped out in the mountains. We flew on a helicopter to...View Profile -
Jack Stevens
My favorite experience in science is being a part of the process of solving environmental problems that affect the health and well-being of urban residents.View Profile -
Tymur Sydor
My favorite science experience is walking the road from knowing little about a specific problem to knowing almost everything. I also enjoy being able to apply the knowledge that I...View Profile -
Susan Ustin
I have always thought that it was important to preserve our natural heritage and wanted to work as an ecologist. Working with information collected from satellites has allowed me to...View Profile -
Qingfu Xiao
I enjoy working to discover the secrets of the natural environment, such as the interactions between water and the surrounding environment. My favorite experiences in science are when I find...View Profile