Chip and Truck: Comparing the Cost of Using Trees to Heat Buildings
In the Western United States, many of the forests have too many small trees. These small trees increase the risk of wildfire. Forest managers, therefore, want to remove the small trees. Some scientists believe these small trees may be a good source of fuel. The scientists in this study wanted to compare the costs of and revenues gained from using the small trees for thermal energy with the cost of piling and burning the small trees.
-
In this FACTivity, you will answer the question: “Do rising fuel prices affect the choices we make?”FACTivity – Chip and Truck
In this FACTivity, you will answer the question: “Do rising fuel prices affect the choices we make?”
Glossary
View All Glossary-
Dave Calkin
My favorite science experience is working with forest fire managers to apply economic concepts. Applying these concepts helps us understand how best to balance taxpayers’ costs of managing wildfires against...View Profile -
Greg Jones
My favorite science experience is making a scientific discovery that people find useful. Recently, we discovered that using cut, small trees for energy reduces the production of greenhouse gases by...View Profile -
Dan Loeffler
My favorite science experience is canoeing brackish water areas in the Chesapeake Bay, observing estuary wildlife like birds, crabs, snakes, and fish. An estuary is a body of water at...View Profile -
Robin Silverstein
I enjoyed studying coyotes in Yellowstone National Park because it involved trying to understand the mysteries of the daily life of a wild animal. I watched coyotes’ behavior, tracked their...View Profile -
Martin Twer
My favorite science experience is working with a Stirling engine. A Stirling engine is an engine that can use any heat source to create energy. A Stirling engine is quieter...View Profile -
Hans Zuuring
My favorite science experience is being a judge at the Montana Science Fair held annually in March. I get to interact with students from grades 6 to 12 and learn...View Profile
Standards addressed in this Article:
Social Studies Standards
- Civic Ideals and Practices
- Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
- People, Places, and Environments
- Production, Distribution, and Consumption
- Time, Continuity, and Change
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.
-
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
Lessons
-
In this lesson plan, students learn about bioenergy, then stage a debate in a town considering switching from fossil fuels to biomass.Bioenergy Lesson Plan
In this lesson plan, students learn about bioenergy, then stage a debate in a town considering switching from fossil fuels to biomass. -
The goal of this lesson plan is to help students identify key concepts and develop their own interpretations of what they read. It includes 42 open-ended questions for them to...Lesson Plan – Questions Only
The goal of this lesson plan is to help students identify key concepts and develop their own interpretations of what they read. It includes 42 open-ended questions for them to...
Education Files
Project Learning Tree
If you are a Project Learning Tree-trained educator, you may use Activity # 53: “On the Move” or Activity #82: “Resource-Go-Round” or Activity #51: “Make Your Own Paper.”