Flower Power: Planting for the Past and the Future
In this study, the scientists wanted to explore why people plant trees and flowers to remember events and people.
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In this FACTivity, you will answer the following question: Does viewing a photograph of a flower provide a benefit to students taking a math quiz? The following are methods you...FACTivity – Flower Power
In this FACTivity, you will answer the following question: Does viewing a photograph of a flower provide a benefit to students taking a math quiz? The following are methods you... -
You and your class will conduct a survey. You and your fellow students will each interview one other person. After the interview is completed and notes are taken, you and...FACTivity – Interviews
You and your class will conduct a survey. You and your fellow students will each interview one other person. After the interview is completed and notes are taken, you and... -
After reading “Flower Power,” test your understanding by explaining or writing what each photo represents.eyeChallenge – Flower Power
After reading “Flower Power,” test your understanding by explaining or writing what each photo represents. -
After reading “Flower Power,” test your knowledge with a create-a-phrase activity. Draw a line from a word in the left column to a word in the right column to create...Create a Phrase – Flower Power
After reading “Flower Power,” test your knowledge with a create-a-phrase activity. Draw a line from a word in the left column to a word in the right column to create...
Glossary
View All Glossary-
Keith Tidball
My favorite science experience was studying how ants affect sand dune erosion in the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa.View Profile -
Marianne Krasny
My favorite science experience was working on the Tanana River floodplain in Alaska to collect data on seedlings and floods, while watching out for moose and bears. In this photo,...View Profile -
Erika Svendsen
My favorite science experience is speaking with people in cities who are caring for the environment. I like asking them a very simple question, “Why are you doing this work?”...View Profile -
Lindsay Campbell
“My favorite science experience is any time I get to conduct semi-structured interviews. I enjoy having in-depth conversations with individuals about their involvement with the urban environment. I’ve interviewed public...View Profile
Standards addressed in this Article:
Social Studies Standards
- People, Places, and Environments
- Science, Technology, and Society
- 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.
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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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Identify and write the main idea of the section using one sentence. Fill out the provided graphic organizer. This lesson plan can be used with any Natural Inquirer article.Lesson Plan – Block Graphic Organizer
Identify and write the main idea of the section using one sentence. Fill out the provided graphic organizer. This lesson plan can be used with any Natural Inquirer article.
Education Files
Project Learning Tree
If you are a trained Project Learning Tree educator, you may also use “Poet-Tree” or “Plant a Tree” as additional resources.