Moving on Up: The Possible Impact of Climate Change on Forest Habitats
The scientists in this study were interested in trees that live in the Eastern United States. They wanted to explore how the habitat of these trees might change in the future as the climate changes. They also wanted to know how different tree species might move in response to a changing climate.
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The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: What is the geographic distribution of a particular tree species?FACTivity – Moving on Up
The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: What is the geographic distribution of a particular tree species?
Glossary
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Louis Iverson
My favorite science experience is finding out new (to me) patterns, trends, or functions of nature. It really is amazing how organisms interact with other organisms and their environment! One...View Profile -
Stephen Matthews
My favorite science experience is coming up with new research questions based either on my current work or a new area of ecology. Then I like to go out and...View Profile -
Matthew Peters
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst: A Geographic Information System, or GIS, is a system that collects, stores, manages, and presents information that is linked to a specific place on Earth....View Profile -
Anantha Prasad
My favorite science experience is combining what I have learned and gaining insights. For example, I like to look at information about climate change, topography, where different plant and animal...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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Give each student or group a copy of the THIEVES chart reproduced at the end of the lesson plan PDF. You may either write the questions on the board, or...Lesson Plan – THIEVES Chart Guided Reading
Give each student or group a copy of the THIEVES chart reproduced at the end of the lesson plan PDF. You may either write the questions on the board, or...
Education Files
Related Resources from the Natural Inquirer
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In “Grow Where You’re Planted,” students will learn about how different planting elevations can affect Jeffrey and ponderosa pines’ survival, growth, and bud development timing. As part of the Moon...Grow Where You’re Planted – Vol. 1 No. 24
In “Grow Where You’re Planted,” students will learn about how different planting elevations can affect Jeffrey and ponderosa pines’ survival, growth, and bud development timing. As part of the Moon...
Additional Resources
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USDA Forest Service: "Trees on the move: A scientific effort to adapt to climate change"
Read ArticleWhen thinking of the term migration, the mind envisions seasonal bird journeys or perhaps historical human movement around the globe. However, scientists at the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station are studying another type of migration—the movement of trees and how that relates to climate change.
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EPA's Resources on Climate Change
Visit WebsiteUnderstanding and addressing climate change is critical to EPA’s mission of protecting human health and the environment. EPA tracks and reports greenhouse gas emissions, leverages sound science, and invests in America to combat climate change.
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The Great Plant Escape - Seed Germination
Visit WebsiteThis is a mission-based resource where Detective Le Plant is trying to discover how a seed grows into a plant. He needs help to investigate the mysteries of the seed.
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Student Conservation Association
Visit WebsiteThe Student Conservation Association is the largest provider of hands-on
environmental conservation programs for youth and adults.