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  • Moving Spore-adically: The Spread of Sudden Oak Death in California Forests
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Moving Spore-adically: The Spread of Sudden Oak Death in California Forests

  • Article
  • Middle School
  • 1 Classroom Period
  • Wilderness
  • Invasive Species
  • Native Species
  • Spores
  • Sudden Oak Death
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Sudden oak death is a new disease of trees and plants in the United States and Europe. Although scientists are not certain, they believe the fungus-like organism that causes sudden oak death was brought into the United States from another country. In this study, the scientists wanted to learn how the organism that causes sudden oak death is spread from tree to tree within a forest.

Moving Spore-adically: The Spread of Sudden Oak Death in California Forests

Part Of

Invasive Species - Vol. 8 No. 1

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  • In this FACTivity, you will learn about the American chestnut tree and compare its story to the threat of sudden oak death disease .

    FACTivity – Moving Spore-adically

    • Activity
    • Middle School
    • 1 Classroom Period
    • Wilderness
    • American Chesnut Tree
    • Sudden Oak Death
    • Writing Activity
    In this FACTivity, you will learn about the American chestnut tree and compare its story to the threat of sudden oak death disease .
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    Explore Activity Download Activity (PDF)

    Part Of

    Moving Spore-adically: The Spread of Sudden Oak Death in California Forests

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Glossary

View All Glossary
  • broadleaf

    (brȯd lēf): Having broad leaves; specifically, having leaves that are not needles.

  • canker

  • ecosystem

    (ē kō sis tǝm): A system made up of an ecological community of living things interacting with their environment especially under natural conditions.

  • fungus

    (fǝŋ gǝs): (plural: fungi or funguses) Any of a kingdom of living things (such as molds, rusts, mildews, smuts, and mushrooms) that lack chlorophyll, are parasitic or live on dead or decaying organic matter, and were formerly considered plants.

  • habitat

    (ha bә tat): The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows.

  • mobile

  • native

    (nā tiv): Living or growing naturally in a particular region.

  • nursery

    (nǝr s(ǝ) rē): A place where plants (like trees or shrubs) are grown for transplanting, for use as stocks in grafting, or for sale.

  • species

    (spē sēz or spē shēz): A category of living things that ranks below a genus, is made up of related individuals able to produce fertile offspring, and is identified by a two-part scientific name.

  • spore

    (spȯ(ǝ)r): A reproductive body that is produced by fungi and by some plants and microorganisms (like ferns and bacteria) and that usually consists of a single cell and is able to produce a new individual either by developing by itself or after fusion with another spore.

  • Photograph of Dr. Davidson testing diseased oaks in Mexico.

    Jennifer Davidson

    Ecologist

    My most exciting moment as a scientist came while walking in the forest in the rain, collecting bay laurel leaves infected by sudden oak death and quickly taking them to...
    View Profile
  • Photograph of Ms. Falk gathering data in the woods.

    Kristen Falk

    This past winter I was collecting data in the woods. I was putting data into the computer from a weather station. When I’m in the woods, I hear all kinds...
    View Profile
  • Photograph of Ms. Patterson conducting research in the woods.

    Heather Patterson

    I have really enjoyed all the hiking around I get to do in beautiful State parks. My favorite science experience was the time Kristen Falk, another scientist in this experiment,...
    View Profile

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  • Education Standards
  • Educator Guide
  • Lesson Plans
  • Education Files
  • Project Learning Tree

Standards addressed in this Article:

Social Studies Standards

Social Studies Standards are educational guidelines outlining the essential knowledge, skills, and concepts students should learn in subjects such as history, geography, civics, and economics, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of societal structures, historical events, and global perspectives.
  • People, Places, and Environments
  • 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.

USDA and Forest Service Logos

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.

  • What Kinds of Scientist Did This 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.

  • Thinking About the Environment

    Introduces the environmental topic being addressed in the research.

  • Introduction

    Introduces the problem or question that the research addresses.

  • Method

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  • Findings & Discussion

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  • Reflection Section

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  • 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.


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    Jessica Nickelsen
    Director, Natural Inquirer program

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Lessons

  • In this lesson plan, students learn about invasive species in their area and create brochures educating others about their characteristics. Materials: Internet or library access for research Paper and writing...

    Lesson Plan – Invasive Species

    • Lesson Plan
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • 5 Classroom Periods
    • Insects
    • Wilderness
    • Wildlife
    • Brochure
    • Invasive Species
    • Research Project
    In this lesson plan, students learn about invasive species in their area and create brochures educating others about their characteristics. Materials: Internet or library access for research Paper and writing...
    Explore Lesson Plan Download Lesson Plan (PDF)
    Explore Lesson Plan Download Lesson Plan (PDF)

    Part Of

    Invasive Species - Vol. 8 No. 1

Education Files

Project Learning Tree

If you are a Project Learning Tree trained educator, you may use PLT Pre K–8th Activity Guide #77, “Trees in Trouble,” as an additional activity resource. This activity teaches how to read signs and symptoms of stressed trees

Jump To

  • Additional Resources

Additional Resources

  • Forest Service's Sudden Oak Death page

    Learn more about the Forest Service research going on in the eastern region of the United States.

    Visit Website
  • Sudden Oak Death page

    Learn more about Sudden Oak Death.

    Visit Website
  • What is Sudden Oak Death?

    Visit Website
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The Natural Inquirer program produces a variety of science education materials for PreK through grade 12. Natural Inquirer products are produced by the USDA Forest Service, FIND Outdoors, and other cooperators and partners.

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