Patchwork – Using Forest Patches to Help With Forest Restoration in Palau
The scientists in this study were interested in figuring out what kind of treatment would lead to the best outcomes for the restoration of native forest in the Lake Ngardok National Reserve.
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In this FACTivity, you will explore natural areas near your school or home. You will come up with a plan to help support natural vegetation and wildlife in the area....FACTivity – Patchwork
In this FACTivity, you will explore natural areas near your school or home. You will come up with a plan to help support natural vegetation and wildlife in the area....
Glossary
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Susan Cordell
My favorite science experience is returning to our tropical dry forest restoration experimental plots and seeing native species thrive. A decade ago, most people thought we were crazy to attempt...View Profile -
Christian Giardina
I like being a scientist because I like understanding how nature works. It is great to have a job studying plants and animals and the forests in which they live....View Profile -
Bernice Hwang
Some of my favorite experiences in the Pacific involved collecting arthropods from tree canopies and working on tall climate towers on Hawai‘i Island. Combining some of the things I enjoy...View Profile -
Edwin Polloi
My favorite science experience includes working with nature and restoring the forests. I also enjoy seeing new plants and identifying species that have never been discovered before. I learn about...View Profile -
Kashgar Rengulbai
My favorite science experiences include working with plants and animals to gain knowledge. I like to learn about the connection between plants and animals and their ability to adapt to...View Profile -
Julian Dendy
My favorite experience related to science is the combined feeling of exhaustion, peace, and wonder after putting in a hard field day out in nature. However, the feeling most particular...View Profile
Standards addressed in this Article:
Social Studies Standards
- Culture
- Global Connections
- 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
Education Files
Project Learning Tree
If you are a Project Learning Tree educator, you may use “Watch on Wetlands” or “Soil Stories” as an additional resource.
Related Resources from the Natural Inquirer
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The scientists in this study were interested in learning about birds living in different sized kīpuka on the island of Hawai‘i. Kīpuka are like islands of forest surrounded by hardened...Treasure Islands: Hawaiian Kīpuka and the Future of Native Hawaiian Birds
The scientists in this study were interested in learning about birds living in different sized kīpuka on the island of Hawai‘i. Kīpuka are like islands of forest surrounded by hardened... -
The scientists in this study were interested in knowing whether humans and other animals can help disturbed areas of land to become healthy ecosystems again. A mining company in Brazil...The Trees Have Gone Batty! How Bat Scat Helped Restore a Tropical Forest
The scientists in this study were interested in knowing whether humans and other animals can help disturbed areas of land to become healthy ecosystems again. A mining company in Brazil...
Additional Resources
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Smithsonian-ForestGEO: Ngardok
Visit WebsiteLearn more about the Ngardok Nature Reserve.
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CIA World Factbook: Palau
Visit WebsiteLearn more about Palau.
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PBS: Palau, Paradise of the Pacific
Visit WebsiteLearn more about the ecosystem of Palau.
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NOAA: Coral Reef Information System, Republic of Palau
Visit WebsiteLearn more about the reef system in Palau.
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Smithsonian: Secret Orchids of Palau
Visit WebsiteLearn more about the different orchids in Palau.
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Forest Service: Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry
Visit WebsiteLearn more about the research happening in the Pacific Islands.