Learning Exercise
Construction of Old and New Forests
This assignment is for the Plants and Animals (Succession) website which describes the effect of the volcano eruption on the forest. After learning about old growth forests, students will work in groups to teach and construct new forests.
Course: Middle School Science or Basic Biology
- Material:
- Plants and Animals (Succession) of Mt St Helens
- Date last modified:
- December 5, 2004
- Created by:
- Rebecca Aden
- License:
-
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THis website is part of a larger "Volcano World" website http://volcano.oregonstate.edu that provides a wide range of... see more
Exercise
1. Divide the class into groups of six. Each group will work
around a computer, but if each computer use is limited, hand out a packet
printed from the site. Assign roles to group members, especially in a middle
school setting.
2. Every student reads about old growth forests. Each group draws a picture,
with labels, of an old growth forest. They will also list uses for the standing
dead trees.
3. Each group receives a part of the forest as it was after the eruption:
standing dead, blowdown, ashfall, debris avalanche, mud flow, and pyroclastic
flow. Groups create a mini presentation (less than 5 min) of the
characteristics of their region and how plants and animals recolonized.
4. In the end, the class can construct a picture of the new forest.
5. Students can also think of natural disturbances that may occur in their
part of the country, and how this would affect the plants and animals.
around a computer, but if each computer use is limited, hand out a packet
printed from the site. Assign roles to group members, especially in a middle
school setting.
2. Every student reads about old growth forests. Each group draws a picture,
with labels, of an old growth forest. They will also list uses for the standing
dead trees.
3. Each group receives a part of the forest as it was after the eruption:
standing dead, blowdown, ashfall, debris avalanche, mud flow, and pyroclastic
flow. Groups create a mini presentation (less than 5 min) of the
characteristics of their region and how plants and animals recolonized.
4. In the end, the class can construct a picture of the new forest.
5. Students can also think of natural disturbances that may occur in their
part of the country, and how this would affect the plants and animals.
Disciplines
Audience
Technical Notes
Topics
Type of Task
Learning Objectives
Students will contrast the differences between old and new growth forests and learn how natural disturbances affect an ecosystem.