Fallen Tree Mystery

On our many adventures in the woods, we always come across trees that have fallen. Many questions soon arise from seeing a tree laying on its side... What happened? Why is this tree laying down? Where did those holes come from? Why is part of the tree missing? What will happen to this tree? Will it keep growing? Is something living in that hole? (The list could go on and on, however it becomes the perfect discussion starter!)

Introduction/Motivator:
Expand upon the learning by having the questions turn a little deeper...

• Look around this tree. Can you see where it was growing? Can you see anything that helps you understand why it fell down?
• Is there bark on the log? If not, where did it go? Why would the bark fall off the tree?
• Is there anything growing on the fallen tree? Do you think anything is living inside it or even under it? What evidence tells you that?
• Has this tree been down a long time or not such a long time? What information helps you decide that?

(The answers to these questions could be discussed in conversation for the younger learners, drawn/described in journals, or even entered into a table for older learners. This portion of the activity could also be done in pairs or groups, with a group discussion after the initial investigation.)

Application:
To help the students see that the fallen tree is its own mini-environment (ecosystem), with both living and non-living components, have the students make a food web for the log. (You can use cutouts of the ecosystem components, or have the students draw/label their own.) Use arrows to show what components depend on other components. Through applying the information they have gather, and through discussion, it should become evident that all components are directly or indirectly dependent on one another.

Synthesis:
Pose these questions: Why is it important that other living things use up a fallen tree? Imagine what could happen if all fallen trees stayed on the forest floor. What could happen if humans cleaned up all the fallen trees?

Have the students explain and interpret (through words, pictures, model) a series of events that would happen for the following situation:

A strong Nor'easter has just passed your area. You venture out to enjoy the calm after the storm and notice one of the large trees you often pass on you journey into the woods has been blown over by the strong winds. Predict what this tree will look like in a year? Five years? Ten years? 30 years?

Additional Resources:
Trees (http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/details.asp?sid=F3370&gid=106854064&hid=HOS209341&title=Trees+%2D+IR&sqlwhere=submit%3Dsearch%26search%3Dtree)

Food Chain Video, Activity, Quiz, etc. (http://www.brainpop.com/science/ecologyandbehavior/foodchains/)

(This activity was adapted from Project Learning Tree's "The Fallen Log" activity. For additional resources, visit PLT's website: http://www.plt.org/prek-8-activity-23---fallen-log)