Name:

© University of Georgia, 2007

Investigating the Air Cleaning Department

GEN Y 1 • M 3 1

AIR CLEANINGAn eco-service provided by ecosystems throughout Garden Earth

Do you know what the world would be like if there

were no trees?

English SpanishAir AireClean LimpiaPlants PlantasTrees ArbolesForests Bosques United States Estados UnidosMexico MéxicoDeforestation DeforestaciónEndemic EndémicoEndangered En peligro or En vías de extinción

Write the Spanish translation every time you see a blank after a word.

rees _____________ are wonderful for many reasons.

They provide food, medicine, shelter, erosion control,

shade, nutrients for soil, fuel for heating and cooking,

air cleaning, oxygen, homes for animals, and they are beautiful

for us to look at. Safe, fresh air ________

to breathe is something that we often take

for granted. It is primarily trees and other

plants ___________ that are responsible for

providing that clean air. Whew! Those trees

sure do work hard! Go outside and give a

tree a hug for all that they do!

Old Man Spruce is hard at work managing the Air

Cleaning Department

2

Well hello there, kiddies! Most people call me Great, Great grandpa Jimmie. Back in the olden days, we used trees for a lot of things besides just timber for building houses, firewood, and making paper. Pine and oak trees, in particular, were used a lot here in the southeastern U.S. and still give us a lot of products

today. Take a look at all the different ways we used these important trees back when I was a young’un and today.

Both Mexico and the southeastern United States ____________________ have forests ____________ with lots of oak and pine trees in them. Can you think of some reasons why these forests are important?

What do these forests give humans and the animals that live in them?

• Pine oils were used as medicines for coughs, sore muscles or rashes. People would even put pine oils in their soap for fragrance and to heal skin irritations.

• Pine forests in the southeastern U.S. are especially important for the red-cockaded woodpecker and gopher tortoise, which are endangered ______________________ species.

• Oak wood is often used to build cabinets and other furniture because it is very strong.

• People used the bark of oak trees to tan or preserve leather and dye wool.

• Have you ever seen a squirrel with its cheeks all puffed out, full of food? Well it was probably collecting acorns from an oak tree. These nuts help them survive through winter. Native Americans ground acorns tomakeflourforpancakesandotherdishes.

• In the southeastern United States, white-tailed deer, small mammals, and many birds would be homeless if the forests were destroyed.

Remember to fill in the Spanish word whenever you see a blank.

Threats to southeastern forests in the US are mainly related to human activities, such as road building and home construction

whereforestsoccur.Pinetreesneedfireforfuturegenerationsoftrees to grow. Lightning, instead of people, usually start these naturalfires.Eventhoughitseemsthatfirewouldkillthetrees,fireisimportantforclearingthelandwherenewpineseedlings(baby trees) can grow. Fires usually are not allowed to burn in the southeastern U.S. because there are too many people living close to the forests.

HAve yOu tHAnkeD A fOreSt tODAy?

3

• Where Monarch butterflies migrate in the cool seasons

• Volcano rabbit lives here

• Natural fires not allowed

• Cattle graze on cleared land

• Gopher tortoise makes its home here

• Red-cockaded woodpecker lives here

• 370 endemic plant and animals are found in this forest

•HaveyouheardofMonarchbutterfliesthatmigrate to Mexico each year? They pass through pine-oak forests one their way to the Oyamel forests high in the mountains of Mexico. The pine-oak forests serve as resting spots on the way to the Monarch's destination.

• Many reptiles, amphibians, and birds also make their homes in the pine-oak forests of Mexico.

• There are 370 plants and animals that are endemic _______________ to these forests in Mexico. A plant or animal is endemic to an area when it does not live anywhere else in the world. The volcano rabbit is an example of an endemic animal in Mexico _____________.

Threats to the Pine-Oak Forests in Mexico Human activities also threaten the Mexican pine-oak forests. Large areas of forests are burned down to make pasture for cattle or for people to farm. Building roads and cutting for timber threatens forests as well.

Hola! The kids here in México call me Gran Abuelo. We use products from pine-oak forests down here too. Many animals use these forests for their homes.

Southeastern U.S.

Match the fact with the forest it belongs to:Volcano Rabbit

4

Sometimes we need to cut down trees to use for timber or to clear the land to build a house. There can be many serious effects to the environment and the animals and plants that live in the

forest if we cut down too many trees. When trees are removed from a forest and the land is used for other purposes, this is called deforestation _____________________ . Deforestation can be

really bad because forests do lots of wonderful things for us humans and the rest of nature.

Deforestation Facts7 40 million acres destroyed each year 7 76 acres destroyed per minute7 4,560 acres destroyed per hour7 Brazil has the highest deforestation rate in the world.7 Four species of plants and animals become extinct every second due to rainforest deforestation.

Mexico has the 2nd highest deforestation rate on Earth! 7 Mexico lost 2.78 million acres (the size of Ireland) between 1993 and 20007 Mexico has 50% of the world’s pine tree species (23 species)7 Mexico has 135 species of oaks, compared to 87 in US and Canada combined

WORD LISTCATTLE RANCHING

DEVELOPMENT

FARMING

FIRE

LOGGING

MINING

OIL DRILLING

reasons for DeforestationThere are many threats to forests all over the world. Deforestation is usually a result of human development. People cut down trees for building, to mine for minerals, to clear land for cattle, and to drill for oil. Fire, which can be naturalorstartedbyhumans,alsocandestroyforests.Canyoufindsomeofthe reasons for deforestation in the word search below?

V A P D Q T M X F Y H E I B QV E N N E R M A G T B F R G O I A V M K V R R N W I U N I M F S N W O M E Q L O M I F T F K Q R X I V I L D E H G K C Z G L Y N U U A W O C Z L O X L I K G Z D F D B N P N T U P O J Q G D P Q K A O B M M F H G T W Z K M V R Y H S M E A F G Q Z B H S E E Q C V J Z N V I T K O I L D R I L L I N G T N J L B T G N I N I M Q A F L G O G T O O C F N K L T Z V Z X O A F T E G W T L C C F V A H C C E F F B K M U K I Y X O Q

Global Deforestation

Is time running Out for your forests?

5

Forests —> to —> FoodDid you eat a tree or plant for breakfast? Many products that we eat come directly from the forest. Many of these come from tropical forests in Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Draw a line connecting the products you think come from the rainforest to the picture of the forest. (check your answers at the bottom of the page)

• Chocolate

• Grapes

• Tea

• Beans

• Peanuts

• Sugar

• Green Peas

Answers: chewing gum, chocolate, beans, mangos, sugar, oranges, tea, and pineapples all come from the rainforest.

• Oranges

• Pineapple

• Broccoli

• Chewing gum

• Mangos

• Apples

Global Rainforest Area Map

Tropical Forest

iodiversity is at its greatest near

the equator. Diversity in species decreases as you move closer towards the North and South poles. México has such high biodiversity because it is closer to the Equator and because of its many types of ecosystems. Mexico goes from deserts in the North to tropical rainforests in the South. These different ecosystems provide many types of habitats for a lot of plants and animals.

6

It’s GettInG Hot In Here!ll plants, including trees, absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through a process called photosynthesis. This

process is very important for humans and other animals to breath. Carbon dioxide is also an important greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases radiate heat and help the Earth stay warm. Without this greenhouse effect the Earth would be too cold for humans and animals to live. Unfortunately there are too many greenhouse gases, meaning that the Earth is heating up. This is called Global Warming. Some scientists tell us that Earth’s temperature has risen 1°C over the last 100 years. Though this may not seem like much, it can affect weather and life as we know it on Earth. Scientists have noticed the melting of polar ice caps as well. If this continues, our ocean’s waters may rise above where they are normally. Thiscouldcausefloodingof coastal communities and towns around the world.

There are many things that humans do to add greenhouse gases into the Earth’s atmosphere. Deforestation has a double effect on global warming. When trees are cut down and burned, more carbon dioxide is released into the environment. There are also fewer trees to absorb these gases and to clean the air. Can you see how this is a problem?

Word BankRecycle

Electricity

Carpool

Carbon dioxide

Bike

Make friends with a tree!

Put on a blindfold and have your parent or friend lead you to a tree. Get to know your tree friend by using your other senses besides sight. Feel the bark, smell the tree, touch the leaves on

the branches or ones on the ground. Now have your parent or friend lead you away from the tree and take the blindfold off. Based on yourobservations,canyoufindyourtreefriend?Onceyouhavefoundyour tree, get to know it a little better. Get out a piece of paper or a journal and draw your tree. Take notice of the leaves, branches, seeds, and roots. What kind of animals do you think live in your tree? Do you knowwhatkindoftreeitis?Lookitupinatreefieldguideorontheinternet. Now that you have a new friend, make sure that you take care of him. Maybe even plant him another tree friend!

What can you do to lessen the impacts of greenhouse gases?

0__ __ __ __ __ __ __ with friends so fewer gases are emitted from cars.

0Ride a __ __ __ __ or walk instead of driving short distances.

0Save __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ , reducing the need for

power plants to burn fossil fuels.

0Plant a tree to absorb more __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

0__ __ __ __ __ __ __ paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum products.

7

Kids, can you help by speaking out for me and my forest friends? Here’s a quote from Dr. Seuss’s book, The Lorax. “I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees,

for the trees have no tongues.”

The fewer wood and paper products we use, the fewer forests will be destroyed. By recycling your newspapers, cardboard and other paper products, you can make a difference.

There are many organizations that help protect areas of rainforest. Talk to your family, teachers and friends to try to raise money to save an area of the rainforest. You can help save your own piece of rainforest from being destroyed by talking with your family, teachers, and friends and helping to raise money to protect these precious areas. Check out the websites listed on the last pagetofindoutmore.

One way to help the forests is to plant more trees to make up for those that are being cut down. Trees also help absorb carbon dioxide, reducing greenhouse gases and global warming. Around Arbor Day many garden shops and nature centers give out trees for the public to plant. Arbor Day in Georgia is celebrated the 3rd Friday of February every year. However, any day is a special day when you plant a tree. There does not need to be a special day to plant a tree. Check with the Georgia Forestry Commission or your local County Extension Service to see who is donating trees in your area. Make sure you give back to nature by planning a tree with you family.

Planting a Seedling OutdoorsDig a hole that is deep enough and wide enough for the roots to

spread out. Make a small mound of soil in the center of the hole.

Your seedling should be placed in the hole on the small soil mound. Its root collar should be just below the edge of the

hole. The roots should be spread out over the center of the mound. (The root collar is where the roots and stem come together.)

Toss some soil into the hole and add water. This will help prevent air spaces.

Fill the hole with the rest of the soil until it is even with the ground level. Be sure the seedling does not settle into the hole too deeply. Carefully pull it up to meet the ground level.

Press the soil down with your hands or feet to be sure there are no air pockets left in the hole.

You can make a small hill of earth all around your seedling. It is called a berm. It will catch and hold water.

(from http://www.treetures.com/plantaseedling.html)

Plant a tree!

Protect the rainforest!

recycle and reduce!

What can you do?

8

Find out moreCheck out these books and websites for stories and

more information on how Trees are GREAT!

Books

The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

Just A Dream by Chris Van Allsburg

The Gift of the Tree by Alvin Tresselt

Save My Rainforest by Monica Zak

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

Oak Tree by Gordon Morrison

Websites

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/kids/ *Many tree and plant interactive videos (En Espanol)

www.epa.gov/globalwarming/kids/index.html *Make sure to check out the animation videos.

http://www.arborday.org/programs/rainforest/

www.elbalero.gob.mx/index_kids.html (En Espanol)

www.rainforest-alliance.org

http://www.arborday.org/kids/teachingYouth.cfm

http://www.rainforestrelief.org/documents/Do I Dare.pdf

© University of Georgia, 2007

Garden Earth Naturalist Student Activity PacketsProject Partners: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia • Trees and Plants are Great! Georgia 4-H • The Georgia Museum of Natural History • The Partnership for Reform in Science and Math (PRISM) • The Maquipucuna Foundation, Ecuador.

Project Sponsors: Funds for this project were provided by Georgia 4-H, the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission and The Teacher Quality Higher Education Program.

Curricula Director – Anne Shenk Curricula Writers – Heather Fleming, Anne Shenk Editors – Anne Shenk, Carol Hoffman, Barbara Payne Layout/Design/Illustration – William Reeves

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-A, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.