WWII tree disease
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/sci_update.cfm?DocID=217
A lesson plan for grade 6 Science
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In this Science Update, students explore how military occupation of a region might affect the natural environment. Forest pathologist Matteo Garbelotto of the University of California at Berkeley found that the stone pine trees in the Italian forest estate of Castelporziano are dying off because of a fungus from the eastern United States. By combining historical and genetic research, scientists traced the infection to a brief encampment by American troops during World War II. Garbelotto says the fungus probably hitched a ride on infected supply crates. Science NetLinks provides links to the audio file, a written transcript, and questions to engage students in discussion about the content of the article-- why it’s important to control the spread of plant diseases during military operations, possible consequences of spreading plant diseases to remote parts of the world, and how these types of operations might also spread human diseases. This activity also contains links to the National Agricultural Library, the Forest and Shade Tree Pathology site, and a comprehensive database about major tree diseases.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 6
- Goal 1: The learner will design and conduct investigations to demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry.
- Objective 1.01: Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations.
- Objective 1.05: Analyze evidence to:
- Explain observations.
- Make inferences and predictions.
- Develop the relationship between evidence and explanation.
- Objective 1.08: Use oral and written language to:
- Communicate findings.
- Defend conclusions of scientific investigations.
- Objective 1.09: Use technologies and information systems to:
- Research.
- Gather and analyze data
- Visualize data.
- Disseminate findings to others.
- Objective 1.10: Analyze and evaluate information from a scientifically literate viewpoint by reading, hearing, and/or viewing:
- Scientific text.
- Articles.
- Events in the popular press.
- Goal 7: The learner will conduct investigations and use technologies and information systems to build an understanding of population dynamics.
- Objective 7.01: Describe ways in which organisms interact with each other and with non-living parts of the environment:
- Coexistence/Cooperation/Competition.
- Symbiosis.
- Mutual dependence.
- Objective 7.03: Explain how changes in habitat may affect organisms.
- Objective 7.04: Evaluate data related to human population growth, along with problems and solutions:
- Waste disposal.
- Food supplies.
- Resource availability.
- Transportation.
- Socio-economic patterns.
- Objective 7.05: Examine evidence that overpopulation by any species impacts the environment.
- Objective 7.06: Investigate processes which, operating over long periods of time, have resulted in the diversity of plant and animal life present today:
- Natural selection.
- Adaptation.
- Objective 7.01: Describe ways in which organisms interact with each other and with non-living parts of the environment:
