Tree rings from North America give a continuous history of El Nino intensity over the last 1,100 years. Scholars learn how scientists use tree rings to create timelines demonstrating variations in weather patterns. The cumulative activity allows pupils to use sets of tree cores to put together a timeline of more than 100 years in order to better understand climate change. 

Concepts

dendrology, tree rings, tree growth, climate change

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Find a freshly cut tree in your area so learners can study the dendrochronology

Classroom Considerations

• Requires prior knowledge of Excel and variable weather patterns
• Each lesson in the series relies on knowledge and skills from prior lessons and must be completed in order
• The 14th installment of 21-part series

Pros

• Aligns to the National Science Education Standards, National Education Technology Standards, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Education Standards, Climate Literacy Principles, and Energy Literacy Principles
• Provides student reading resources

Cons

• Does not include individual tree core sheets that are required to complete the lesson

Common Core

RST.9-10.3 RST.11-12.3