Dead trees provide nutrients for the soil, food for animals, protection and a home for organisms, a seed-bed for new trees, and a place for nitrogen-fixing bacteria to live. In the activity, pupils collect decaying logs, expose them to a heat lamp, and collect creatures that move away from the heat source. All of this is to explore the role of death in ecosystems and nature's ability to recycle.  Part one in a series of two. 

Concepts

the nitrogen cycle, decay, trees, forests, recycling

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• This activity could easily fit into a unit on food webs, cycling of matter, or soil horizons

Classroom Considerations

• Learners are to bring a decaying log to class; teacher may want to gather some ahead of time to use in class
• In the procedure, remove the decaying log from the plastic bag before placing in the funnel
• Be aware of the placement of heat lamps above decaying logs, as fires can easily start

Pros

• Explores students' feelings about life, its worth, and death, which is engaging and quite deep
• Activity is simple and easy to incorporate into a unit

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.6-8.3