Temperate Rain Forest
Emma and Gracie here. We live in Ketchikan, Alaska, where it rains 25 feet a year! All that water helps trees and other plants grow like crazy. That's why the Tongass National Forest-the largest temperate rain forest in the world-grows so well here. Some days when it's raining, and we can't get out and enjoy nature, we go to the next best thing, the South East Alaska Discovery Center. The United States Forest Service runs this science center, and they have a cool exhibit, which brings the forest inside. The exhibit got us thinking about tree growth. Our DFTV question: How long would it take for a new tree to grow as big as an old growth tree?
Download Now (268 kb)Emma and Gracie here. We live in Ketchikan, Alaska, where it rains 25 feet a year! All that water helps trees and other plants grow like crazy. That's why the Tongass National Forest-the largest temperate rain forest in the world-grows so well here. Some days when it's raining, and we can't get out and enjoy nature, we go to the next best thing, the South East Alaska Discovery Center. The United States Forest Service runs this science center, and they have a cool exhibit, which brings the forest inside. The exhibit got us thinking about tree growth. Our DFTV question: How long would it take for a new tree to grow as big as an old growth tree?
How would you investigate this question?
Tree growth studies are great science investigations. But you can start smaller with common garden plants. Design an investigation using everyday plants that will grow in your region. Describe your investigation in your notebook and discuss it with your teacher, or go to Temperate Rain Forest to learn more about what Emma and Gracie discovered.
