Forest Ecology

Students will explore a forest ecosystem while practicing scientific methods of observation and inquiry. Activities include a log study where students pull apart an old log to observe, identify, and classify the decomposers within and discuss the nutrient and carbon cycles, using software such as Inaturalist to identify organisms in the forest and interact with real scientists, art activities such as creating “Leaf creatures” and using nature to explore our own creativity, and forest hikes where students will hone their skills of observation and learn to constructive high level, scientific questions about the world around them.