The Redwood National park is one of the natural wonders that I hope to share with my daughters in a few years. While the tall trees are the “stars of the show” there is much more to the redwood forest than just the trees. SciShow Kids recently released a series of videos that explain the redwood forest to kids. The first part of the series introduces kids to the redwood trees and what makes them grow so tall, the second part shows students the layers of the forest, and the third part highlights the animals of the redwood forest.
From the Ground to the Sky: The Layers of the Redwood Forest
Life in the Redwoods: Surprising Animals of the Redwood Forest
Applications for Education
All three of these videos could be useful as introductions to forest ecology. Before showing the videos to students I’d probably have them list the characteristics of the trees and forests with which they are familiar. Then after showing the videos I’d have students compare the characteristics of the redwood forest with those of the forests with which they’re familiar. Finally, I’d ask them to think about the environmental conditions that affect the growth of plant life in both forests.
This post originally appeared on FreeTech4Teachers.com. If you see it elsewhere, it has been used without permission. Sites that steal my (Richard Byrne’s) work include CloudComputin and WayBetterSite. Featured image courtesy of Pixabay.
