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This article is brief and to the point while also explaining the reasoning behind the answer.
Students will love the fun Christmas references throughout this article.
Prerequisites
Teachers should be aware of the cultural makeup of their class and make sure not to alienate students who do not celebrate Christmas.
It is also important for teachers to support students who may not have much control over their families' purchasing decisions and may be experiencing feelings of guilt and powerlessness.
The article does not discuss the comparison if a family were to keep and reuse their fake tree for a long period of time, which could be something to research or have students discuss.
Differentiation & Implementation
Before reading, teachers can have students answer the question the title poses and explain their reasoning. After reading, students can update or elaborate on their answers, citing information from the article.
Have advanced students research if fertilizers and pesticides are used on tree farms or find out if they can be grown using regenerative practices.
Students can create a diagram that shows the life cycle of real and fake Christmas trees, highlighting the environmental implications along the way. Have students discuss how many years a fake tree would need to be reused to make it more sustainable.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. The Nature Conservancy has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world.
Related Teaching Resources
All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.
