• This brief reading introduces students to the ecosystem services that trees and forests provide, their importance to life on Earth, and how they are affected by climate change.
• Beautiful images accompany the text, which instills an appreciation for nature, biodiversity, and symbiotic relationships within ecosystems.

Positives

• By simplifying complex topics (like the carbon cycle) into a format that is easy to understand, this resource is both easy-to-read and engaging.
  
• The resource reads like a story, describing aspects of trees and forests that one might overlook at first glance.

Additional Prerequisites

• This reading is the first part of a four-part series on land.
• Students can click on the "i" symbols in the text next to complex terms to see their definitions or learn more.

Differentiation

• Although not mentioned in the text, deforestation due to land use changes for agriculture, infrastructure, and the industrial sector are major threats to forests and may be a topic worth exploring as a class.
• The reading avoids scientific jargon, making it accessible to students of many classes.
• The reading can be printed for those who do not have access to the internet but be mindful that a few lines of the text may be cut out.
• This resource can also be used in health or social studies classes when learning about the health benefits of green spaces.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.