March 2022

Can This Dog Save the Forest?

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Academic Standards

 

 

Reading Objective:

Students will understand how dogs spread seeds to restart a burnt forest ecosystem.

 

Reading Level:

Lexile: 450L; GRL: K

 

Next Generation Science Standards:

2-LS2: Plant needs; animals disperse seeds

2-LS4-1: The diversity of life in a habitat

 

Vocabulary:

charred, sprout, shoots, predators

Use these questions to check students’ understanding and stimulate discussion:

 

1. What happened to the forest?
(It burned in a fire.)

2. Why was it hard for people to plant seeds in the burned forest?
(The forest was so big.)

3. How did the dogs carry the seeds?
(in doggy backpacks)

4. Do you think the dogs will make the forest the way it was before? Explain.
(Answers will vary.)

Go online to print or project the Reading Checkpoint.

 

  • Francisca is a dog trainer. She trains Das, Summer, and Olivia to follow her commands. This helps in the forest; they behave!
  • Border collies are known for being smart, hardworking dogs.
  • Das is the leader of the dog pack. She is the mom. Summer and Olivia are her pups.

Materials: pencils, copies of the skill sheet

Overview: Students will think like engineers as they design a device to spread seeds.

Directions:

  1. Gather students. Remind them that Francisca figured out a way to solve the problem of the burnt forest. She engineered a solution to the problem. She used doggie backpacks but didn’t zip the tops!
  2. Engineers solve problems by designing something new or by using something, like a backpack, in a new way.
  3. Ask students to become engineers and solve a problem. How could they spread seeds in a forest if no dogs could help? What could students design to help them?
  4. Scaffold the thinking process by asking questions such as •How can you make sure that seeds come out but not all at once? •Would you carry this seed spreader in your hands or wear it, or would it move on its own? How? •What materials would you use to build it?
  5. Pass out the skill sheets. Kids can draw and label their design, and write how it works.