Leaning Trees

There are a group of trees in this forest. One tree is not standing upright like the neighboring trees are doing.

• What would make only one tree grow parallel to the ground while the neighboring trees appear to grow in a traditional fashion?

• What would make only one tree grow parallel to the ground while the neighboring trees appear to grow in a traditional fashion?
• Is there any observable suggesting that a weather event would have led to this tree’s unusual growth pattern? 
• Is there any observable evidence that would indicate any physical damage to the tree itself? 
• What are the four main necessities a tree, or any plant, needs to grow properly?
• Is there a chance that one or more of the tree's necessities have not been met, causing it to grow this way? 

Students could:

• Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior and reproduction including a short write up, or written and illustrated journal entries. Students could also have a discussion or debate on cause and effect. 
• Research how the various parts of a tree (or any plant) function to support its life and structure.

• PBS LearningMedia | Hero Elementary: What Do Plants Need?: In these Hero Elementary activities, children learn about the basic needs of plants. They discuss what plants need to live and grow. They can share what they know about plants from their family and community lives. Children observe, investigate, record, and share what plants need to live and grow. They learn that plants need water and light to live and to make food.
• PBS LearningMedia | Hero Elementary: What Do Animals Need?: In these Hero Elementary activities, children learn that animals and people need food, water, air, and shelter to survive. They learn to identify what animals need to eat. They compare what animals eat and learn that some animals eat meat and others eat plants. Children describe the kinds of shelters that animals need to survive.