Cream of the Crop – Vol. 1 No. 20
The "Cream of the Crop" monograph is the first in the Forest & Agriculture series. The research in this monograph looks at how prairie strips affect biodiversity.
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Highlights
- Part of the Forest & Agriculture Series
- 3 Activities
- 2 Scientists
- Glossary
- Lesson Plan
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The research in this monograph looks at the use of prairie strips, which are strips of native prairie plants that are planted between sections of agricultural crops. Scientists wanted to...Cream of the Crop: Assessing the Environmental Benefits of Prairie Strips
The research in this monograph looks at the use of prairie strips, which are strips of native prairie plants that are planted between sections of agricultural crops. Scientists wanted to...
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In this FACTivity, you will use every-day materials to explore how root size impacts the exchange of materials between roots and their surrounding environment. Materials: Electronic kitchen scale Clock or...FACTivity – Cream of the Crop
In this FACTivity, you will use every-day materials to explore how root size impacts the exchange of materials between roots and their surrounding environment. Materials: Electronic kitchen scale Clock or... -
After reading “Cream of the Crop,” see if you can complete this create-a-phrase challenge. Draw a line from a word in the left column to a word in the right...Create-A-Phrase – Cream of the Crop
After reading “Cream of the Crop,” see if you can complete this create-a-phrase challenge. Draw a line from a word in the left column to a word in the right... -
After reading “Cream of the Crop,” test your knowledge with an eyeChallenge. Each of the following images represents something from the article. Explain what each of these images represents.eyeChallenge – Cream of the Crop
After reading “Cream of the Crop,” test your knowledge with an eyeChallenge. Each of the following images represents something from the article. Explain what each of these images represents.
Glossary
View All GlossaryClassroom Review Board
Distance Learning Student Editorial Review Board April 2020
- Distance Learning Student Editorial Review Board April 2020
Editorial Review Board Comments
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Randy Kolka
My favorite experiences are working with students on research. Research topics range from the importance of putting native prairie strips in crop areas to studying the effect of climate change...View Profile -
Lisa Schulte-Moore
I love science–the whole process from conceiving an idea to publishing the results of a project. I think my favorite experience is feeling like, bit by bit, I’m helping to...View Profile
Note To Educators
The Forest Service's Mission
The Forest Service’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. For more than 100 years, our motto has been “caring for the land and serving people.” The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognizes its responsibility to be engaged in efforts to connect youth to nature and to promote the development of science-based conservation education programs and materials nationwide.
What Is the Natural Inquirer?
Natural Inquirer is a science education resource journal to be used by students in grade 6 and up. Natural Inquirer contains articles describing environmental and natural resource research conducted by Forest Service scientists and their cooperators. These scientific journal articles have been reformatted to meet the needs of middle school students. The articles are easy to understand, are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, contain glossaries, and include hands-on activities. The goal of Natural Inquirer is to stimulate critical reading and thinking about scientific inquiry and investigation while teaching about ecology, the natural environment, and natural resources.
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Meet the Scientists
Introduces students to the scientists who did the research. This section may be used in a discussion about careers in science.
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What Kinds of Scientist Did This Research?
Introduces students to the scientific disciplines of the scientists who conducted the research.
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Thinking About Science
Introduces something new about the scientific process, such as a scientific habit of mind or procedures used in scientific studies.
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Thinking About the Environment
Introduces the environmental topic being addressed in the research.
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Introduction
Introduces the problem or question that the research addresses.
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Method
Describes the method the scientists used to collect and analyze their data.
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Findings & Discussion
Describes the results of the analysis. Addresses the findings and places them into the context of the original problem or question.
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Reflection Section
Presents questions aimed at stimulating critical thinking about what has been read or predicting what might be presented in the next section. These questions are placed at the end of each of the main article sections.
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Number Crunches
Presents an easy math problem related to the research.
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Glossary
Defines potentially new scientific or other terms to students. The first occurrence of a glossary word is bold in the text.
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Citation
Gives the original article citation with an internet link to the original article.
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FACTivity
Presents a hands-on activity that emphasizes something presented in the article.
Science Education Standards
You will find a listing of education standards which are addressed by each article at the back of each publication and on our website.
We Welcome Feedback
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Contact
Jessica Nickelsen
Forest Service -
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Lessons
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This lesson plan will have students read “Cream of the Crop” and answer the questions associated with it. After, they will complete a hands-on fact-based activity demonstrating the importance and...Lesson Plan – Cream of the Crop
This lesson plan will have students read “Cream of the Crop” and answer the questions associated with it. After, they will complete a hands-on fact-based activity demonstrating the importance and...
Project Learning Tree
If you are a trained Project Learning Tree educator, you may use “Pass the Plants, Please” and “Field, Forest, Stream” as additional resources.