Cover for the "World's Forests' 3rd edition journal. The image consists four magnifying glasses, each with a different photo.

World’s Forests 3 edition

This is the 3rd edition of the World's Forest Natural Inquirer based on the 2015 Global Forest Resources Assessment. This edition was completed in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, and FIND Outdoors.

$0.00

In Stock

Free Shipping

Download PDF of Full Issue

English: Download Journal (PDF)

Highlights

3 Inquiries
6 Activities
Lesson Plans
Glossary

Glossary

View All Glossary

algae
(al jē): Simple, plantlike organism.
amphibians
aromatic
(a rə ma tik): Having a strong smell.
axis
(ak səs): A straight line about which a body or geometric figure rotates.
bacteria
(bak tir ē ǝ): (Singular: bacterium) A group of single-celled microorganisms that live in soil, water, the bodies of plants and animals, or matter obtained from living things and are important because of their chemical effects and disease-causing abilities.
canopy
(ka nə pē): A protective covering: such as, the uppermost spreading branchy layer of a forest.
certification
The act of confirming something as being true or as represented or as meeting a standard.
collaborative
Characteristically working jointly with others or together.
compounds
confirms
conserve
(kǝn sǝrv): To avoid wasteful or destructive use of something.
cultures
deforestation
(dē for ə stā shən): The action or process of clearing of forests; also, the state of having been cleared of forests.
degraded
(di grā dəd or dē grā dəd): Being in a worse condition than before.
ecological
(ē kə lä ji kəl): Of or relating to the environments of living things or to the relationships between living things and their environments.
economic
(ek ǝ nä mik): Of, relating to, or based on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
edible
(e də bəl): Fit to be eaten.
elements
emissions
(e mish ens): Something discharged or sent out.
endorsement
The act of approving openly.
forest litter
Dead plant material, such as leaves, bark, needles, and twigs, that have fallen to the ground.
fungi
(fun jī): Organisms without chlorophyll that reproduce by spores. Mushrooms, molds, mildews, and toadstools are examples.
genetic
(jə ne tik): Of, relating to, or involving genes or genetics.
genus
A class, kind, or group marked by common characteristics or by one common characteristic, specifically a category of biological classification ranking between the family and the species.
germinated
(jǝr mi nāt id): Caused to sprout or develop.
habitat
(ha bә tat): The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows.
harvested
indigenous
(in di jə nəs): Produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment.
interact
To act upon one another.
invasive
(in vā siv): Tending to spread especially in a quick or aggressive manner, such as a nonnative species growing and dispersing easily, usually to the detriment of native species and ecosystems.
livelihood
A means of obtaining the necessities of life.
mammals
medicinal
(mə dis nəl or mə di sə nəl): Tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain.
molecular compounds
monitor
(mä nə tər): To watch, keep track of, or check usually for a special purpose.
pollutants
respiration
(re spə rā shən): The physical processes (as breathing and diffusion) by which a living thing obtains the oxygen it needs to produce energy and eliminate waste gases (as carbon dioxide).
runoff
(rən ȯf): Water from rain or snow that flows over the surface of the ground and finally into streams.
sediment
(se dǝ mǝnt): Material deposited by water, wind, or glaciers.
sustainable
(sǝ stā nǝ bǝl): Of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not used up or permanently damaged.
temperate
(təm p(ə)rət): Having or associated with a climate that is usually mild without extremely cold or extremely hot temperatures.
toxic
Containing or being a poisonous material, which may be capable of causing death or serious illness.

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.

Natural Inquirer bee sitting at a desk with paper and pencil

Meet the Scientists

Introduces students to the scientists who did the research. This section may be used in a discussion about careers in science.
What Kinds of Scientist Did This Research?

Introduces students to the scientific disciplines of the scientists who conducted the research.
Thinking About Science

Introduces something new about the scientific process, such as a scientific habit of mind or procedures used in scientific studies.
Thinking About the Environment

Introduces the environmental topic being addressed in the research.
Introduction

Introduces the problem or question that the research addresses.
Method

Describes the method the scientists used to collect and analyze their data.
Findings & Discussion

Describes the results of the analysis. Addresses the findings and places them into the context of the original problem or question.
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.
Number Crunches

Presents an easy math problem related to the research.
Glossary

Defines potentially new scientific or other terms to students. The first occurrence of a glossary word is bold in the text.
Citation

Gives the original article citation with an internet link to the original article.
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

Contact

Jessica Nickelsen
Forest Service
Email

Contact us here.

Lessons

A guided reading lesson plan that walks students through each section of the journal. It includes graphic organizers and activities for students to complete as they read.

Lesson Plan – World’s Forests 3

Lesson Plan Middle School 2-3 Classroom Periods Agriculture
Carbon Climate Engineering and Forest Products Insects Recreation Water Wilderness Wildlife Graphic Organizer Guided reading

A guided reading lesson plan that walks students through each section of the journal. It includes graphic organizers and activities for students to complete as they read.
Explore Lesson Plan Download Lesson Plan (PDF)

Explore Lesson Plan Download Lesson Plan (PDF)

Part Of

Inquiry 1: What Are the World's Forests and Where Are They Found?

World’s Forests 3 edition