Course

Title

FireWorks for the Northern Rocky Mountains and Northern Cascades - M13: Tree Identification: Figure out the “Mystery Trees”
Course Type: FireWorks activities
Availability: Public access
Author(s): FireWorks Educational Program
Contact(s):
  • Ilana L. Abrahamson
    US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire, Fuel, and Smoke Science Program
    ilana.l.abrahamson@usda.gov
Date Created: February 15, 2018
Ongoing

Cataloging Information

Keyword(s):
  • species identification
  • trees
Topic(s):
Region(s):
Partner Site(s):
Record Maintained By:
FRAMES Staff; https://www.frames.gov/contact
Record Last Modified: February 17, 2020
FRAMES Record Number: 25763

Description

Lesson Overview: In this activity, students observe and record information on botanical specimens, then use each other’s observations to identify 10 tree species of the northern Rocky Mountains and North Cascade range.

Lesson Goals: To increase students’ understanding that trees have characteristics unique to each species and these can be used to identify them.

Objective: Given descriptions of individual tree species, a dichotomous key, and plant samples, students can use sets of photos and botanical specimens to identify 10 species.

Online Link(s):
M13: Tree ID Mystery Trees - Lesson Plan (172 KB; pdf)
Handout M13-1 (93 KB; pdf)
M13: Mystery Trees Booklet Cover (74 KB; pdf)
Tree ID photos (5.4 MB; pdf)
Tree spp labels (271 KB; pdf)