Generalizations about an Ecosystem

Object of the Activity

1. Compile factual information on the following topics:
   • Spruce Bark Beetles
   • Spruce Bark Beetle Predators, such as woodpeckers
   • White spruce forests and white spruce trees
   • Forest succession
   • Forestry management
   • Old growth forests

    

2. Working in small groups, you and your classmates will compile your facts and draw conclusions to help you answer the following questions:
   • What will happen to the forest now that the spruce bark beetles are gone? What changes and developments would you expect to see over the next 50 years or so?
   • Should the park try to manage the forest to prevent this infestation from occurring at this scale again? Explain.
   • In your opinion, are these natural disasters good or bad for the forest?

    

3. You will be expected to make short presentations to the class sharing your conclusions about the questions and the facts and generalizations on which you base your conclusions.

Resources/Materials/Supplies

• Internet access
• textbooks

Working Tips and Hints

A generalization is a conclusion made from a collection of facts on a particular topic. Such generalizations are often useful as guides to making decisions about important issues or spotlighting information about a topic that is not immediately understood. However, generalizations can also cause problems when they are based on faulty or insufficient facts.

Use your first group meeting to organize. Appoint a team captain or leader, divide up the work and set a deadline for individual research.

Sign up for time working at a computer that has Internet access. If possible, you and your group may wish to divide the work and use computers at home.

After you have examined the Hot Links, take some time to search the Internet yourself for more information.

When you and your group members have collected enough facts, go through everyone ís lists to cull repetitive facts. This may take some negotiation.

Line up your facts on the final sheet in an order that makes sense to you. For example, line up facts according to topics.

When your group has received all the fact sheets, work together in pairs to look for combinations of facts that you believe would help you to answer one of the questions above. Be sure everyone in the group agrees with your generalizations and supporting facts.