What Happens If We Cut Down All of a City’s Trees?
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Provided by: TED-Ed|Published on: November 16, 2022
Articles/WebsitesScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This animated video begins by comparing two ancient civilizations and explains why trees are crucial to humans in urban settings.
- Students will learn how trees filter water, store excess stormwater, filter pollutants from the air, stabilize soils, absorb and store carbon dioxide, provide shade to buildings and sidewalks, provide mental health benefits, and provide habitat to many species.
- The video mentions NYC, Portland, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Copenhagen, Uruk, Anuradhapura, and other cities.
Subjects: Biology, History, Health
Authors: TED-Ed
Region: Asia, Europe, Middle East, North America, USA - Northeast, USA - West, USA - South, United States, Oregon, Willamette Valley / Portland Metro - Oregon, New York, New York City, Georgia
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This easy-to-understand video describes the benefits of trees that students may not be familiar with. It provides real-world examples from human history.
- Students can test their comprehension of the video with the interactive questions in the Think section and participate in guided discussions in the Discuss section.
- The Dig Deeper section provides students with an article that contains links for further exploration.
Prerequisites
- Students should have some knowledge of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
Differentiation & Implementation
- History classes can use this video to open up a discussion about resource use in ancient civilizations. Students could discuss how different civilizations used ecosystem services.
- Elementary science classes can make a list of the benefits that trees provide to people, animals, and the ecosystem.
- Other resources on this topic include this video unit on urban trees, this Ecosia video about the benefits of trees, and this SubjectToClimate game on urban tree planting.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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