Unit goals

To really learn about a forest, we must explore more than just the trees. All forests, including River Bend's Big Woods, are rich with unique plant and animal life. Students will deepen their understanding of a biome by identifing various species, conditions and seasonal changes found in the Big Woods forest at River Bend.

This unit is specifically designed to address appropriate AAAS Project 2061 benchmarks as well as fourth grade Minnesota Academic Science Standards Ib, IIIb, and IVc. E-mail here for more information.

-- Summary Box --

Before your visit, please review with your students ...

The scope of a forest, more than just trees.
The types of forests found in Minnesota.
The unique features of the "Big Woods" forest
Some of the plants and animals that the student might encounter in their study.
River Bend's definition of a biome
The current weather conditions and recent weather patterns.

At River Bend ... (a worksheet packet will be used - sample worksheet)

During the introduction we will review the above material
The historical expanse of the original Big Woods forest in Minnesota
Investigate what a "biome" really is
2-3 pairs of students will share a study plot
Progress through various surveys to identify various species and their current spring status on the Big Woods.
- Leafing out of trees
- Wildflowers in bloom
- Birds, mammals, and insects that might be active
- Temperature, precipitation, soil and sky conditions
Watch a Big Woods skit
Chart their results
In the closing we will ...
- inquire about students' results and put into seasonal perspective
- use the students' result to build a definition of a forest biome.
- review the importance of forest preservation
- remind the students of their next visit
- talk of upcoming events at River Bend
- invite the students to return on their own with family and friends

Back in the classroom ...

Graph/chart results gathered at River Bend
Monitor results from other classes to create spreadsheets and graphs. Click for an Word graph template to use and a graph sample to see how it might turn out.
Explore how the forest biome was important to early peoples
Research forest wildlife not found on River Bend's Big Woods

(trouble downloading? click here)

What is a forest?

There are many types of forests around the world often classified by the types of trees that dominate that area. But each type of forest also has other certain species of flowers, herb, shrubs, fungi, and wildlife that live there.

What are the different types of forests found in Minnesota?

Minnesota is a rare state in that it historically had three different biomes: the prairie, deciduous forest, and coniferous forest. We studied the prairie last fall, the coniferous forest (mostly with evergreen trees) can be found in the northeastern "arrowhead" region, and some areas in our part of the state has a deciduous forest (trees that loose their leaves each winter). The Faribault area historically had both prairie and forest, which is why we take the time to study each.

Learn more about Minnesota's biomes here

What makes River Bend's Big Woods forest unique?

The Big Woods is known for its tall trees, primarily maple, basswood, hickory, cherry, and elm, with a fairly open understory. Along with a few smaller tree species, such as hop hornbeam, the Big Woods is also special in its array of spring wildflowers, including the endangered dwarf trout lily in River Bend. We are fortunate to have a portion of Big Woods forest preserved at River Bend.

What are some of the plants we might find
in River Bend's Big Woods this spring?

We will be exploring the Big Woods during the spring season when the flowers are blooming along the forest floor and other plants are just waking up for the year. Here are some that you will see:

Large Trees:
sugar maple
black maple
American basswood
black cherry
elm
bitternut hickory
various ashes
butternut
hackberry
box elder
red/white oak

Small Trees, Shrubs, and Vines:
hop hornbeam
elderberry
various grape vines
Virginia creeper vine
moonseed vine

Flowers:
trout lily and dwarf trout lily
sharp-lobed hepatica
bloodroot
Dutchman's breeches
spring beauty
dame's rocket
false rue anemone
rue anemone
Virginia waterleaf
wild ginger
jack-in-the-pulpit
violet

Other:
ferns
shelf fungi
carbon fungi

Visit River Bend's spring wildflowers web page!!!

What are some of the animals we might find in River Bend's Big Woods?

We may not always see them, but the Big Woods plays an important role in the life of many birds, mammals, and other animals. We'll be watching for them and their signs. Here are a few examples:

Big Woods Mammals: White-tailed deer gray squirrel red squirrel deer/white-footed mice gray fox racoon opossum cottontail rabbit weasels and mink striped skunk	Big Woods Birds: American robin American crow black-capped chickadee various woodpeckers house wren cedar waxwing white-breasted nuthatch Northern cardinal great horned and barred owls warlbers, sparrows, and more!
Learn more about these animals at enature.com

How does River Bend define "Biome?"

Regions of the Earth that have a unique interdependent community of plants, animals, soils, and weather patterns.

What do we need to remember when we visit River Bend?

The quieter we are, the better.
Listen to your leader.
Raise your hand if you have something to say.
Do not pick anything unless given permission.
Stay where you leader asks you to be.
Be respectful of nature - and of each other!

River Bend's Big Woods through the seasons

River Bend's Big Woods changes significantly from season to season. Most surprising to visitors is that best flowers come into full bloom in the spring and and we'll be watching how they progress through their stages of bloom. See what other differences you can discover (click to enlarge):

early fall

winter from the air

early spring

late spring

2008 data reports

Date	May 2		May 5		May 6		May 13
School	-	Roosevelt	Roosevelt	Jefferson /Faribault Lutheran	Jefferson	Divine Mercy	Lincoln	Lincoln
Weather		Light drizzle	Partly cloudy	Sunny	Sunny	Cloudy, light rain	Partly cloudy	Partly cloudy, windy
	a.m.	p.m.	a.m.	p.m.	a.m.	p.m.	a.m.	p.m.
Air Temp	-	52.8	50.7	61.1	66.7	76.1	57.4	62.7
Plant Temp	-	52.0	56.0	71.5	68.5	67.5	56.0	58.0
Soil Temp	-	52.0	56.5	73.0	71.0	67.0	57.5	61.0
Ground Temp	-	45.0	49.0	54.0	52.5	54.0	50.0	50.0

Plants	Percent in spring bloom (averages): hepatica 50%, white trout lily 5%, bloodroot 75%, virginia waterleaf 0%, spring beauty 0%, wild leek 0%, false rue anemone 10%, dames rocket 0%, dandeloin 0%, gooseberry 0%, elderberry 0%, dutchmans' breeches 25%		Percent in spring bloom (averages): spring beauty 5%, white trout lily 25%, moss 100%, virginia water leaf 0%, false rue anemone 50%, gooseberry 0%, bedstraw 0%, wild leek 0%, dames rocket 0%, elderberry 0%, hepatica 50%, wild ginger 0%, common blue violet 50%, bloodroot 75%, dutchman's breeches 25%		Percent in spring bloom (averages): blood root 0%, false rue anemone 75%, spring beauty 25%, common blue violet 50%, white trout lily 25%, virginia waterleaf 0%, hepatica 50%, dames rocket 5%, gooseberry 0%, elderberry 0%, wild ginger 0%, bloodroot 75%, dutchman's breeches 25%		Percent in spring bloom (averages): spring beauty 50%, false rue anemone 75%, blood root 75%, wild leek 0%, virginia waterleaf 0%, white trout lily 50%, dames rocket 50%, elderberry 50%, hepatica 75%, gooseberry 0%, wild ginger 0%, common blue violet 50%, dutchman's breeches 75%, mayapple 0%

Mammals and other animals noted	slug, snail, mite, centipede, squirrel, worm, deer, ant, pill bug, frog, snake, crow		squirrel, ant, worm, mite, butterfly, pill bug, daddy long legs, chipmunk, slug, brown snake, garter snake, centipede, red-winged black bird, wasp, toad		spider, pill bug, worm, centipede, millipede, bee, ant, slug, ladybug, tree frog, wood frog, garter snake, mite, snail, beetle, blue jay, woodpecker, stink bug, cricket, crow, fly, gnat, caterpillar		spider, worm, snail, ant, beetle, cricket, mite, caterpillar, stink bug, millipede, slug, moth, bee, pill bug, fly, tick, bird, toad, ladybug, tree frog, gnat, squirrel
Forest Floor click to enlarge

Some suggested pre- or post-visit activities

Send us your ideas here!

Graph/chart the results of research at River Bend.
Monitor the results from other classes posted on this site to include in graphing so as to track changes on the Big Woods throughout the season.
Research other types of forests, in North America and around the globe.