Hendricks Elementary sixth graders engage with tree rings to connect science and society
Students visited LTRR to gain a better understanding of tree-ring research, water conservation, climate change, and more.
Over three days in October, 75 sixth graders from Hendricks Elementary visited the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research (LTRR) and took a deep dive into the world of dendrochronology, building on their classroom learning about tree rings, climate, and water use.
Before coming to the Lab, the students learned how tree rings reveal past climate conditions like temperature and rainfall in different biomes and about how they reflect the impacts of extreme events like fire and drought. At the LTRR, students experienced dendrochronology firsthand. They engaged with real tree core samples, and learned how scientists study these rings to uncover environmental history.
LTRR’s Dr. Pamela Pelletier worked with Crystal Shepard, 6th grade Science Teacher at Hendricks Elementary to create a laboratory visit with lesson plans that incorporate project-based learning (PBL) and the 5E model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate).
Using PBL and the 5E model offers a powerful approach to teaching dendrochronology, particularly when focusing on climate change, drought, and human impacts on the environment. By actively engaging students in real-world research—like analyzing tree rings to understand historical climate patterns—students develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.