Dear Mr. Bradburn, Thank you for your inquiry and your interest in the curriculum and study! “Climate Change and Michigan Forests” was designed to help teachers meet Michigan and national science education standards (i.e., the Michigan’s Science Content Expectations and Next Generation National Science Standards). We developed the curriculum to cover topics students are expected to learn as part of the above science standards as related to climate change and scientific processes. For example, students learn about differences between weather and climate and how scientists use their understanding of past climates to predict how forests may change as a result of further climate changes. Students also use real-world data collected as part of a National Science Foundation research grant to test hypothesis about how tree growth is affected by changes in temperature and precipitation. They subsequently discuss what their findings imply for changes to Michigan forests and other ecosystems. As part of the above process, students examine how scientists interpret data (including through the use of graphs) and use linear equations to predict what may happen in the future. Analyses reveal that some of Michigan’s trees’ growth will improve while others will decline as a result of changing temperature and precipitation, resulting in changes in forests’ composition. Learning about how scientists use data to make predictions in this way also enables students to gain insight into how organizations such as the US Forest Service are presently making decisions about managing public forests. The study we are conducting is examining the extent to which the curriculum is meeting its goals, which are to enhancing students’ understanding of plant adaptations and climate science and increasing students’ interest in these topics and science more generally. Results will allow us to improve the curriculum. As suggested by the consent letter you received, your child’s participation in the study, which involves the completion of a questionnaire before and after the curriculum and possibly, an interview are both entirely voluntary. If you would prefer your child not to participate in study, do not sign the consent form and feel free to let me know and I will be sure to share this information with your son’s teacher. Thank you again for your inquiry,
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 17:28:26 +0000