How Do You Measure the Age of a Tree?.xml NESTR_schema.xsd (Version 2)
How Do You Measure the Age of a Tree?
Description: You’re walking through the woods or on a street in your neighborhood, and you come upon a giant oak towering above your head. This majestic tree, you think, could have been standing here for a century or more — perhaps it even predates the Civil War. But how can you know for sure?
Teaching tips:
- 5 to 30 minutes teaching time
- Discuss the growth rate of different tree species. Discuss the benefit of different growth rates.
- Explore environmental factors that impact tree growth rates.
- Highlight that cutting down the trees to determine the age was a method priviously used. Explain why this method is not an efficient measurement method.
- Explain the career dendrochronologists. Discuss a tool they use to determine tree age without harming them (e.g., an increment borer).
- Use the process infographic to demonstrate the process. By matching parts of cores from different time periods, dendrochronologists can make their tree age estimates more precise and date ancient pieces of wood.
Resource owner information:
- Ben Stein
- [email protected]
- Public Affairs
- 10 - Director's Office (NISTDO)
- 107 - Public Affairs Office
Resource dates:
- Created on September 21, 2023
- Last updated on July 11, 2024
- Reviewed on July 11, 2024
Resource types:
- Educational Resource: Article
- Educational Resource: Image
Resource format:
- Webpage
School subjects:
- STEM: Biology and Life Sciences
- STEM: Earth Science
- STEM: Environmental Science
- STEM: Mathematics
Keywords:
- Botany
- Agriculture
- Forestry
- Plant
Topics:
- Research at NIST: Bioscience
- Research at NIST: Climate
- Research at NIST: Environment
- Research at NIST: Metrology
Instructional levels:
- Intermediate (3-5)
- Middle (6-8)
- High School (9-12)
Target audiences:
- Students
- Parents
- Educators
- Outreach Ambassadors
- General Public
Language:
- English
