THE MIGHTY OAK
WHITE OAK
White Oaks grow 50'- 80', with an equal
spread.
 A mature, healthy tree can have 200,000
leaves each year. During 60 years of life, such
a tree would grow and shed 3,600 pounds of
leaves
 That would be approximately 120,000,000
leaves.
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INTO THE WOODS
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A grove of trees in a park had approximately three to
five such large oaks in an area 40 by 40 feet
40
ft.
40
ft.
That would be
600,000 to a
1,000,000 leaves
each year in an area
a little larger than
this classroom
SO,,,, WHERE
ARE THEY?
VOCABULARY
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Biology: “Bio" means "life". "ology" means "the study of". So
Biology is the study of life
Degrade: to decompose or break down
Biodegradable: Able to be decomposed by living things
Organism: any living thing
Micro-organism: A form of life that can only be seen with the aid
of a microscope, such as bacteria, fungi, molds, and parasites
Organic: Composed of matter that is alive or was once alive.
Inorganic: All things such as air, water, minerals, and metals, that
are neither living organisms or products by living things.
VOCABULARY CONTINUED
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Waste: Anything that is discarded because it is used up
or no longer needed
Nutrients: Substances like vitamins and minerals that all
living things need for growth and life
Recycle: Convert waste into reusable material.
LEAF LITTER
 Most of the tiny animals that are found in leaf litter are
invertebrates, meaning that they lack a backbone. Some of these
little critters feed on the litter and break it up into smaller pieces.
Microscopic organisms like bacteria and fungi then decompose the
litter, converting it into beneficial chemicals and minerals that can
be absorbed by plants.
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Animals you may find living in leaf litter include slugs and snails,
worms, animals with jointed legs (like millipedes and centipedes),
spiders and beetles. The type and amount of organisms found
varies with time of year. Some animals spend their entire lives in
soil and leaf litter, while others are found there only at certain
points in their lives. Some use the litter specifically for nesting or
hibernating.
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http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-leaf-litter-biodiversity/
LEAF LITTER CRITTERS
NUMBERS OF CRITTERS
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER…..
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That even the
Mighty Oak
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Was once a nut like me
QUIZLET VOCABULARY FLASH CARDS
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http://quizlet.com/43983436/naturalrecyclers-5th-grade-chapter-1-flash-cards/