Grade 6 Science Current Events Current Events completed assignment will be due on September 21 st Presentations (1 minute) will take place on September 24 th

Let’s see the difference between a well written current event and a poorly written one.

First Things First… YOU MUST FILL OUT THE TOP PART! FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF POINTS!!! Title of Article: Poland's Mysterious 'Crooked Forest' Date of Article (must be from past 30 days): 10/11/2011 Source (circle one): The Home News TribuneTime for Kidswww.dogonews.com The Star LedgerThe Sentinelwww.sciencenewsforkids.org National Geographic for Kidswww.Scholastic.com

Follow Instructions… BEFORE Complete #’s 1-3 BEFORE reading the article.

1. Look at the title. Write down what you already know about the topic. Do NOT make a prediction!!! Poorly written response Well written response I don’t know anything about Poland. I know that Poland is a country in Europe. I also know that a mystery involves some type of situation that must be solved so there must be clues somewhere to help figure out why the trees are crooked. Trees usually grow straight to get sunlight.

2. Write a question you have about the article based on the title. Poland's Mysterious 'Crooked Forest' What does the term “crooked forest” mean? Why is this a mystery? Is the shape of the entire forest crooked or are the trees crooked? Well Written response Poorly written response Why are the trees in Poland crooked?

Poland's Mysterious 'Crooked Forest' By Meera Dolasia on 10/11/2011

3. My article contained (circle all that apply) a picture with caption, map, chart or graph. By looking at these visual representations, I learned: Poorly written response Well written response I learned that there are crooked trees in Poland I learned that many of the trees in this forest are crooked. They all bend in the same direction and on the same curve. There is nothing holding the trees in place.

Follow Instructions… Now, read the article.

Poland's Mysterious 'Crooked Forest' By Meera Dolasia on 10/11/2011

Take a stroll inside the pine forest near Gryfino in Northwest Poland and you will feel like you were just transported to Harry Potter's 'Forbidden Forest' - thanks to the 400 eerily curved pine trees. The odd part is that the pine trees surrounding this tiny area, dubbed 'Crooked Forest' are all straight as arrows - Just the way they are supposed to be. So how did these specimens turn out so cool-looking?

While nobody knows for sure, the theory is that the trees are shaped this way, thanks to human intervention, with the saplings allowed to grow for about ten years and then pinned down in a way that they emerge with a 90° bend, before straightening out again. Some locals believe it was the handiwork of special carpenters from the German special forces in the 1930's - for use in boat hulls and furniture. But, the trees were never harvested because of the chaos created when the World War 2 broke out in 1939.

However, the expert lumberjacks of the Gryfino forest disagree - Given that pine trees are not good for either furniture or boat hulls, they think that the trees in this area just naturally grew in this eerie manner. Whatever the real reason, we sure are glad they are here for all of us to enjoy! Resources: Dailymail.co.uk, news.discovery.com

4. This article contained which type of information (circle all that apply) facts, reasoned judgment or speculation. Provide evidence of each answer your circled. Poorly Written Example Well written Example Facts: The trees are crooked. Facts: Crooked trees have been found in a forest in Poland. Reasoned judgement: “Some locals believe it was the handiwork of special carpenters from the German special forces in the 1930's - for use in boat hulls and furniture. But, the trees were never harvested because of the chaos created when the World War 2 broke out in 1939.”

5. Choose one domain specific vocabulary word (science vocabulary word) from your article. Define it using your own words. Sapling - a sapling a a smaller, younger tree. It is easily bent and vulnerable to damage. Well written response Poorly written response Forest - A large group of trees.

6. Complete #6 on a separate sheet of paper. Using seven sentences ONLY; explain, in your own words, the central idea of the article. This article is about a forest that has trees that have grown crooked. It is important because it is strange. Poorly Written Example Well written Example This article tells about a forest in Poland. The trees in the forest have all grown first to the side, then straight up. All of the other trees in the surrounding forest have grown straight. This has left a mystery to be solved about the crooked trees. Some believe that people strapped down the trees in their first ten years of life then left them to grow on their own. They think that the wood was to be used in making hulls of ships and for furniture around the time of World War I. It would be interesting to see if scientists can solve the mystery.

On the Presentation Day Each student will be given ONE MINUTE to present. We will move QUICKLY so be ready when it’s your turn. You will present the information below and I STRONGLY suggest you write the information on an index card so you stay within your allotted time and on topic. Going off topic will cause you to lose points. – Title of Article – Central Idea – ONE example of information found in the article (ex. My article contained this fact. Crooked trees have been found in a forest in Poland.) – An explanation of why the article was interesting to you.

Closure Any questions about the Current Event?