Nashua students’ illustrations featured in Seeking the Wolf Tree

Congratulations to the students at Ledge Street Elementary School in Nashua NH! Their illustrations were chosen to be printed in the newly-published book, Seeking the Wolf Tree, written by Natalie Cleavitt, a Hubbard Brook scientist and NH native.

The Nashua School District News included this article in their December 2015 newsletter:

“Encouraged by their Grade 4 teacher Teresa Ferullo’s study of environmental science and inspired by their love of art, the students created illustrations of a wolf tree. A wolf tree is a term used to identify the oldest and biggest tree in a forest. Because the book was in pre-production, they read the digital image of the book. The students’ drawings were selected among hundreds of others across northern New England to be included in the inside cover of the book, which is now published.

‘I really liked how the cover of the book explained everything,’ says student Kiara, ‘because it shows you whether it is a wolf tree or not because it explains all the details.’

‘My inspiration was the cover itself; loved how they incorporated a journal in the cover, And I loved how the wolf tree was so big and beautiful…Hello,’ says another student, Samantha, gesturing. ‘And how it is named after a beautiful creature, the wolf.’

Teacher Teresa Ferullo was a participant in our Math Science Partnership program called Building Vertical Science Literacy. The program is offered by the New Hampshire Education and Environment team (of which HBRF is a member), and involves approximately 35 teachers and administrators from select NH districts in 3-year cycles to improve science content and skills related to ecological literacy and field investigations in grade K-8 classrooms. Ms. Ferullo was a dynamic participant and we are delighted that she continues to bring Hubbard Brook into her classroom!

Seeking the Wolf Tree is part of the LTER Schoolyard Series, and is a story for upper elementary students about an adventure two students take through the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. It communicates core ideas related to the nature of science as well as energy flow and cycling of matter in ecosystems, and can serve as an intriguing introduction to a unit on ecology, or read at the beginning of the year and used as a platform for ecological concepts from which to refer back to throughout the school year.

HBRF has developed supporting teaching materials aligned with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. Visit our Seeking the Wolf Tree webpage for more information!