Cork oak

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cork-oak

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Quercus suber
2. What is the native range?Western Mediterranean Basin, including Portugal, Spain, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, and France
3. What is a cork oak tree?The cork oak is a tree that lives in Mediterranean countries like Portugal and Spain. It has a thick outer bark called cork that protects it from heat and fire. The bark is made of dead cells with thick waxy walls.
4. How does a cork oak give us cork stoppers?When the tree is about 25 years old, workers carefully cut and peel the outer cork layer. The bark is removed without harming the living part of the tree. The cork is then boiled, flattened, and turned into stoppers for bottles.

Suberized Bark: Bark tissue characterized by thick, waxy cell walls, providing insulation and protection.
Vascular Cambium: A layer of actively dividing cells in woody plants responsible for secondary growth, including bark production.
Agroforestry Systems: Integrated land-use systems combining trees with agricultural crops and/or livestock for ecological and economic benefits.
Carbon Sequestration: The process by which atmospheric carbon dioxide is absorbed and stored in biomass, such as trees.