Fir

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/fir

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 genus?Abies
2. What is the family?Pinaceae
3. What makes fir trees different from pine trees?Fir trees have flattened, needle-like leaves that appear in two ranks on each twig, and their cones stay on the branches and break apart while still attached, releasing winged seeds.
4. Why do fir trees smell nice and are used for Christmas?Fir trees produce aromatic resins and essential oils that have been used for medicine, perfume, and religious ceremonies, and they became a symbol of peace and renewal during Christmas.

Coniferous: Trees that bear cones and typically have needle-like or scale-like leaves.
Phylogenetic: Relating to the evolutionary development and diversification of a species or group of organisms.
Boreal Forest: A biome characterized by coniferous forests, found in high northern latitudes.
Carbon Sequestration: The process by which carbon is captured from the atmosphere and stored in organic or inorganic forms.