How Trees Talk to Each Other

• This video is about the interconnectedness of our forests and how trees can communicate with and protect one another through fungal networks in the soil. 
• Students will learn about the experiments of Suzanne Simard and why her findings should change the way we view forests and trees. 

Positives

• It provides solutions to promoting biodiversity and protecting forests, including spending more time in forests, saving old-growth forests, and replanting forests with native species.
• It includes a timestamped transcript for students who need support following along.

Additional Prerequisites

• The transcript and closed captioning are offered in 32 languages.
• There is a short ad before the video.
  
• Students might benefit from a discussion about mycorrhizal networks prior to the video.

Differentiation

• Science classes can summarize the experiment she described and analyze how she concluded that trees were communicating to each other.
• Biology classes can include this video in lessons about plants, decomposers, fungi, molecular signaling and communication, or ecology.
  
• Chemistry classes could use this resource for lessons about the practical applications of isotopes.
  
• English language arts classes can practice making a claim with evidence using this video and write a short paper proving that trees can "talk" to each other.
• Other resources related to these topics include this video about fungi that help plants survive, Mapping the Powerful Impacts of Forests, The Importance of Forests, and What Are Primary Forests and Why Should We Protect Them.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.