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Photosynthesis: Calculating Biomass and Carbon Storage in Trees

Alexandra Moore, Paleontological Research Institution

In this lesson students measure the diameter of trees to determine the biomass of the tree and how much carbon the tree is taking up during photosynthesis.

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Notes from our reviewers

The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials.

  • In discussions of trees and forests as climate change mitigation solutions, it is important to note that trees and forests provide many other benefits beyond carbon sequestration, and they can also help us adapt to climate change. The activities are appropriately rigorous for the intended age groups. Extension videos and background information are also provided as well as teaching tips to connect to energy use and carbon sequestration. Students need to identify the type of tree they measured in order to figure out how much carbon it can store. They will need a way of researching the type of tree they've measured unless the teacher directs them to measure only trees they can identify with certainty.