JULY 21, 2013 SCIENCE 9 ALL ABOUT TREES

BIAK NA BATO, BULACAN

Biak-na-Bato National Park is located in San Miguel, Bulacan. This is the place where the
Malolos Constitution was signed by Pedro Paterno and Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, and where
the historic Biak-na-Bato Republic was established during the Spanish regime.
Biak-na-Bato, which literally means "split rock", is one of the country's ecological and
historical treasures. It features plenty of ecological attractions such as winding streams,
waterfalls, thick forests, interesting rock formations, and hundreds of caves.
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9-Graham

TREE PLANTING
ADVENTURE
7.21.14
BIAK NA BATO
GROUP MEMBERS
ABAD SANTOS
AGUILAR, APOSTOL
BARIN AND
BONIFACIO
ALL ABOUT TREES
One of the many
popular tourist
attractions in the
Philippines!
God's
gift ! Historical
JULY 21, 2013 SCIENCE 9 ALL ABOUT TREES
What do plants need in order
to grow?
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The sun provides warmth and energy for plants to survive.
Plants use the suns energy to makes their own food energy
in their leaves. Not enough sun will slow down a plants
growth and
even kill it. Too much sun can be a problem too, if the plant
and soil are drying out too quickly.
SOIL
Soil provides a base which the roots hold on to as a plant
grows bigger. It also provides plants with water and the
nutrients they need to be healthy. In turn, some plants
become healthy food for us.
Nutrients in the soil also help plants grow strong. Some
nutrients that plants need are nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
It is important for soil to be loose and not packed down. If
the soil in a field is packed down (also known as being
compacted), farmers plow it up before they plant their
seeds.
Think of compacted soil as a snowball. When snow falls, it is
fluffy. To make it into a snowball, you have to pack it tightly
with your hands. It becomes heavier and is not as light-
weight. That is what compacted soil is like.
Compacted soil makes it harder for plant roots to spread out.
This limits their access to soil nutrients and weakens the
plants hold in the ground. The more room roots have, the
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Sources:



"Trees are the earth's
endless effort to speak to
the listening heavens"
-Tagore
wikihow.com

savatree.com

bulacan.gov.net

lakwatseraprim
era.com
nysipm.cornell.
edu
JULY 21, 2013 SCIENCE 9 ALL ABOUT TREES
more soil the plant can hold in place so it doesnt wash away during a rain storm.
AIR
Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air to use in the process of PHOTOSYNTHESIS
(making their own food energy) and give off oxygen which we use.
Pollution in the air, from machines, fires, and other sources, can block sunlight from plants.
Harmful chemicals in pollution can be bad for plant growth too.
The wind also carries pollen and seeds of plants to
help spread them around. This is the plants way of making more of its own kind
WATER
It comes from the sky as rain or snow and it flows on top of or through soil into lakes, rivers,
and streams. Water is very important to plant growth.
Water helps the plant move nutrients from the soil up through its stems and leaves. Water
keeps the plant moist, flexible, and helps the plant make its own food.
When growing your own plants, pay attention to how often it rains and how long the ground
takes to soak up the water. If it hasnt rained in a while and the soil feels dry, you may need
to water your plants. You can do this with a hose, a sprinkler, or a watering can.
However, there is such a thing as over-watering your plants. A plants roots not only need
room to spread out in the soil, they also need air! If the ground is OVERSATURATED, it has
too much water and not enough air. Some plants can die if the water is not drained away
soon enough.
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JULY 21, 2013 SCIENCE 9 ALL ABOUT TREES

Importance of trees: do they really benefit us?
Since the beginning, trees have furnished us with two of life's essentials, food and oxygen. As
we evolved, they provided additional necessities such as shelter, medicine, and tools. Today,
their value continues to increase and more benets of trees are being discovered as their role
expands to satisfy the needs create.
Trees contribute to their environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, climate
amelioration, conserving water, preserving soil, and supporting wildlife. During the process of
photosynthesis, trees take in carbon dioxide and produce the oxygen we breathe. According
to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, "One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide
and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people."
Trees, shrubs and turf also lter air by removing dust and absorbing other pollutants like
carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. After trees intercept unhealthy
particles, rain washes them to the ground.
Trees control climate by moderating the effects of the sun, rain and wind. Leaves absorb and
lter the sun's radiant energy, keeping things cool in summer. Trees also preserve warmth by
providing a screen from harsh wind. In addition to inuencing wind speed and direction, they
shield us from the downfall of rain, sleet and hail. Trees also lower the air temperature and
reduce the heat intensity of the greenhouse effect by maintaining low levels of carbon
dioxide.
Both above and below ground, trees are essential to the eco-systems in which they reside.
Far reaching roots hold soil in place and ght erosion. Trees absorb and store rainwater
which reduce runoff and sediment deposit after storms. This helps the ground water supply
recharge, prevents the transport of chemicals into streams and prevents ooding. Fallen
leaves make excellent compost that enriches soil.
Many animals, including elephants, koalas and giraffes eat leaves for nourishment. Flowers
are eaten by monkeys, and nectar is a favorite of birds, bats and many insects. Animals also
eat much of the same fruit that we enjoy This process helps disperse seeds over great
distances. Of course, hundreds of living creatures call trees their home. Leaf-covered
branches keep many animals, such as birds and squirrels, out of the reach of predators

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JULY 21, 2013 SCIENCE 9 ALL ABOUT TREES
How to plant a tree!
During the orientation, we also learned the process of properly planting a tree.
1. Place the tree into the hole gently. Be sure the hole isn't too deep or too shallow.
The ground level of the plant in the pot should match up with the ground level
after you fill the hole in. Do not bury over the crown (where the stem changes to
root) or leave any roots exposed.
2. Use some compost or composted manure if needed. If the soil that you currently
have is not rich, has clay-like qualities or has the consistency of dust or sand, the
addition of manure or compost will give the tree a great start in life.
3. Water the newly planted tree. Allow settling, backfill the remaining soil, and
water again. This will eliminate air pockets. Water one gallon (3.7 liters) for every
six inches (15 cm) of tree height.[6]
4. Use mulch! Cover the planting hole with 1-3 inches (2.5 cm - 7.6 cm) of
shredded hardwood or leaf mulch. Keep the mulch 2-3" away from the trunk or
the trunk will rot. Don't over-mulch the tree, either. A few inches are enough to
keep water in and most weeds out. Mulch a circle out to the drip line, about the
same width as the tree's leaves.
5. Stake the tree if necessary, for about the first year. Make sure that whatever stakes
you use are tied loosely to the trunk and do not dig into the bark or tighten
around the tree. Remove the stakes once the roots have a chance to become
established, after about the first year. Staking protects the tree against blowing
over in the wind, and it can also help to remind people moving around the tree
not to run into it.
6. Enjoy the tree as it grows over the years. Appreciate its shade and beauty and
thank yourself for adding another tree to the world. You won't regret it and as
long as you properly care for it, the tree can grow a long time!
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JULY 21, 2013 SCIENCE 9 ALL ABOUT TREES

Cause and effect:
If you plant it in the right process, keep all the factors present and
nurture your plant daily then, the plant would turn out to be your
little "diamond" to the world
Personal experiences
1. Biak na bato was a place filled with trees and plants. It was really clean and it really
reminded us of the beautiful creation God made. We didn't see any trash and it had lots
and lots of trees. Most of the trees are already old and some are new. We also
observed that Biak na bato is really contributing to making earth a cleaner place
because of the trees and plants.
2. We felt really good because we were able to help the earth by simply planting a tree.
It wasn't as hard as we thought it would be and it was actually quite fun especially that
we were planting a tree with my dear classmates. I also felt kinda exhausted after the
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JULY 21, 2013 SCIENCE 9 ALL ABOUT TREES
Tree Planting Activity because we had to climb a mountain but in the end it was all
worth it because we were able to contribute to making our earth a better place.
3. Planting trees is a must if we want to save our planet. Trees not only remove harmful
chemicals from the soil, but also help reduce the greenhouses leading to global
warming. It is important to learn how to plant trees because since the beginning, trees
have furnished us with two of life's essentials, food and oxygen. As we evolved, they
provided additional necessities such as shelter, medicine, and tools. Today, their value
continues to increase and more benefits of trees are being discovered as their role
expands to satisfy the needs created by our modern lifestyles.


"Bloom where
you are planted!"
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