Students will launch the investigation by exploring the school forest through a sensory mystery trail, naming early questions about how people and the environment help each other, and beginning a paired nature journal routine that captures one science observation and one personal feeling from outdoor learning.

Students will investigate the school forest through a mystery trail, turn their observations and feelings into focused questions, and build a simple team plan for collecting reliable evidence in paired nature journals. They will practice distinguishing observation from inference, draft a testable hypothesis, peer-check their recording method, and complete a readiness checkpoint before beginning longer-term data collection.

Students will gather repeated evidence from the same school forest spot, strengthen the quality of their paired nature journal entries, and revise their photo, sketch, and sign evidence so they can later explain change over time and how the forest supports living things.

Students will analyze their school forest evidence, identify patterns and changes over time, revise explanations with peer and teacher feedback, and prepare clear showcase materials that explain how they helped the forest and how the forest helped them.

Students will present their completed Roots and Wings Showcase display to an authentic audience, explain conclusions from their school forest investigation using journals and before-and-after evidence, and complete a final reflection on how the forest helped them and how they helped the forest.