Determining age of trees. Obtain core samples from the local Forest Service Office. By counting rings, core samples clearly reveal the age of trees. By comparing various core samples with similar trees to those at Whitman Mission, students could estimate the age of the trees at Whitman Mission. A second way to determine the age of trees is to examine a cross-section from a log.
Students add up the rings determine the age of the tree.
With the tree-ring samples, have students look up specific dates in almanacs and determine what significant events occurred on various dates. Tie Jack's Math into the Oregon Trail by counting how many steps it would be to walk the 2000 mile Oregon Trail. One way of measuring distances is by counting your paces. But you need to know the length of your pace first. Measuring Your Pace Mark off 50 feet on the ground.