In partnership with the University of New Hampshire, students have been researching, collecting data and assessing the health of five eastern white pines trees located in a grove behind Mastricola Elementary School. Through the program, the university is able to collect approximately 600 samples from 60 participating schools for a database used to assess and possibly change the state's requirements for acceptable ozone levels. The program, called Forest Watch, is led by seventh grade Mastricola life sciences teacher Ann LaCroix and Rick Glatz, the Gateway enrichment program teacher. Students and teachers cut four samples from each of the five trees. Two samples per tree are sent to the University and two are kept by the school.
Students take measurements and write down their analysis in field notebooks.
Students Sara Laquerre and Caroline Peterson recently demonstrated during class how to find the health of a group of pine needles. The needles are measured on a balance scale and then cooked in an oven to remove water. After being cooked, the pine needles are weighed again and the percentage of water content figured from the lost amount. The two samples tested had water contents of 53 and 63 percent. Healthy pine needles should have a water content of 60 to 80 percent, Peterson said.