1. The Importance of the American Chestnut

2. Student Objectives Sunday, May 03, 2015 After today’s lesson, you will be able to: Gain an understanding of the ecological importance of the American chestnut tree and; Realize the significance of the loss of the American chestnut tree population.

3. Warm-Up On average, an American Chestnut tree produced 6,000 nuts. On average, 100 nuts weighed 10 pounds. –What do you predict that the nuts were used for? –If Carroll County had 10,000 trees, how many pounds of nuts were produced annually?

4. Today’s Activities Charlie Chestnut webquest BCR about the importance of this massive tree

5. Historical Significance “…The most valuable and usable tree that ever grew in the Eastern United States.” –But why was it so valuable?? Click, Navigate, Read and LEARN! http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/chestnut/ Using the following webpage to record ways that support the idea that the American Chestnut was so valuable.

6. Ecological Importance Wildlife depended on the abundant crop of chestnuts (birds, bears, squirrels) Many species of insects fed on the leaves, flowers, and nuts Livestock, particularly pigs, used the nuts as a source of fat Humans used as a cash crop, especially around the holidays –Roasted and eaten

7. Economic Importance Throughout much of the range chestnut had the most timber volume of any species – Half the standing timber volume of CT Was the major source of tannin for leather production (6-11 % tannin content which conditions the leather) Chestnuts (the actual nuts)

8. “From cradle to casket…” The Chestnut was widely used for furniture Posts & railroad ties Telephone poles (65 feet) Construction Fuel Fine furniture & musical instruments

9. The Range of the Chestnut (Where you are, is where they WERE!!) Maine to Georgia and west to Ohio and Tennessee Central Appalachian ridge tops appeared snow- capped in summer due to dense crowding of American Chestnuts’ creamy-white flowers http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/chestnut/

10. Sum it all up 1.Name three important uses of the American Chestnut. 2.What happened to the American Chestnut?