Welcome to the Trees of Rialto
"UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - The Lorax
Locations of the Trees
Map of the Rialto USD Elementary Schools' Groves
Types of Trees that Schools Grow
Most of the groves include:
- Washington Navel Orange
- Rio Red Grapefruit
- Oro Blanco Grapefruit
- Myers Lemon
- Kishu Seedless Mandarin
- Moro Blood Orange
- Cara Cara Navel Orange
Some of the groves also have:
- Fuyu Persimmon
- Dorsett Golden Apple
- Anna Apple
- Mariposa Plum
- Desert Golden Peach
- Panamint Nectarine
- Katy Apricot
- Burgundy Plum
- Snow Queen Nectarine
- Parfianka Pomegranate
- Flavor King Pluot
- Red Baron Peach
- Donut Peach
- Dapple Dandy Pluot
Tree Data
SPARK_TreeProject_STEMCenter_RSUD
Click on the green points to zoom in and see individual tree data
Why are the Trees Important?
We read The Giving Tree and The Lorax and learned that trees are altruistic, which means that they give to us without taking anything in return. If you could talk to a tree, what do you think it would say to you?
Trees are important. Photosynthesis is how the tree makes its food. It breathes in carbon dioxide and breathes out oxygen. When it breathes in carbon dioxide and takes up water from the ground it makes sugar and that’s how trees makes their trunks, leaves and fruit. Trees take carbon out of the atmosphere and hold it, that is called "carbon sequestration" and that is really good for the environment.
When you're hot just go under the shade of a tree. There you can enjoy this thing called a microclimate. Trees are awesome!
Measuring Tree Growth
We measured tree circumference. What is tree circumference? Tree circumference is when you measure the distance around the trunk of the tree. How do you measure it? You wrap the tape measure around the tree trunk about 12 inches from the ground. The distance around the trunk tells you how big the tree is. Scientists can use this measurement to calculate how much carbon is stored in the tree.
Students collecting data.
We also measured the tree canopy. Measuring the tree canopy shows how large of a microclimate is under the tree. You probably don’t know what a microclimate is; it's what you call shade. For example, pretend you have three trees: one little, one medium, and one large. The shade you get from the little tree is very little. The medium tree has the right size and the big one has a lot of microclimate. To take this measurement you start at the trunk and go out to the farthest leaf. We measured in centimeters.
Giving the Tree a Check-Up
PESTS!
Pests are one of the main kinds of problems that trees have to deal with. Not every insect is a pest for the trees. Bees are one of many types of insects that are not a pest a.k.a an ally, they help the trees and other plants by pollinating flowers. Insects like mantids help the trees by hunting pests. Let's see what the helpful insects look like.
But pests are like a family tree of evil, they like to cause trouble. Ant bites are painful, sort of like mosquitos they bite and you don't notice until the (non-lethal) poison goes into your body. It's so itchy! Ants often help protect pests like aphids on the trees. Insects are amazing because they are both pests and allies. It's like they have a super powers and they either help or hurt the tree. Let's look at some pictures of the pests.
