Forest Management Techniques

Keywords: sustainable forestry, silviculture, forest management; Grade Level: ninth and tenth grade (high school); Total Time for Lesson: 43 minutes; Setting: classroom

Dendrology Scavenger Hunt

Keywords: dendrology, simple, compound, alternate, opposite, entire, toothed, lobed, deciduous, coniferous; Lesson Plan Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: one class period; Setting: This lesson is meant to be a follow-up to a lesson on the basic terminology and concepts necessary for dendrology. Students should be taken to an area that has a variety of different tree species

Forest Forensics

Keywords: forest history, reading the land, iron production, hot-blast furnace; Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade (could be modified for college students); Total Time Required for Lesson: 50 minutes as one continuous time block; Setting: forested area near old iron furnace (adapted for the Monroe Furnace site)

History of a Cookie

Keywords: growth rings, cookie, sapwood, cambium, outer bark, heartwood, pith; Lesson Plan Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 30 minutes of explanation and examples, teacher can decide on length of time to give students to research topic, one week from date of assignment given; Setting: an area where they can research historical events, computer lab works great for this lesson but sometimes makes the lesson easier for the students to complete because they can find a time line that can be cut and pasted.

How Do They Know That?

Keywords: Archeology, local history, forest history, reading the land, Cooper Settlement; Lesson Plan Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: two class periods; Setting: local forested historic site (adapted for the Cooper Settlement, Drifting, PA)

Leaf Arrangement: Kinetic Cognitive Connections

Keywords: alternate, opposite, whorled, simple, compound, leaf arrangement; Lesson Plan Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: minimum 30 minutes, may expand to two or three class periods according to depth and amount of repetition to be sure students truly understand the concepts; Setting: This activity probably works best outdoors, ideally in an open area adjacent to a variety of different tree species. It can be adapted to areas of less species diversity or even inside a classroom if necessary by bringing a variety of different samples to the program site.

Our Family Tree

Keywords: cambium, springwood, summerwood, annual ring; Lesson Plan Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 2 hours in 2 days (1 hour each day); Setting: shop or laboratory area

Selecting Trees for Urban Environments

Keywords: Compaction, Cultivation, Habit, Rate, Resistant, Susceptible, Tolerant; Lesson Plan Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 3 hours (four or five 42-minute class periods); Setting: parking/common areas on school grounds.

Steps for Taking a Cutting for Your Own Forest at Home

Keywords: media, rooting hormone, hardwood cutting, softwood cutting; Lesson Plan Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 50 minutes; Setting: courtyard or area where trees or shrubs can be found, and classroom

Sustainable Forestry

Keywords: sustainable forestry, forest sustainability, forest harvesting, forest regeneration, interfering plants, overstory structure, high grading, stand age structure, stand vertical structure; Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade and adults; Total Time Required for Lesson: 90 to 120 minutes; Setting: forest stand with small to large sawtimber trees (12 to 18 inches and larger), some overstory species diversity is desirable, nearby a stand with recent harvesting

Tree Leaves: Determining the Characteristics They Share in Common

Keywords: simple, compound, alternate, opposite, whorled, entire, toothed, lobed, deciduous, coniferous; Lesson Plan Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 1 or more periods (repetition is good to check understanding and retention); Setting: This lesson is intended to be a way of reinforcing knowledge gained in the basic dendrology units. It can also be an excellent way of evaluating retention of and understanding of basic dendrology principles.

What's a Tree Worth?

Keywords: Biltmore stick, board feet, DBH, hardwood; Lesson Plan Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade; Time Required: 2 hours; Setting: Outdoor Woodlot on Campus

Forest Fun

Keywords: orienteering, topographic map, compass, bearing; Lesson Plan Grade Level: tenth through twelfth grade ecology/natural resource management class; Total Time Required for Lesson: two 70-minute blocks (can be modified to fit different times); Setting: classroom and outdoors in a nearby forest

Forest Measurements

Keywords: forest products, tree measures, forestry tools; Grade Level: tenth through twelfth grade; Total Time for Lesson: five standard (40- to 45-minute) class periods; Setting: classroom and mature forest, wooded park, or older tree-lined residential neighborhood

Forest Sustainability

Keywords: sustainability, silviculture, clearcut, shelterwood; Lesson Plan Grade Level: tenth through twelfth ecology/natural resource management class; Total Time Required for Lesson: 70-minute block (can be modified to fit different times); Setting: classroom

Forest Products

Keywords: forest products, renewable, non-timber, energy, ecology, environment, recreation; Grade Level: eleventh and twelfth grade; Total Time for Lesson: two class periods of 45 minutes; Setting: classroom

Forest Stewardship Library Media Center Resources

Keywords: forest management, biodiversity, watershed management, timber harvesting, wildlife management; Grade Level: eleventh and twelfth grade; Time Required: 40 minutes (one class period); Setting: library media center

Harvesting of Trees: Library Media Center Resources

Keywords: trees, logging, forest management, federal land use, ethics, politics; Grade Level: eleventh and twelfth grade; Time Required: 40 minutes (one class period); Setting: library media center

Use of the Forest in the Economic Evolution of Oakville, PA

Keywords: charcoal, booms, splash dams, tannery, erosion, Great Depression, CCC, eco-tourism; Grade Level: eleventh and twelfth grade, could be adapted to college students; Total Time Required for Lesson: two 40-minute class periods; Setting: classroom

Examine the Trees in Your Community Forest

Keywords: urban forestry, community forestry, tree identification, keying, mapping; Lesson Plan Grade Level: twelfth grade; Class Size: 20 students; Total Time Required For Lesson: 3 hours (can be continuous or fragmented); Setting: downtown area, park, arboretum, or large school campus with a minimum of 20 healthy tree species

Introduction to Urban & Community Foresty: Why Do We Need Trees?

Keywords: urban forestry, community forestry, function, aesthetics, values; Lesson Plan Grade Level: twelfth grade; Class Size: 20 students; Total Time Required for Lesson: 50 minutes as one continuous time block; Setting: classroom