Forestry/Natural Resources Lesson Plans

Keywords: stewardship, forest management; Grade Level: kindergarten (ES); Total Time for Lesson: 20 minutes; Setting: outdoors, classroom

Keywords: maple syrup; Grade Level: kindergarten (ES); Total Time For Lesson: 20 minutes; Setting: outdoors, classroom, nature center

Keywords: sugaring, maple tree, sap, history; Lesson Plan Grade Level: can be adapted for kindergarten through third grade; Total Time Required: 40-60 minutes, depending on grade level; Setting: classroom or kitchen

Keywords: sugaring, maple tree, sap, natural resources, maple syrup; Lesson Plan Grade Level: can be adapted for kindergarten through third grade; Total Time Required: 40-60 minutes, depending on grade level; Setting: classroom or outdoors

Keywords: leaves, tree, trunk, bark, leaf formation, seasonal change; Grade Levels: first through fourth grade; Total Time for Lesson: 1 hour initially, then 30-45 minute lessons through the seasons; Setting: inside the classroom and outdoors near the playground

Keywords: trees, wood, paper, sap, and food; Grade Levels: first and second grade; Time Required: 45 minutes; Setting: classroom

Keywords: tree, trunk, crown or canopy, deciduous, evergreen, photosynthesis, fencing, regeneration, deer grazing; Lesson Plan Grade Level: remedial reading, 2-3; Total Time Required for Lesson: 60 minutes; Setting: classroom

Keywords: leaf, compound, simple, tree species, art project; Grade Level: Elementary—grade 2 through 5; Total Time Required: 2-3 hours over 3 class periods *Note: Leaf preparation takes about a week, therefore, leaf collection must take place one week before art lesson; Setting: outdoors in wooded area (first class), classroom for other parts

Keywords: consumerism, wants versus needs, benefits of trees, wood products; Grade Level: third grade (ES); Total Time for Lesson: 45-60 minutes as one continuous time block; Setting: classroom

Keywords: Leaf/Tree Identification, Terminology, Dichotomy Key; Lesson Plan Grade Level: 3rd grade; Total Time Required: for review and game, approximately 50 minutes. Depends on students understanding of concepts, might be best to do over two days or more; Setting: Classroom

Keywords: endosperm, embryo, seed coat, dormant, renewable resource, germinate; Lesson Plan Grade Level: third grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 60 minutes; Setting: classroom

Keywords: paper recycling ;Grade Level: third grade (ES) ;Total Time for the Lesson: This is a unit spread over a several-week period (depending on the length of time given for the assigned project and the number of students giving presentations). I have given the unit outline, however, this lesson is for Day 1. The time for this lesson is 30-45 minutes; Setting: classroom instruction with a project to be completed at home

Keywords: tree growth, annual rings, plant science; Grade Level: third grade (GS); Total Time For Lesson: approximately 45 to 60 minutes; Setting: classroom

Keywords: Leaf/Tree Identification, Terminology; Lesson Plan Grade Level: 3rd grade; Total Time Required: Assuming students had already completed Step 1 of the directions, Step 2 may take 30 minutes and then time to assemble books. (could be done at home or over a few days in the classroom); Setting: Classroom

Keywords: wood, renewable natural resources, fibrous; Lesson Plan Grade Level: remedial reading third and fourth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 40 minutes; Setting: classroom

Keywords: tree growth, invasive plants, tree competition; Grade Levels: third through sixth grade (ES); Total Time for Lesson: 2-hour field trip; Setting: outdoors

Keywords: trenches, slag pile, stumps, regrowth; Lesson Plan Grade Level: enrichment third through sixth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 60 minutes; Setting: classroom, state park, or forest nearest to the school

Keywords: watershed, forest layers, canopy, understory, shrub layer, forest floor, shade tolerant, non-shade tolerant; Grade Levels: 4; Time: 40 minutes; Setting: indoors

Keywords: community forests, urban forestry, tree planting; Grade Level: fourth grade; Total Time for Lesson: 30-40 minutes instruction time (many additional minutes/hours for follow-up activity); Setting: classroom and outdoors/school grounds

Keywords: tree identification, tree natural history, map making, recycling; Grade Level: fourth grade to adult; Total Time for Lesson: several class periods and homework; Setting: tour route should be close walking distance to school. All work can be done in classroom late spring, summer, or early fall (when leaves are on trees)

Keywords: forest products, tree life cycles, forest habitat, forest ecology, stewardship; Lesson Plan Grade Level: 3-5 year olds; Total Time Required: Introductory Activity 30 minutes and Ongoing project investigation timeline variable; Setting: Classroom, outdoors on campus walks

Keywords: tree life cycle, ecosystem, William Shakespeare; Total Time Required: Four 45 – 60 minute sessions

Key words: Wood products, natural resource, renewable resource; Grade Level: Lesson plan can be adjusted for levels K-3; Time required: 45 minutes: Setting: inside the classroom

Keywords: paper, recycle, pulpwood, wood products; Lesson Plan Grade Level: 3; Total Time Required: two 45 minute periods; Setting: classroom, outside if possible

Keywords: Renewable, Durable, Benefits; Grade Level: 4th – 5th grades; Total Time Required: 45 minutes to one hour; Setting: Indoors

Keywords: simple and compound leaves, hard and soft wood trees, leaf margins; Grade Level: pre-K, 3-5 year olds; Total Time Required: 30 minutes; Setting: Classroom, outdoors

Keywords: Conifer, Deciduous, Photosynthesis, Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Chlorophyll, Alternate, Opposite, Margin, Serrate, Pinnate, Palmate, Vein, Leaflet; Grade Level: Grade 3; Total Time Required: Three forty minute classes; Setting: Classroom, Outdoors with a variety of trees(I use a State Park)

Keywords: Forest Management, Well Managed Forest, Poorly Managed Forest, Silviculture, Competition, Diversity, Clear Cut, Shelterwood, Single Tree Selection, Group Tree Selection; Grade Level: Fifth Grade; Total Time Required: Four days, one thirty minute class session each day; Setting: Outdoor and Indoor

Key Words: Opposite-leaves, Alternate-leaves, Whorled-leaves, Margins, Entire Margins, Lobed Margins, Toothed Margins; Grade Level: 4; Time Required: 50 minutes; Setting: Classroom and Playground

Keywords: Responsibility, under-story, canopy, life span, forest management, forester; Grade Level 4th – 5th; Total Time Required: 2 hours (depending on driving distance to a forest site); Setting: A nearby forest, preferably a managed forest setting

Keywords: Recreation, Environment, Sustainability, Management; Lesson Plan Grade Level: Fourth; Total Time Required: 43 minutes (1-2 classes); Setting: Classroom

Keywords: Hardwood, Softwood, deciduous, conifer, stand, shelter; Lesson Grade Level: 2nd - 5th grade; Total Time Required: 45 minutes; Setting: Outdoor Playing Field

Keywords: natural resource, renewable, aesthetics, environment, manufacturing, and economics; Grade Level: 2nd Grade; Total Time Required: 4 days (approximately 1-2 hours per day); Setting: South Mountain Forest (Emmaus, PA) and the classroom

Keywords: Leaf/Tree Identification, Terminology, Dichotomy Key; Grade Level: 3rd grade; Total Time Required: for review and game, approximately 50 minutes and Depends on students understanding of concepts, might be best to do over two days or more; Setting: Classroom

Keywords: Tree Identification, Leaf Terminology, crown, bark, stem, leaf; Grade Level: 3rd grade; Total Time Required: 60 minutes; Setting: Classroom and outside, Start in the classroom for a discussion about trees and their usefulness, Take class outside for observation and discovery, Finish the lesson in the classroom to discuss and share what they observed and discovered.

Keywords: Tree Identification, Leaf Terminology, bark, stem, leaf, crown, pine, oak, maple; Grade Level: 3rd grade; Total Time Required: 60 minutes; Setting: Classroom

Keywords: Tree Identification, Leaf Terminology, bark, stem, leaf, crown, pine, oak, maple; Grade Level: 3rd grade; Total Time Required: 70 minutes; Setting: Classroom and outside

Keywords: bud scale, leaf bud, twig; Lesson Plan Grade Level: sixth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 40 minutes; Setting: wooded area just outside of the school playground in early spring (location in mind is Charles W. Longer Elementary School)

Keywords: forest products, sustainable forestry, consumers; Grade Level: sixth (MS); Total Time for Lesson: 45 minutes (10 minutes to launch, 1 day and 35 minutes to discuss and make assignment); Setting: home and school

Keywords: hazard trees; Lesson Plan Grade Level: sixth through eighth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: entire morning session of 2.5 to 3 hours; Setting: classroom and in a wooded recreational area outside classroom

Keywords: cankers, fungus, galls, wilts, pests, borers, miners; Grade Level Lesson Plan: intermediate; Lesson Time: three 45-minute periods; Setting: forest and classroom

Keywords: angiosperms, seed plants, flowering plants; Grade Level: sixth through eighth grade; Total Time for Lesson: 60 minutes; Setting: classroom, outdoors

Keywords: seeds, gymnosperms; Grade Level: sixth through eighth grade (middle school); Total Time for Lesson: 60 minutes; Setting: classroom, outdoors

Keywords: density, deciduous, conifers; Grade Level Lesson Plan: intermediate; Lesson Time: two 45-minute class periods; Setting: classroom

Keywords: trees, wood, paper, sap, and food; Grade Levels: first and second grade; Time Required: 45 minutes; Setting: classroom

Keywords: veneer, phloem, xylem, cambium, heartwood, springwood, summerwood, annual ring; Grade Level: intermediate; Lesson Time: two 45-minute class periods; Setting: forest and classroom

Keywords: wood, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, hardwood, softwood, veneer; Grade Level: sixth through ninth grade; Total Time Required: 50 minutes (one class period); Setting: classroom

Keywords: Pennsylvania forests, leaf collection, id; Grade Level: seventh and eighth grades(MS); Total Time: Two to three weeks should be allowed for the entire project. Two 45-minute class periods are used to introduce and to wrap-up the project; Setting: This activity is done in the fall for two reasons. First the leaves are nearly ready to fall from the trees and, therefore, will not adversely affect the tree's photosynthetic production. Second, the leaves tend to be drier in the fall and will not be as likely to mold in the binders. First and last class periods may be inside or outside, remainder of the work will be done outside.

Keywords: renewable resources, environmental impact, sustainability, ecosystem; Lesson Plan Grade Level: seventh and eighth grades; Total Time Required by Lesson: 45 minutes; Setting: classroom

Keywords: tree, planting trees, tree environments; Lesson Plan Grade Level: seventh through ninth grade; Total Time Required: one 45-minute period (does not have to be continuous); Setting: classroom, computer lab/library

Keywords: Charcoal, Pennsylvania forests, chemical reaction, ground forest kiln, smelt; Grade Level: 7 - 10; Total time required by lesson: 2 class periods each 45 minutes; Setting: Classroom

Keywords: tree growth, tree health, tree anatomy; Grade Level: seventh through tenth grade (middle school, high school); Total Time for Lesson: 50 minutes; Setting: classroom

Keywords: pulpwood, board foot, cubic foot, cord, forest inventory; Lesson Plan Grade Level: seventh through twelfth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: one class period (50 minutes); Setting: classroom for instruction, introduction of new terms, and discussion of how to use them, neighbor's yard to practice measuring amount of firewood

Keywords: cultural impact on the environment, uses for wood, wood products, environment; Lesson Plan Grade Level: seventh through twelfth grade (could be used for elementary grades as well); Total Time Required for Lesson: one class period; Setting: classroom

Keywords: canopy, evergreen, deciduous, coniferous, biotic, abiotic, photosynthesis, regeneration; Lesson Plan Grade Level: eighth grade; Setting: Reed's Gap State Park (Nature Trail)

Keywords: timber harvesting, compromise, clear cutting, selective cutting, wildlife management, silviculture, diameter limits, select cutting, high grading, shelterwood cutting; Lesson Plan Grade Level: eighth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: two 40-minute class periods; Setting: classroom

Keywords: timber harvesting, compromise, clear cutting, selective cutting, wildlife management, silviculture, diameter limits, select cutting, high grading, shelterwood cutting; Lesson Plan Grade Level: eighth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: two 40-minute class periods; Setting: classroom

Keywords: consumerism, natural resources, renewable/non-renewable resources, energy web; Grade Levels: 8; Time: 1 hour, additional time may be given for art work; Setting: indoors or outdoors with writing surface

Keywords: mass, volume, density, characteristic properties; Lesson Plan Grade Level: eighth; Setting: classroom

Keywords: trees, identification, leaves, summer; Grade Level: eighth and ninth grade (high school); Total Time for Lesson: Two 43-minute classes; Setting: Woodworking Area and Forest Area

Keywords: abiotic, biome, biotic, browse, community, conservation, cover, deciduous, decomposer, ecology, ecosystem, edge, environment, habitat, indigenous, natural resource, niche, organism, population, succession; Lesson Plan Grade Level: 6; Total Time Required for Lesson: 3-class periods and 2-nights of homework TOTAL TIME is 180-minutes; Setting: forest (Cameron County is 97% forested), classroom, school library, public library

Keywords: conifers, deciduous, forest, forestland, forest products, forest stewardship, land ethic, overstory, regeneration, renewable resources, sapling, seedling, silviculture, trees need wildlife, understory, wetlands, wildlife use of trees; Lesson Plan Grade Level: 5-8; Total Time Required: 5 days; Setting: the lesson will require two meetings in the classroom and three meetings using the computer laboratory

keywords: forest entomology, forest pathology, defoliators, skeletonize or mine, sapsucking, boring, vectors, fall makers, biological control, chemicals, sanitation, mechanical procedures, regulatory controls, quarantines, containment, silvicultural controls, integrated pest management, biotic disease, abiotic disease; Lesson Plan Grade Level: 5-8; Total Time Required: 5 days; Setting: the lesson will require three days in the classroom and two days in the computer room

Keywords: Dendrology, tree identification; Grade Level: grades 5-6; Total Time Required: Five 35-minute class periods; Setting: Classroom and Outdoors (Yellow Creek State Park); Subjects Covered: Environmental Science; Topics Covered: Dendrology or Tree Identification

Keywords: watershed, sustainable, rain garden, riparian buffers, wetland, carrying capacity; Grade Levels: 4 - 12; Time: 40 minutes plus allow 25 additional minutes to present Lorax book or DVD; Setting: indoors; Subject: Science; Topic: Develop an environmentally sustainable plan for a forest within the Lorax Watershed

Keywords: Forestry, Forest History, Jim Nelson, Industries, Williamsport, Sawmills, Charcoal, Rivers, Streams, Booms, Logging Camps, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Great Depression; Lesson Plan Grade Level: grades 6-8; Total Time Required: Two 45-minute class periods, with additional time for extension projects if desired; Setting: Classroom with DVD player (with connections to our State Park field trip activities); Subject(s) Covered: Forestry, Environment and Ecology, Pennsylvania History, U.S. History (Great Depression), Economics

Keywords: Observations, Questioning, Trees, Plants, Leaves, Bark, Animals, Forests, Photography; Lesson Grade Levels: 5 – 7; Total Time Required: Two – Three 45-minute class periods; Settings: Outdoor forested setting, then classroom with computers and projector; Subjects Covered: General Science, Forestry / Basic Biology (depending upon students’ choice of subject to observe)

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

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

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)

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.

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)

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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