University of Florida
Unhealthy Forests and the News
Everyone knows a tree makes a sound when it falls, but what do we know about dying trees? Class members learn background information about Laurel wilt disease from a teacher-led presentation. Team members work with partners to read and...
University of Florida
Six Bits of Abiotics
Collect clues and unwrap a mystery in an intriguing study about air pollution and urban forests. Teams share information to explore abiotic interactions and forest health. Scholars create a concept map using newly acquired knowledge and...
University of Florida
A Walk in the Woods
Take class members on a field trip to the forest without leaving the classroom. Scholars learn content-related vocabulary and factors affecting forest health with class discussions and during a presentation. Scientists combine forestry...
Minnesota Department of Natural Resoures
Parts of a Tree
Discover the parts of a tree and so much more with a packet of activities covering a range of subjects. First graders label practice pages, test their measuring and addition skills, explore books, dance, build 3-D trees, play games, give...
Minnesota Department of Natural Resoures
Minnesota’s Forests
The forests of Minnesota provide middle schoolers with an integrated learning opportunity. They examine the three biomes and their histories, conduct experiments, read stories, and draw pictures. A lovely instructional activity about trees.
Alabama Wildlife Federation
Forest Floor Investigation
Most living things go unnoticed. Change that using a fun activity about the nutrient cycle. Pupils use hula hoops to mark areas of study and then make observations about the living things they see. They first make surface observations,...
Biology Junction
Land Biomes
Biomes share similar climates and ecosystems, despite being separated geographically on the planet. A presentation introduces the six most common land biomes. It focuses on the commonalities in climate, plants, and animals with many...
National Park Service
The Secret of Life
Dead trees provide nutrients for the soil, food for animals, protection and a home for organisms, a seed-bed for new trees, and a place for nitrogen-fixing bacteria to live. In the activity, pupils collect decaying logs, expose them to a...
Rainforest Alliance
Investments in Forest Carbon
One hundred metric tons of CO2 can accumulate in one acre of forest over time—that's a lot of carbon! In the activity, groups of middle school learners determine what makes forests important. They then solidify the concept by using a...
Rainforest Alliance
How Do Jaguars and Howler Monkeys in Belize Depend on Us?
How does weather play a role in the lives of land and sea creatures? Find out with a lesson focused on habitats and the ways animals from different homes are connected. Here, learners explore how the life of a jaguar and howler monkey...
KOG Ranger Program
Why a Bear Mattered: Smokey’s Story
Smokey the Bear has been telling people how to prevent forest fires since 1944, and continues to be the symbol of fire safety in America's wilderness. Young rangers visualize a dry forest and
KOG Ranger Program
Managing Forests to Prevent Wildfires
Sometimes the best way to prevent forest fires is to create smaller fires. Explore forest management with an activity that explains the ways that controlled burns can keep unexpected fires from running amok in the wilderness and nearby...
KOG Ranger Program
Protecting Homes from Wildfires
Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers help to protect our homes from the inside. Learn about ways you can keep your home safe from the outside with a lesson plan about protecting houses from wildfires. It includes background information...
KOG Ranger Program
Caring for the Forest
What is a controlled burn, and how is it different from a wildfire? Learn about the different ways forest rangers take care of the forest with a fun, interactive board game that focuses on forest management and fire safety.
KOG Ranger Program
Match and Lighter Safety
Go over the basics of fire prevention with a lesson focused on safety with matches and lighters. With a series of dilemma cards that describe potential fire risks, learners choose the most responsible way to handle matches and lighters.
KOG Ranger Program
Safe Campfires and Camping
One of the best ways to prevent forest fires is to ensure that campfires are completely out. Take your class through the steps needed to protect their campsites and the greater forest area around them with a fun and interactive activity...
KOG Ranger Program
Leading Causes of Wildfires in Oregon
You've heard of "wildfire season," but what types of weather and conditions lead to increased wildfires? Young firefighters learn about common sources of wildfires, safe ways to clear debris near their homes, and the most effective ways...
KOG Ranger Program
How Things Burn
What is the fire triangle? Young ranger learn about the three elements needed to start a fire and keep it going (heat sources, fuel sources, and oxygen) with a class demonstration involving a candle in a jar.
KOG Ranger Program
The Value of Oregon’s Forests
No matter where you go, you're in the middle of a forest in some way. Use a instructional activity about forests and the many ways they contribute to our world, including the ecosystems of animals and plants living in their shady soil.
KOG Ranger Program
Use It Safely!
Campfires are not the only way that forest fires start. In a worksheet and word matching activity, young campers learn about common fuel and heat sources that, when combined, can be the spark to a dangerous and harmful forest fire.
KOG Ranger Program
Burning Decisions
There's a big difference between a comfortable campfire and a raging forest fire, but they both often start in the same ways. Follow a forest maze that leads to either a controlled burn that extinguishes easily, or a large,...
KOG Ranger Program
Oregon Wildfire Mystery
Forest fires can be devastating to the beautiful woodland around us. How do they start, and what are the best ways to prevent them? Learn about the common ways that fires break out in forest and the most effective ways to keep these...
KOG Ranger Program
Making Fire
Campfires are great for getting warm, singing camp songs, and roasting marshmallows. However, it's important to be aware of what can start an uncontrollable forest fire when camping. Young rangers identify possible fuel sources and heat...
KOG Ranger Program
A Place to Call Home
Lots of animals live in the forest, and some are easier to spot than others! Locate 12 animals and their preferred habitats within the forest with an engaging worksheet. After learners fill in the correct animal for each area, they...