KOG Ranger Program
Fantastic Forests
The forest is a wonderland of plants, animals, and flourishing life within the ecosystem. Use a crossword puzzle and an unscrambling activity to teach future rangers about the beauty and characteristics of the forest and its inhabitants.
Forest Foundation
The Sustainable Forest
As part of their examination of forest ecosystems, class members examine how foresters, biologists, botanists, geologists, and hydrologists work to together to develop a management plan for sustainable forests.
Curated OER
Prairie, Stream, Forest for Junior High Students
Eighth graders take field trips to prairies, streams and forests in Illinois. During the field trip, they complete a worksheet to observe what they see and discuss it when they get back to school. They share their experiences through...
Curated OER
Old Growth Forest Mural
Students explore the four characteristics of an old growth forest. In this forest lesson, students research old growth forests and their inhabitants. Students work in four separate groups and create a mural for their characteristic of an...
Curated OER
Life in a Forest Stream
Students assess macro-invertebrates from a stream. In this science lesson plan, students observe, classify and identify organisms found in a stream. A lab station is constructed at the stream sight and students study the different...
Curated OER
Forest as a Filter
Students experiment using soil and water. In this forest as a filter lesson, students identify the role of forest cover, vegetation, and foliage impacts erosion and evaporation. Students conduct a simple experiment, form a hypothesis,...
Curated OER
Dream Stream
Investigate the parts of a healthy stream to build content-specific vocabulary and ecological awareness. The class builds vocabulary and determines why clean water is important for trout. They design a shoe box to show what a clean...
Forest Foundation
Forest Watersheds
Where does the water we use come from? To understand the concept of a watershed, class members study the water cycle and then engage in an activity that simulates a watershed.
Curated OER
Speed of a Forest Stream
Pupils study stream speed. In this stream speed instructional activity students complete an activity and formulate an opinion and study its effects.
Curated OER
Forest Ecology or Who Lives Here?
Learners explore a hardwood forest. In this forest ecology lesson, students examine the diversity and animals and plants as they explore their habitats at Poricy Park Conservatory. Learners determine how biodiversity and abiotic elements...
Curated OER
Take a Tour of a Biome
Students study five different biome types including aquatic, desert, forest, grassland, and tundra. They create a travel website of a simulated trip to one of the biomes.
Curated OER
Take a Tour of a Biome
Explore the five biomes: aquatic, desert, forest, grassland and tundra by using online resources to investigate one of the five biomes and use MediaBlender to create an informational web site for a tour of that biome. Note: Other...
Curated OER
Hands on Biome-Building: Build a Forest
Students explore Earth science by identifying environmental factors. In this biome lesson, students discuss the importance of a functioning ecology and design a biome diorama. Students utilize images of trees and plants which represent a...
Curated OER
Beaver Ecology
Students explore the lives of bgeahvers. They identify the physical and behavioral adaptations that help beavers survive in their environment. Students compare and contrast how beavers influence the ecology of both forest and aquatic...
Curated OER
Trout Are Made of Trees Crayon Mural
Students recognize that for a trout habitat to be ideal, several components must be present. In this trout activity, students explore what makes a healthy stream. Students create paintings for a mural of a trout habitat. Students...
Forest Foundation
The Web of Life
Producers, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, decomposers. To begin a study of the forest ecosystem, learners examine the connections among the members of ecological communities.
Curated OER
Air Pollution: What's the Solution?
In this air pollution worksheet, students simulate acid rain falling on soil and determine the pH of the soil after spraying it with an acidic solution. They measure the pH of water sprayed with an acidic solution to represent the...
Curated OER
There is Room for All
Learners create a poster about the three main uses of forest lands. In this forest lesson plan, students focus on its economic use, environmental use, and recreation use.
Curated OER
Trees For Trout!
Fourth graders determine the impact of native forests, local clearcuts and local clearcuts and local reforestation projects on the survivablity of Rainbow Trout in their area. They record and document the stages of the trout throughout...
Curated OER
Habitats and Components School Forest Lesson Plan
Second graders go on nature scavenger hunts. In this nature scavenger hunt instructional activity, 2nd graders explore the natural habitat of their school grounds and make observations regarding the objects and animals they find in the...
Curated OER
The Earth's BIG Features
Your students will enjoy the vivid pictures and interesting facts about world geography, in this presentation. Depicted are several major geographical features found around the world and a description of each.
Curated OER
How To Find a Site
Fourth graders identify the three basic needs of humans. They identify on a map the best places to live and make a list of items that they can find on a map - streams, river, hills, plains, forests, etc.
Curated OER
Central Park Field Trip
Young scholars visit the park to observe signs of spring in the forest and pond environments. In this field trip lesson, students explore the park for various items
Curated OER
Water Quality Assessment
Students evaluate water quality of different sources. In this water assessment lesson plan students chemical testing, identify biological factors in the stream, and write a paper on their position of the stream's quality.