Last updated: October 12, 2022
Lesson Plan
Getting to Know your Forest
- Grade Level:
- Lower Elementary: Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade
- Subject:
- Literacy and Language Arts,Science
- Lesson Duration:
- 30 Minutes
Essential Question
How many live trees and how many dead trees are in our special space?
How does woody debris help the forest?
Objective
Students will understand the role of decomposing vegetation in the health of a forest.
Students will count and monitor the number of live trees and snags (standing dead trees) in an area.
Students will identify the parts of woody debris (CWD).
Students will communicate the data they collected with others.
Background
This lesson plan was created by Ashley Stanley as part of the Acadia Outdoor Teacher Collaborative program. AOTC created lesson plans are created by educators for educators. Any books or links suggested in this curriculum are not an endorsement by the National Park Service.
In this mini unit students will identify an outdoor space with trees that they would like to observe. They will count the amount of live trees and dead trees (snags). They will watch for changes over time and share the data they collect with others.
Preparation
Identify an area to study (wooded, along a walking path)Collect examples of coarse and fine woody debris for lesson 3.
Materials
Download Getting to know your Forest Lesson Plan
This mentor text can be read to students and accompanies the lesson "Getting to Know your Forest"
Download Tree Health Mentor Text
This is the student workbook for the lesson plan "Getting to Know Your Forest"
Procedure
See the 5E Lesson plans in materials.
Vocabulary
Alive: Something that can grow, create offspring and adapt to its environment.
Analyze: Look at something closely and think about the parts.
Coarse Woody Debris: dead plant material that is not a snag… things like down/dead trees, large limbs, and leaning dead trees. Woody debris that measures 31cm or more in circumference is considered coarse woody debris.
Decompose: When something rots and breaks down into smaller parts.
Fine Woody Debris: dead plant material that is not a snag… things like down/dead trees, large limbs, and leaning dead trees. Woody debris that measures 31cm or less in circumference is considered fine woody debris.
Snag: A dead tree that is still standing.
Woody Debris: Wood found touching the ground that is not attached to a standing tree or is only attached by a small amount.