Forestry Curricula*

Featured Resource: Our friends at the US Forest Service, together the Ad Council, have developed a website dedicated to connecting young people with our forests and parks. Visit DiscoverTheForest.org to find a forest near you, browse the photo gallery and download outdoor activities.  

Grades K-4

Does One Tree a Forest Make?
Students take a walk around the schoolyard to study and identify the trees. One leaf for each tree is collected. A chart is developed that represents the population of trees on the schoolground. This lesson is best suited for grades 2-4 and adheres to Florida State Science Standards.

Finding My Forest Around the Corner and Across the Nation
The Finding My Forest Curriculum provides educators hands-on activities for grades 3-8 to help students discover and relate to public forests and lands in their community. The guide includes four lessons to help students build a lifetime of active and thoughtful engagement with forests and other natural spaces. The activities are aligned with the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) benchmarks for excellence in environmental education, and are indexed with national standards for language arts, science, math, social studies and more. 

The Forest Community and Ethnobotany Past and Present
Students describe a forest as a living community. They determine how members interact and, in many cases, depend on each other for their basic survival needs. Students investigate how dependent the Native Americans were on the forest community for survival and discover that even today we too are dependent on plants for survival.  This lesson is best suited for grade 3 and correlates to New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards.

Forest Friends Forever 
Can people survive without forests? Can forests survive without people? In this lesson, students will find the answers to these important questions. Students will listen to a giant, old oak explain to a little sapling how people and forests must co-exist in the video Forest Family Forever! with Ed Asner. This lesson is best suited for grades 1-2 and adheres to South Carolina State Science Standards.

Forest Products and Recycling
Students observe, classify, measure, compare, and describe forest resources and forest products. They construct different projects by reusing and recycling products made from natural resources. This lesson is best suited for grades K-4 and adheres to Virginia Standards of Learning.

The History of Maple Syrup Production
In this lesson, students will explore how maple sugaring began. Through an in-class demonstration, they will experience the ways pioneers and Indians produced sugar. Through stories and hands-on learning, they will come to appreciate the importance of maple sugaring in the pioneer culture. This lesson is best suited for grades K-3 and adheres to Pennsylvania State Science Standards.

Let It Rain
In this lesson, students learn about the importance of forests and vegetation in preventing soil erosion caused by water. They construct a hill that slopes gently from one end of the pan to the other and predict what will happen when the group sprinkles water on its hill. They compare their results and formulate a hypothesis, as a class. This lesson is best suited for grades 3-6 and adheres to Oklahoma Science, Math, Reading and Visual Literacy Standards.

Paper Makers
Students will broaden their awareness about conserving natural resources while learning to make recycled paper. They will identify what resources are made into paper, discuss the value of intact forests, and determine ways to use less paper. This lesson is best suited for grades K-4 and adheres to California Science Content Standards.

Please the Trees, But Not These, Please
Students will learn the basic parts of a tree and their functions in acquiring the survival needs of water, sunshine, food, and air. Students will learn how adaptation allows trees to compete effectively for these limited resources, and students will learn how competition relates to invasive exotic species and their effect on the growth and composition of the forest. This lesson is best suited for grades 3-6 and adheres to Pennsylvania State Science Standards.

Project Learning Tree's PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide
Project Learning Tree's PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide uses the forests as a "window on the world" to get students exploring topics such as water and air quality, ecology, climate change, urban environments, and recycling. The guide contains 96 interdisciplinary activities, each of which is tailored to specific grade levels and learning objectives. PLT materials provide educators the tools they need to bring the environment into their classrooms - and their students into the environment.

Restoring Our Own Trees Through Service (ROOTS) Curriculum
ROOTS, or Restoring Our Own Trees Through Service, is an education initiative of Casey Trees that aims to provide teachers and students with methods to connect with their schoolyard environment. ROOTS utilizes familiar academic disciplines, such as math, reading, and science, to encourage teachers and students to use their backyard forest as their outdoor classroom. Activities are aligned with District of Columbia Public Schools standards.

Signs of Change: Studying Tree Rings
In this very hands-on lesson, students will learn about dendrochronology (the study of tree rings to answer ecological questions about the recent past) and come up with conclusions as to what possible climatic conditions might affect tree growth in their region. Students determine the average age of the trees in their schoolyard, investigate any years of poor growth, and draw conclusions about the reasons for the years of poor growth. This lesson is best suited for grades 4-8. It adheres to several Canadian provincial science standards but can be adapted for any American classroom with wood samples from your local forestry division.

Trees for the 21st Century This tree planting and education toolkit, designed by ERTHNXT, connects students to the wonders of trees and the outdoors. The kit includes an activity guide (for grade levels K-1, 2-3, or 4-5), seedling trees, a Trees for the 21st Century DVD, and a tree planting and stewardship guide. *Note: this resource is not yet correlated to state or national learning standards, but it will be by December 2009.

Urban Forestry Laboratory Exercises These lab activities, developed by the US Forest Service, are supplemental activities for grades K-12 that can be used in any science or interdisciplinary class. The guide includes hands-on, data gathering laboratory exercises, as well as games, quizzes and a glossary of additional resources.  The activities may be adapted to meet content standards in math and science. 

What Is a National Forest?
Everyone in the United States lives within a day's drive of a National Forest, so chances are there is one not too far from you. Investigate the nearest forest with your students to help them appreciate the value of the National Forest and the challenges forest managers face. This lesson is best suited for grades 4-8 and adheres to National Science Education Standards.

  

Grades 5-8

Firestorm: Thinking Critically about Environmental Issues
Firestorm is a role-playing simulation designed to give students authentic experience in the process of making important decisions about the environment-gathering and analyzing information; judging the reliability of information sources; understanding multiple, complex perspectives; and forming opinions and making recommendations based on solid knowledge of ecosystems and different approaches to environmental management. This lesson is best suited for grades 6-12 and adheres to National Science Education Standards.

From Forest to Farm to Urban Forest
From Forest to Farm to Urban Forest asks students to examine what happens when the post-war urban development boom crowds out the forest. Students will examine the land use history of a local forest from 1930 on and investigate the variety of stakeholder opinions on the future of the forest. Students will also reflect on how science and technology have changed people's perception of the natural world. This lesson is best suited for grades 7-9 and adheres to National History and Social Studies Education Standards.

Finding My Forest Around the Corner and Across the Nation
The Finding My Forest Curriculum provides educators hands-on activities for grades 3-8 to help students discover and relate to public forests and lands in their community. The guide includes four lessons to help students build a lifetime of active and thoughtful engagement with forests and other natural spaces. The activities are aligned with the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) benchmarks for excellence in environmental education, and are indexed with national standards for language arts, science, math, social studies and more.  

If Trees Could Talk
This 10 module curriculum allows teachers to download (free of charge) social studies activities that are based upon archival materials and focus on environmental history. If Trees Could Talk helps students develop critical thinking skills in environmental issues within a social context. It helps produce better informed and more productive citizens. If Trees Could Talk is a comprehensive program that has been tested by teachers in multiple states. These lessons are best suited for grades 6-8 and adhere to National History and Social Studies Standards.

Landscaping and Urban Forestry
Trees and other landscaping plants can be used to reduce the urban heat island effect and its resultant health and environmental problems. Students will discover and understand how trees and landscaping can be used to improve air quality and help reduce the urban heat island effect. This lesson is best suited for grades 5-6 and adheres to Utah State Science Standards.

Let It Rain
Students learn about the importance of forests and vegetation to prevent soil erosion from water. They construct a hill that slopes gently from one end of the pan to the other and predict what will happen when the group sprinkles water on its hill. They compare their results and formulate a hypothesis, as a class. This lesson is best suited for grades 3-6 and adheres to Oklahoma Science, Math, Reading and Visual Literacy Standards.

Please the Trees, But Not These, Please
Students will learn the basic parts of a tree and their functions in acquiring the survival needs of water, sunshine, food, and air. Students will learn how adaptation allows trees to compete effectively for these limited resources, and students will learn how competition relates to invasive exotic species and their effect on the growth and composition of the forest. This lesson is best suited for grades 3-6 and adheres to Pennsylvania State Science Standards.

Project Learning Tree's PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide
Project Learning Tree's PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide uses the forests as a "window on the world" to get students exploring topics such as water and air quality, ecology, climate change, urban environments, and recycling. The guide contains 96 interdisciplinary activities, each of which is tailored to specific grade levels and learning objectives. PLT materials provide educators the tools they need to bring the environment into their classrooms - and their students into the environment.

Signs of Change: Studying Tree Rings
In this very hands-on lesson, students will learn about dendrochronology (the study of tree rings to answer ecological questions about the recent past) and come up with conclusions as to what possible climatic conditions might affect tree growth in their region. Students determine the average age of the trees in their schoolyard, investigate any years of poor growth, and draw conclusions about the reasons for the years of poor growth. This lesson is best suited for grades 4-8. It adheres to several Canadian provincial science standards but can be adapted for any American classroom with wood samples from your local forestry division.

Trees Are Terrific...Inside and Out
These FREE lesson plans will center on the theme "Trees are Terrific... Inside and Out!" The activities will help increase students' knowledge about the way trees grow and function. Activities are best suited for grade 5 and adhere to National Science and Art Standards.

Trees for the 21st Century This tree planting and education toolkit, designed by ERTHNXT, connects students to the wonders of trees and the outdoors. The kit includes an activity guide for grades 6-8, seedling trees, a Trees for the 21st Century DVD, and a tree planting and stewardship guide. *Note: this resource is not yet correlated to state or national learning standards, but it will be by December 2009.

Urban Forestry Laboratory Exercises These lab activities, developed by the US Forest Service, are supplemental activities for grades K-12 that can be used in any science or interdisciplinary class. The guide includes hands-on, data gathering laboratory exercises, as well as games, quizzes and a glossary of additional resources.  The activities may be adapted to meet content standards in math and science.

What Is a National Forest?
Everyone in the United States lives within a day's drive of a National Forest, so chances are there is one not too far from you. Investigate the nearest forest with your students to help them appreciate the value of the National Forest and the challenges forest managers face. This lesson is best suited for grades 4-8 and adheres to National Science Education Standards.

Who Cares About the Forest?
Students will explore the Native American views on our natural environment as well as contemporary views on the environment. They will also become familiar with the many uses of wood as a natural resource. This lesson is best suited for grades 7-12 and adheres to Pennsylvania State Science Standards.

Wood, I Like to Get to Know You
In this lesson, students will learn about the various parts of a tree trunk. Students will then build a tree trunk with all of its parts and make an art project covered with pseudo veneer. This lesson is best suited for grades 5-8 and adheres to Pennsylvania State Science Standards.

 

Grades 9-12

Behind the Redwood Curtain
In this lesson, students will partake in a role-play activity to examine the current system of watershed management in Northern California, exploring whom it benefits and whom it harms. They will then design an alternative means of management that better addresses the interconnectedness of the water and forests. This lesson is best suited for grades 9-12 and adheres to California Science Content Standards.

Climate Change and Maple Syrup
Students study climate change by analyzing how the process of maple syrup production in New England will change with the climate. They also investigate other factors that change the environmental dynamics of the forests of Northern New England. This lesson is best suited for grades 9-12 and adheres to National Science Education Standards as well as several state standards in the New England region.

Deforestation: Can We See the Forest for the Trees?
Students investigate the complex issue of deforestation and explore possible solutions. They prepare for a research project by reading articles, writing an essay, analyzing wood products and conducting forest management interviews. This lesson is best suited for grades 9-12 and adheres to National Science Education Standards.

Firestorm: Thinking Critically about Environmental Issues
Firestorm is a role-playing simulation designed to give students authentic experience in the process of making important decisions about the environment-gathering and analyzing information; judging the reliability of information sources; understanding multiple, complex perspectives; and forming opinions and making recommendations based on solid knowledge of ecosystems and different approaches to environmental management. This lesson is best suited for grades 6-12 and adheres to National Science Education Standards.

Forestry Institute Teaching Unit
This unit focuses on identifying biotic and abiotic factors in an environment, addresses their interrelationships, looks at energy flow, and concludes with a student study at a local forest. The unit is based on student activity as opposed to teacher lecture. This teaching unit is best suited to grades 9-12 and adheres to Michigan Science Content Standards.

From Forest to Farm to Urban Forest
From Forest to Farm to Urban Forest asks students to examine what happens when the post-war urban development boom crowds out the forest. Students will examine the land use history of a local forest from 1930 on and investigate the variety of stakeholder opinions on the future of the forest. Students will also reflect on how science and technology have changed people's perception of the natural world. This lesson is best suited for grades 7-9 and adheres to National History and Social Studies Education Standards.

Landscaping and Urban Forestry
Trees and other landscaping plants can be used to reduce the urban heat island effect and its resultant health and environmental problems. Students will discover and understand how trees and landscaping can be used to improve air quality and help reduce the urban heat island effect. This lesson is best suited for grades 8-9 and adheres to Utah State Science Standards.

Our Family Tree
The students will investigate the important dates of their families' heritage by plotting the timeline of their families' history. They will also become aware of the age of wood and the time it takes for a tree to mature as compared to a human being. They will explore sustainable forestry and forest management in order to gain an appreciation of wood as a renewable resource that requires time and management to reach its full potential. This lesson is best suited for grades 9-12 and adheres to Pennsylvania State Science Standards.

Project Learning Tree's Focus on Forests and Forest Ecology Secondary Modules
These modules use forest related examples to help students better understand the complexity of environmental issues. In the Focus on Forests module, students examine issues objectively, collect and analyze data, and become involved in decision making experiences. They learn how to present arguments clearly and how citizens can play a role in forest management decisions. In the Forest Ecology module, students examine ecological systems of a forest; analyze interdependencies within a forest ecosystem; and explore factors, like fire, that shape the development of forests. In addition, they develop critical thinking skills and discover the importance of scientific analysis when making decisions about forest issues.

Taking from the Giving Tree
In this lesson, students explore the ways in which various American cities negotiate the protection of their "green infrastructure," gaining a broader understanding of preserving and planting trees in urban environments. This lesson is best suited for grades 9-12 and adheres to McRel Academic Content Standards.

Trees for the 21st Century
This tree planting and education toolkit, designed by ERTHNXT, connects students to the wonders of trees and the outdoors. The kit includes an activity guide for grades 9-12, seedling trees, a Trees for the 21st Century DVD, and a tree planting and stewardship guide. *Note: this resource is not yet correlated to state or national learning standards, but it will be by December 2009.

Urban Forestry Laboratory Exercises
These lab activities, developed by the US Forest Service, are supplemental activities for grades K-12 that can be used in any science or interdisciplinary class. The guide includes hands-on, data gathering laboratory exercises, as well as games, quizzes and a glossary of additional resources.  The activities may be adapted to meet content standards in math and science.

Who Cares About the Forest?
Students will explore the Native American views on our natural environment as well as contemporary views on the environment. They will also become familiar with the many uses of wood as a natural resource. This lesson is best suited for grades 7-12 and adheres to Pennsylvania State Science Standards.

Do you have forestry curricula you'd like to share?  Email it to us!

*The curricula listed on this webpage have been selected in light of their adherence to state, national, and/or NAAEE educational standards and are thus suitable for classroom use.