Module 1: Phenomenon and Our Forests Framing

Why does forest health change over time?

Lesson 1.1: Social Emotional Learning on Fire

Acknowledges prior experiences around forest fires.

Lesson 1.2: Our Forests Introduction

Explore a phenomenon, introduce a driving unit question, and develop an initial model.

Module 2: Mature Trees and Forest Density

What can mature trees tell us about the health of the forest?

Lesson 2.1: Pre-Lesson to Forest Investigation on Tree Density

Students prepare to measure mature trees and how observations of mature trees factor into a forest’s health.

Lesson 2.2: Forest Investigation on Mature Trees

Students collect data on mature trees, identify trees in their Our Forest plots and begin to understand what forest health is. 

Lesson 2.3: Data Analysis on Mature Trees

Students analyze their mature tree data set and build their understanding about how tree density affects forest health. 

Module 3: Young Trees - Seedlings and Saplings

What can young trees tell us about future forest health? Why?

Lesson 3.1: Pre-Lesson to Forest Investigation on Seedlings and Saplings

Students prepare to measure seedlings and saplings (young trees) and begin to understand why these life stages are important to forest health. 

Lesson 3.2:  Forest Investigation on Seedlings and Saplings

Students collect data on young trees' life stages and begin to understand why these life stages are important to forest health. 

Lesson 3.3: Data Analysis on Seedlings and Saplings 

Students analyze their young tree data set and build their understanding about young trees affect the forest’s health in the future. 

Lesson 3.4: Community Partner Lesson

Students revisit their forest experiences, including their observations and questions to send to their community partner as a class.

Module 4: Seeds

How can we take care of forests so they remain healthy?

Lesson 4.1:  Pre-Lesson to Forest Investigation on Seeds

Students observe traits of different seeds, distinguish between acorns and pine cones, and learn how to estimate quantities of each.

Lesson 4.2:  Forest Investigation on Seeds

Students collect data on two different seeds (pine cones and acorns) and also culminate their forest experiences with a share-out about their plot.

Lesson 4.3: Data Analysis on Seeds

Students will analyze their ladder fuel data in the classroom and build their understanding about how fire behaves and the potential for high intensity catastrophic fire at their forest site. Students will supplement their analysis with information about hand thinning, a forest management technique that helps reduce the amount of fuels on the forest floor.

Module 5: Community Partner Share-Out

Why does forest health change over time? How can we take care of forests so they remain healthy?

Lesson 5.1:  Sharing What We Learned

Students design and create a meaningful presentation that can be in multiple or different formats for a variety of audiences.