Curriculum
4 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Phenology
Phenology fosters a deeper connection with the natural world because it studies cycles that are easily observable outside during any time of year. Understanding phenology incorporates concepts of how deeply climate impacts the world around us by determining when plants change phase. This allows students to develop critical thinking and observational skills to understand why the climate is important and the interconnectedness of nature and environmental factors.
Climate Justice
Drawing connections between Indigenous land, climate justice, and climate change are crucial for students to make informed decisions and actions regarding the health of the climate. This lesson gives students the tools to make climate-conscious decisions, influencing a new generation of climate change education. In turn, this will contribute to creating an equitable future in which students are aware of their role in the environment and have a deeper connection to nature.
Tree Identification
Connecting with and understanding the ecology of trees is essential for students to get to know their ecosystems at HJ Andrews Forest and at home. This lesson sparks curiosity with students, and makes them more conscious about the ecology around them by teaching them about 4 different trees at HJ Andrews Forest. This lesson helps guide students in the natural world, creating connections that benefit physical, and mental health needs, and academic outcomes.
Microclimates
Understanding microclimates is important as it showcases to students the crucial effects that moisture, wind, topography, and elevation have in creating different unique habitats that forest organisms at HJ Andrews have adapted too. An understanding of these concepts creates the knowledge needed for students to critically think about and relate to how climate change is altering these microclimates and the impacts it will cause.
Pre Trip and Post Trip lesson Plans
Know Before You Go!
This lesson introduces each week's students to the field trip at HJ Andrews. Facilitators ask discussion questions to see how much students know about the area, nature, and their experiences outdoors. This lesson both prepares the students and facilitators for that week's field trip.
Field Trip Recap and Goodbyes!
This lesson was intended to measure how much the students absorbed from their time at HJ Andrews. Facilitators want to measure how much of the trip's information and discussion stuck and what created learning outputs and long-term change. Facilitators wanted students to feel empowered to learn more about nature and with that facilitators created a jeopardy game based on the HJ Andrews investigations to "test" their knowledge.